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Expert Tips From a Therapist

Did you know this?

To be honest, some of these surprised me!

Emotional neglect isn’t always obvious, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Here are some common ways emotional neglect can show up, sometimes in ways we don’t even realize…

🌿 Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN): Growing up in an environment where emotions were dismissed, ignored, or invalidated. This may have looked like being told “you’re too sensitive,” or “stop crying” or being expected to handle your emotions alone.

🌿 Parental Absence (Physical or Emotional): Having a caregiver who was physically present but emotionally distant, making you feel like you had to suppress your emotions to maintain peace.

🌿 Romantic Relationships: Feeling unseen or unheard in a partnership, where your emotional needs are consistently dismissed or minimized.

🌿 Friendships and Social Circles: Being the person who listens and supports others but rarely receiving the same emotional investment in return, creating a one-sided relationship.

🌿 Workplace and Professional Settings: Feeling undervalued, unsupported, or unseen in professional environments, leading to burnout, dissatisfaction, and feelings of inadequacy.

Recognizing the different ways emotional neglect can appear in our lives is the first step toward understanding its deeper impact.

Did any of these surprise you? Let us know in the comments!

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Best Mental Health Therapist

Perfectionism isn’t just about wanting to get things right, it occasionally has roots in emotional neglect. 🌱

When emotional needs aren’t met, especially in childhood, we can start seeking validation in ways that feel "safe."

For many, that’s through perfectionism.

We believe that if we do everything just right, we’ll finally be seen, loved, or accepted.

But the truth is, perfectionism doesn’t fill that void…it often makes it worse.

Here’s the kicker…

Striving for perfection can leave us feeling drained, unworthy, and disconnected from who we really are.

I want you to know that you don’t need to be perfect to be worthy of love and compassion.

If this resonates, you’re not alone, and it’s okay to let go of that pressure.

You’re enough, just as you are. 🌟

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Stress Therapy in California

Allow yourself a moment to tune into the present. 🌿

This quick grounding exercise, will guide you through a simple technique to calm your mind, settle your body, and bring you back to the here and now.

You deserve this moment of peace.

Pause, breathe, and reset.

Save this for when you need a moment of calm.🌟

For more calming techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine, download our free eBook, The Mind-Body Toolkit. You can find the link to download in our bio!

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Relationship counseling can help with common Relationship Issues

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Expert Therapists

I know what it’s like to feel stuck.

To want change so badly but feel like nothing is working.

Maybe you’ve tried therapy before, hoping it would help you break free from anxiety, trauma, or emotional pain.

Maybe you’ve spent months, or even years, talking about your struggles, understanding your triggers, and working through your past.

But despite all of that effort, you still don’t feel better.

You don’t want to waste time in therapy that just scratches the surface, you want real healing.

If any of this resonates, you’ve come to the right place. .

The truth is, traditional talk therapy can be helpful, but for many people, it doesn’t go deep enough.

That’s because healing isn’t just about talking, it’s about working with your unique nervous system, and your emotions in a way that creates lasting change.

That’s exactly what holistic and somatic therapy offers.

At Life By Design Therapy™, we specialize in holistic and somatic approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy. Our team of expert therapists is here to help you regulate your nervous system, release stored trauma, and create real, lasting change, not just insight.

If you’ve felt stuck in therapy before, or if you’re ready to try an approach that treats you as a whole person, mind, body, and nervous system, we’re here for you.

📍 Offering online therapy across California 💻 Personalized, body-based healing approaches ✨ Compassionate, expert therapists who truly see you

Take the next step toward deep healing. Click the link in our bio to learn more about working with us!

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Anxiety Therapist in Richmond CA

Anxiety thrives in uncertainty.

When things feel unpredictable, our nervous systems work overtime, trying to make sense of what’s happening and how to stay safe.

Right now, so much feels up in the air.

There are political changes, global events, and the ripple effects they may have on our daily lives.

It’s not just the big, obvious stressors, it’s the accumulation of everything, the constant hum of "what’s next?" in the background of our daily lives.

There are so many layers to this, and it’s no wonder it feels heavy.

Here’s what’s adding to the weight:

1️⃣ Uncertainty Feels Unsettling When we can’t predict what’s next, whether it’s leadership changes, policies, or economic shifts, our brains stay on high alert, trying to prepare for every possible outcome.

2️⃣ News Overload With 24/7 updates and nonstop headlines, we’re constantly absorbing new information before we’ve even processed the last. This keeps our nervous systems in a heightened state of stress.

3️⃣ Compassion Fatigue Caring deeply is a strength, but feeling the pressure to stay engaged 24/7 can lead to exhaustion. Stepping back to care for yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.

4️⃣ Feeling Powerless When problems feel too big to fix, helplessness can turn into anxiety, frustration, or numbness. It’s hard to know how to move forward when it feels like nothing will change.

If you’ve been wondering, Why do I feel this way? Is it just me? You’re not alone.

To learn more about how to cope during these uncertain times, check out my latest blog, How to Cope With Anxiety When the World Feels Overwhelming. Link to read in my bio!

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Award Winning Therapy Center

If You’ve Tried Talk Therapy But Still Feel Stuck…😓

You’re not broken and trust me, you’re not failing therapy!

The truth is, some therapy models that aren’t designed to fully heal underlying trauma, anxiety, and deep emotional pain.

Let’s say you’ve experienced something painful in the past, maybe childhood neglect, a toxic relationship, or a traumatic event.

Even if you’ve processed it in therapy, your body might still be holding onto the experience.

Your nervous system learned to stay in fight-or-flight mode.

Your body reacts to triggers before your mind can catch up.

Your emotions feel overwhelming or completely shut down.

You feel disconnected or numb when emotional triggers rise, almost like you’re frozen.

This is why just talking about it isn’t enough.

You need an approach that helps your body and nervous system process and release what’s been stuck for years.

At Life By Design Therapy™, we are an award winning therapy center that specializes in holistic and somatic therapy.

We help you move beyond just talking to actually feeling better.

Our approach works with your body, and mind to create real, lasting change.

✨ You don’t have to keep feeling this way.

Our team is here to support you in finding deep, mind-body healing.

Ready to take the next step? Click the link in our bio to book a free no-obligation call today!

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4 Reasons Why Talk Therapy Fails

I have clients sit with me and tell me they have talked in circles with other therapists but can’t understand why they don’t feel better!

They could understand the behavioral patterns in their life but fell short with seeing the deeper healing they were seeking.

Here’s the truth, traditional talk therapy can provide great insight, but healing requires more than just words.

Your body, nervous system, and subconscious patterns all play a role in lasting change too.

That’s why holistic and somatic therapy go beyond just talking, they help you feel the shifts, not just understand them.

When we integrate the body and nervous system into the healing process, we address the root causes of anxiety, trauma, and emotional pain, rather than just managing symptoms.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in therapy, it’s not because you’re broken or incapable of healing.

It’s because true transformation happens when we connect with the body, not just the mind.

You deserve a healing approach that works with you, not against you. Are you ready to experience therapy in a way that finally makes sense? Let’s talk!

Click the link in my bio to schedule your free no-obligation call today!

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Mind-Body Tool Kit

I used to think I could outthink my anxiety, if I just analyzed it enough, I’d find a way to make it disappear.

But the truth is, before we can calm our minds, we have to help our bodies feel safe.

Anxiety isn’t just in our thoughts; it’s stored in our nervous system.

Before trying to think your way out of anxiety, your body needs to feel safe. Small, simple practices can help.

👉 Grounding exercises: When anxiety takes over, it often pulls us into the future, worrying about what might happen, replaying worst-case scenarios, or feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty.

Grounding exercises help bring you back to the present moment by reconnecting you to your body.

👉 Breathwork –When we feel anxious, our breathing naturally becomes shallow and fast. This signals to the brain that something is wrong, reinforcing the stress response.

Breathwork is a way to interrupt this cycle and bring us back to a state of rest.

👉 Movement:  Anxiety doesn’t just live in the mind, it shows up in the body too. Tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, restlessness, and stomach discomfort can all be physical signs that stress is being stored.

Movement helps release that pent-up energy and signals to your nervous system that it can shift out of fight-or-flight mode.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in an anxious spiral, grounding exercises can help bring you back to the present.

Want more tools to support your nervous system? Check out our Mind-Body Toolkit for guided exercises and practical strategies. You can download it for free through the link in our bio!

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🙂 Communication Tips: Help Your Partner Feel Safe 🙂

Are there times when you struggle to say the right words to your girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, or spouse in order to create a sense of emotional safety?

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How to Deal with Anxiety?

I used to see my anxiety as something to fight against, until I realized it was actually trying to tell me something.

Anxiety isn’t just random discomfort; it’s a signal.

A reminder.

A call to pay attention.

Maybe it’s nudging you to set a boundary, reach out for support, or deal with something you’ve been avoiding.

Instead of pushing it away, what if you paused to listen?

What might your anxiety be trying to tell you?

With the changing political climate lately, some people are experiencing anxiety, uncertainty, and overwhelm at a higher level.

In my blog, I give you tools to coping and moving through this overwhelm. The link to read is in my bio!

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Life by Design Therapy

The world is a lot to hold right now, and if you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted, please know you are not alone.

Your feelings make sense.

You care deeply, and that’s a beautiful thing.

But remember you don’t have to carry everything on your own.

It’s okay to step back when you need to.

It’s okay to take care of yourself.

It’s okay to find peace, even when the world feels chaotic.

You are doing the best you can, and that is enough.

If you’re looking for expert support, Life By Design Therapy™ is here for you. As a top-rated therapy center, we provide personalized, holistic care to help you navigate anxiety and reclaim a sense of peace. Book a free phone consultation today and take the first step toward lasting relief.

Click the link in our bio to get started!

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Talk Therapy in Richmond

Life by Design Therapy offers a range of holistic and somatic psychotherapy services to support your growth, healing, and empowerment.

Click below to learn more about our therapists!

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Somatic Therapy

I used to think staying informed meant constantly keeping up with the news, but I’ve learned that there’s a difference between awareness and overload.

The more we expose ourselves to a nonstop flow of upsetting headlines, the harder it becomes for our nervous system to regulate, leading to heightened anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and even a sense of hopelessness.

Setting boundaries with news and social media isn’t about ignoring reality; it’s about protecting your mental and emotional well-being so you can stay engaged without burning out.

Here are some practical ways to set these boundaries…

🔹 Check the news at set times instead of throughout the day – Instead of letting news updates flood your entire day, try scheduling specific times to check reliable sources. For example, you might choose to check in once in the morning and once in the evening, rather than refreshing your feed constantly.

🔹 Unfollow accounts that spike panic rather than provide thoughtful information – Ask yourself: Does this account or news source help me stay informed in a way that feels balanced, or does it send me into a spiral of fear and distress? If it’s the latter, it’s okay to mute or unfollow. You can still stay aware of important issues without consuming content designed to provoke panic.

🔹 Give yourself permission to take breaks without feeling guilty – It’s okay to log off. It’s okay to turn off notifications. It’s okay to take a full day (or more) away from the news cycle. The world will still be there when you return, and taking time to reset your nervous system will help you engage in a healthier, more sustainable way.

How do you set boundaries with news and social media? Let’s talk in the comments. 👇

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Helping your partner feel safe and secure is essential for any relationship. Showing affection, kindness and understanding are key, as well as making sure your partner knows that you are listening to them and taking their needs into account. Building trust and creating a safe space for open communication is also important. These words can help your partner feel safe when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed.

Schedule A Free Therapy Phone Consultation

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Mental Health Support Services

When the weight of the world feels overwhelming, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of anxiety and helplessness.

But taking a moment to reflect can help you process what’s weighing on you and find small, meaningful ways to take action.

Journaling can be a powerful tool for clarity, self-awareness, and grounding.

Use this prompt to explore what’s on your mind and how you can channel your energy in a way that feels aligned with your values.

Save this for later or share your thoughts in the comments. 💙