Meet Nicole
I’m Nicole Byrne, LMFT, a therapist based in Pasadena.
I work with high-functioning women who feel responsible for everything - who say yes when they mean no, overthink every interaction, and quietly burn out underneath it all.
You’re the one people rely on.
The one who keeps the peace.
And at some point… it starts to cost you.
What looks like “being nice” on the surface
is often a nervous system that learned staying agreeable was the safest way to stay connected.
I know that pattern, because I’ve lived it too.
My Path to This Work
My path to becoming a therapist started with my own healing.
Therapy helped me reconnect with parts of myself I had pushed aside - and showed me that change doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from understanding what’s underneath.
That shift changed how I relate to myself.
More curiosity.
Less self-criticism.
A deeper sense that I’m allowed to take up space, mess and all.
My journey hasn’t been linear.
And honestly, that’s the point.
It’s why I don’t believe therapy is about “fixing” yourself - but about understanding yourself well enough to start showing up differently.
Why This Work Matters to Me
As a mom of two and an empathic introvert,
I know what it’s like to give so much of yourself that burnout starts to feel inevitable.
For a long time, I believed being a “good person” meant putting myself last.
But that doesn’t work, at least not long-term.
What I’ve learned, both personally and professionally, is this:
People-pleasing isn’t a personality trait.
It’s something your nervous system learned when keeping the peace felt like the safest option.
You didn’t choose to become “the easy one.”
Your body learned it.
And what your body learned… it can unlearn.
That’s the work we do together.
Not just managing the surface-level patterns -
but actually shifting what’s underneath them.
I believe good therapy requires staying curious, current, and always learning.
Degrees
BA in Sociology, UC Davis
MA in Counseling Psychology, John F. Kennedy University
Licensure
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
California #90540 | Nevada #1026
Certifications & Trainings
EMDR (Dr. Philip Manfield)
Flash Technique (Advanced)
ACT (Dr. Steven Hayes, Dr. Russ Harris)
Media & Podcast Appearances
Featured on Say Hello to Your Therapist podcast, discussing people-pleasing, burnout, and building trustworthy relationships.
Modalities
Therapy with me is focused on helping you understand your patterns, and actually shift them.
I draw from:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps you step out of overthinking and reconnect with what matters to you
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Processes the experiences that shaped your people-pleasing and burnout patterns
Flash Technique
A gentle way to work through overwhelming experiences
Mindfulness & Somatic Work
Helps your nervous system feel safer so change actually sticks
Rates
50-minutes
Individual Therapy: $250
90-minutes
Extended Therapy: $375
Most clients attend weekly and begin noticing meaningful shifts over time.
Therapy is an investment - not just in feeling better, but in how you show up in your life, relationships, and work.
FAQs
+ I always put everyone else first — can therapy really help with that?
Yes. And not just in a “set better boundaries” kind of way — but in a deep, healing, nervous-system-reset kind of way. Together, we’ll untangle the guilt, the pressure, and the fear of letting others down so you can start showing up for yourself without feeling like you’re abandoning everyone else. 👉 Learn more about People-Pleasing Therapy
+ I’m burned out, but I don’t know how to slow down — what now?
Support is here for the in-between — when you’re functioning, but barely holding it together. You don’t have to wait until everything collapses to get support. Together, we’ll create space to slow down, reflect, and actually rebuild your capacity — without throwing away everything you care about. 👉 Learn more about Burnout Therapy
+ I feel like I’m failing at everything — especially as a mom. Is that something we can work on?
Absolutely. If you’re stuck in the loop of exhaustion, resentment, guilt, and never-enoughness… you’re not alone. This kind of burnout is real — and we’ll work together to help you find relief, reconnect with yourself, and redefine what thriving actually looks like for you (not just what Instagram says it should). 👉 Learn more about Mom Burnout Therapy
+ What can I expect from online therapy?
Online therapy feels a lot like in-person therapy — just more flexible. We’ll meet over secure video, and you’ll have the same support, tools, and space for honesty that you’d have in an office setting.
You can expect: ✨ A safe, judgment-free space to talk openly ✨ Support for both your mind and nervous system ✨ Practical strategies you can use right away ✨ A pace that feels doable, not overwhelming
Clients are often surprised by how connected and effective online therapy feels — especially once they realize they don’t have to battle traffic or rearrange their whole day just to get support. 👉 Schedule a Consult
+ How do I get started?
Getting started is simple: 1️⃣ Schedule a free 20-minute consultation. 2️⃣ We’ll talk through what’s bringing you to therapy and what support could look like. 3️⃣ If it feels like a good fit, we’ll set up your first session and get you started on your path toward feeling more grounded, connected, and at ease.
You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out — that’s what therapy is for. 💛
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’ve made it this far, something here probably resonated.
Maybe you’re tired of putting everyone else first.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed and not sure how to slow down.
Maybe you just know something isn’t working anymore.
You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out.
We’ll talk through what’s going on and whether this feels like the right fit.
Prefer email? nicole@counselingwithnicole.com