From People-Pleaser to Empowered Therapist: My Journey to Helping Women Reclaim Their Lives
Meet Nicole
I’m Nicole Byrne, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Pasadena, California. I work with high-achieving, emotionally attuned women across California and Nevada—offering online therapy that’s compassionate, grounded, and real.
I specialize in helping women who feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out—women who are praised for being strong and dependable, even while quietly unraveling inside. I know what that’s like, because I’ve lived it too.
My Healing Journey
My path to becoming a therapist began with my own healing. In my late teens and early twenties, I started therapy for the first time and met a few incredible clinicians who helped me reconnect with parts of myself I had long ignored.
That experience was life-changing. It taught me to be curious rather than furious, to relate to my pain with care instead of criticism, and to shift from feeling “not enough” to knowing I am worthy—mess and all.
My journey hasn’t been linear. It’s been full of detours, discoveries, and growth. And that’s exactly how healing works. It’s why I believe therapy isn’t just a place to talk—it’s a space to be real, build insight, and begin living in a way that actually feels like you again.
I’m Intentional
As a mom of two and an empathic introvert, I know what it’s like to give so much of yourself that burnout feels inevitable. I’ve spent much of my life as a nurturer—someone who notices, cares, and holds space for others.
But I’ve also learned the hard way that you can’t pour from an empty cup.
I’m a recovering people-pleaser and rule-follower who once believed self-sacrifice was just part of being “a good person.” Over time, I’ve discovered that prioritizing your own well-being isn’t selfish—it’s essential.
Whether it’s hiking, eating yummy food, laughing with my kids, or connecting with friends, I’ve learned to create space for what truly matters: my energy, my joy, my growth. And that’s the kind of space I now help others create in therapy—so you can stop running on empty and start living in alignment with who you are.