Hidden Gems: Meet Nicole Byrne of Nicole Byrne, LMFT

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Byrne

Hi Nicole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My curiosity to become a psychotherapist began when I entered my own therapy in high school and grew tremendously. The combination of feeling seen and being probed to reflect in unfamiliar ways was useful for me at the time. The curious and raw interactions I felt in the therapy room carried into many of my personal relationships. I became known as the friend with whom people spontaneously shared the hard stuff. Meaningful and honest engagement became my passion.

I knew that I wanted to be a therapist by the time I entered college. I continued my personal development by exposing myself to different types of psychotherapy – I think I’ve seen 6 individual therapists at this point! Some of them pushed me out of my comfort zone and guided me to transformative places. I most appreciated the therapists that were brave enough to ask me hard things and believed in my possibility to pivot in new directions. It wasn’t enough when a therapist only had the skill set to listen and validate me – it still isn’t.

My professional development included graduate school, 3,000 hours of supervised experience and board exams, and training. I worked at my first job out of graduate school for 7 years, collaborating with school districts to support the mental health needs of their students and families, providing family therapy, and case managing students that were scattered throughout the U.S. in residential treatment centers. I ended up co-leading an educationally related mental health services program and supervised several therapists in training. While I appreciated the leadership opportunity, I was discouraged by the barriers to mental health in the educational system. I yearned to have more creativity and agency in my clinical work.

My move from the Bay Area, where I was raised, to Reno, NV was the catalyst to set up my private practice. Full circle and 2 children later, I’m now dual licensed in NV and CA and I’m living and practicing in Pasadena, CA. In retrospect, many of the integral skills to the clinical process (my intuition, empathy, and tracking ability) were developed long ago as a child in my nuclear family. The therapist part of me is front in center in all facets of my life. Connection and relationship are two of my favorite things and it’s a privilege that people invite me to be uniquely curious, allow for all feelings, and guide them to live the life they want to live.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anything worth doing has its challenges. Shifting from being employed to being self employed was scary and required the development of a new set of skills related to marketing and growing a business. While I love connecting with people individually, marketing myself to others and networking in group settings means pushing myself out of my comfort zone on a regular basis. My private practice has gone through peaks and valleys as I’ve had children, taken time off to care for them, and moved. My role, values, and priorities have evolved, especially as I’ve become a mother. Balancing it all is challenging and simultaneously I appreciate the ways it forces me to grow and be resilient.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I discovered the power of acceptance and values, not only in my life, but also in the lives of those I guide in therapy. Grounded in the belief that we are not broken but in need of better tools to work through life’s challenges, through kindness, acceptance, and a commitment to growth, I help others find meaning. So much of therapy is centered around a reduction of symptoms like anxiety, depression, etc. While that can be helpful, I believe what sets ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and my therapy practice apart is the intentional focus on noticing what a person wants more of and taking committed action towards it.

I primarily work with women who put the needs of others in front of their own and feel burnt out, resentful, and depleted. This can manifest as dissatisfaction in relationships, work, and overall quality of life. My work is to help them discover more meaning in life, more connection in relationships, more trust in themselves, and more vitality and engagement in their careers and interests.

I also specialize in trauma therapy. I’m trained in evidenced based EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and Flash Technique. It’s intensely healing and powerful, as the meaning of painful experiences can be transformed on an emotional level and my clients end up feeling empowered by the experience that once impeded them.

What makes you happy?
Fulfilling relationships makes me happy. Research shows that positive experiences of human connection are essential components of our well being. I put intentional effort into developing and nurturing gratifying relationships and community. Even if I’m feeling tired or inclined to keep to myself, experience tells me time and time again that I’m a happier person when I’m connecting with my people. Some of my favorite ways to spend time with others is by taking a walk or hike and leisurely chatting over a delicious meal. Also, light hearted singing brings me joy. I used to sing in a choir and loved it so so much!

Pricing:

• Individual 50-Minute Session: $210

Contact Info:

• Website: https://counselingwithnicole.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/counselingwithnicole/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CounselingwithNicole?mibextid=kFxxJD
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXc9O62LFwemRIruPiewRYg