Meet Nicole Byrne

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Byrne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always been deeply curious, especially about the human condition. Growing up, I frequently observed the people around me, and some of my best teaching moments took place at the family dinner table. This curiosity and attentiveness sometimes made me appear shy, but in truth, I was absorbing and learning from each interaction. Over the years, I’ve channeled this curiosity into a clear purpose. Not only do I apply my natural curiosity in my work as a therapist, but I also draw on everything I’ve learned about communication patterns, dynamics, and the human condition to better support my clients.

As a therapist, I act as a guide, supporting my clients to become the best versions of themselves and live the lives they truly want. My experience as a caregiver from a young age, a therapist to children and families, and now a mother to two little beings, shapes my commitment to the mission of ‘raising good humans.’ While I’m not literally raising my clients, I support them in finding their unique paths to growth and well-being.

We aren’t taught emotional intelligence in school, yet it’s fundamental to personal resilience and collective harmony. Developing emotional intelligence has become an additional part of my purpose as a therapist, as I aim to teach it to those who may not have had the opportunity to develop it fully. I hope that through our work together, clients gain these essential skills for themselves, which then can be passed on to their children, loved ones, and communities—creating a ripple effect that fosters understanding and connection.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in helping women who are high-achieving yet often overwhelmed by anxiety, burnout, and people pleasing. My work is centered on providing a supportive space for clients to reconnect with their own needs, boundaries, and well-being—a space where they feel seen and understood without judgment.

I get excited about helping my clients develop a new and improved relationship to themselves, and particularly their emotions. When we reframe our emotions as allies, rather than obstacles, we gain a lot of wisdom and tools to engage in life more effectively. Emotional intelligence is foundational to resilience, personal fulfillment, and satisfying relationships. Through methods like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and tools focused on emotional awareness, I help clients build these skills and apply them in their daily lives.

Currently, I offer virtual therapy sessions, making it convenient for busy clients to access support from anywhere in California or Nevada. Additionally, I’ve been expanding my practice to include content on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, where I share insights and tips on managing anxiety, setting boundaries, and cultivating emotional intelligence. I’m also developing resources like downloadable guides and checklists that clients and others can use in between sessions to reinforce what we cover in therapy.

I strive to guide my clients to live more grounded, fulfilling lives, where their needs and well-being are prioritized.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities that were most impactful in my journey as a therapist are curiosity, empathy, and resilience.

First, curiosity has always driven me to understand people on a deeper level. It’s essential to help clients feel seen and heard. My advice to anyone starting out is to cultivate genuine curiosity—not just about clients, but about the broader human experience, and of course yourself. Read broadly, observe openly, and keep wondering; each new insight adds richness to the therapeutic work.

My training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has also been hugely impactful and it’s a cornerstone of my therapeutic approach. It aligns closely with my beliefs and framework for how I understand humans – it simply makes sense! Grounded in the idea that we aren’t broken but simply in need of better tools to navigate life’s challenges, ACT emphasizes kindness, acceptance, and a commitment to growth. I’ve seen clients make significant progress and lasting changes since incorporating ACT in my practice. For those early in their journey, I recommend exploring different trainings, modalities, and theoretical orientations until you find one that truly resonates with you and the clients you serve. I am grateful that as a therapist I get to show up authentically while working from a framework that is grounded in research.

Finally, resilience has been essential, especially as both a small business owner and a parent. Becoming a parent taught me firsthand that ‘I can do hard things’—a mantra I rely on when facing life’s challenges. Parenthood has shown me the importance of flexibility, patience, and self-compassion, skills that I carry into my practice every day. Building my therapy practice has meant taking risks, experimenting, failing at times, and putting myself out there. As a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist, even when I don’t feel ready, I appreciate the importance of being willing to try. Often, taking action builds the confidence you were waiting for.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is the woman everyone depends on. She’s high-achieving, juggling many roles and responsibilities across her career, family, and relationships. Dependable and resilient, she pushes through no matter what. Flawless on the outside, she’s warm, bubbly, well-kept, and often apologetic even when it’s unnecessary. She rarely asks for help and usually prefers to tackle things on her own. Driven by high expectations, she often puts others’ needs before her own, which can lead to anxiety, burnout, and depletion. While she’s incredibly caring, empathetic, and capable, she sometimes struggles with boundaries, people-pleasing, and perfectionism.

Most of my clients begin therapy with me when their life feels out of balance and unfulfilled. They often feel lonely and invisible, craving tools to reconnect with their own needs, deepen relationships, and set healthy boundaries. For most of my clients they want more peace, fun, fulfillment and connection in relationships. And they also want to increase worthiness, feel ease, and navigate their career and relationships in a way that feels sustainable. Ultimately, I work best with clients who seek a supportive, judgment-free space to help them find a grounded, sustainable path forward—where their needs are prioritized alongside their responsibilities.

What this client is truly seeking is more—more peace, fun, fulfillment, and connection in her relationships where her needs matter, too. She wants to trust herself, feel grounded, and approach her career and relationships in a way that genuinely fills her up. My role is to help her reconnect with herself, learn to set boundaries, and shift from simply pushing through life to living with purpose, ease, and balance.

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