Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Hyatt-Birnholz.
Hi Susan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Brentwood, Tennessee, and the founder of Brentwood Couples and Individual Counseling and Therapy for Bands. My path to this work has been anything but linear. I began my career as a professional recording and touring artist in the 90’s as the singer/guitarist for my London-based grunge/punk band called Pillbox. Originally from Los Angeles, I earned my B.A. from UCLA before spending years immersed in the music industry. When I moved to Nashville in 2015, I felt called to reinvent myself and pursue a deeper kind of connection and purpose. I earned my M.A. in Psychology from Trevecca Nazarene University and began counseling couples at Brentwood Baptist Church, where I discovered my true passion for helping people build stronger, more emotionally intimate relationships.
In 2018, I opened my private practice, and since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of couples and individuals from all walks of life — from touring iconic musicians and NFL players to adolescents with ASD and families. Today, my practice blends therapy, coaching, and wellness. Since COVID, I’ve transitioned to primarily online sessions, giving clients the comfort and privacy of connecting from home while maintaining in-person sessions at my office in Brentwood exclusively on Wednesdays.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but it’s been a meaningful one. Reinventing myself after years as an artist in the music industry was both exciting and overwhelming. I had already built one identity as an artist, and stepping into the role of therapist required starting over completely — new education, new community, and a whole new sense of purpose. I was fortunate, though, to come from a solid internship where I built genuine relationships and took many of my clients and referrals with me when I launched my practice. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit — from running my own record label in London to teaching music and personal fitness training — so building Brentwood Couples felt like a natural extension of that independence.
That said, therapy is a very different kind of business. It requires deep empathy and firm boundaries. I genuinely care about my clients, but it’s essential not to create a co-dependent dynamic. I’m very intentional about who I take on, because my goal is always to help clients develop tools for autonomy and not stay in therapy forever. My supervisor once told me, “Make sure your clients aren’t just having coffee with their therapist,” and that really stayed with me.
I also practice what I preach — I emphasize self-care with my clients, and I have to do the same for myself through retreats, workouts, rest, and wellness experiences. The field can be competitive, and emotional burnout is real. But one of the gifts of this work is that being older is actually an advantage. Life experience can be just as valuable as education in this profession.
On a personal level, having a stepson with ASD inspired me to learn more about Psychoeducation and family systems. And when COVID hit, the demand for therapy grew exponentially — it was an intense but incredibly rewarding period of helping people navigate isolation, uncertainty, and relationship strain.
Looking back, every challenge — from rebuilding my career to setting boundaries — has made me a more grounded, empathic, and resilient therapist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m known for helping couples communicate, navigate conflict and rediscover intimacy — with clarity, honesty, and compassion. Clients often describe my style as direct yet deeply attuned and empathetic, blending the warmth of emotional safety with the accountability needed for real change. My clients learn real life communication tools that work in their personal and professional relationships. As a former teacher, I like to provide PsychoEducation about attachment styles, family systems and interventions for anxiety so my clients can build secure attachments and feel autonomous and empowered. I’m also recognized for my unique work with artists, musicians, and creative professionals who face performance anxiety, identity struggles, and the emotional demands of public life. My clients appreciate that I understand both worlds — the high-pressure creative arena and the vulnerability of relationships — and I bring a rare combination of insight, artistry, and structure to the process.
What sets me apart is the intersection of psychology, artistry, and wellness that defines my approach. As both a therapist and a former touring musician, I understand the emotional intensity, relational strain, and lifestyle challenges that come with ambition, fame, and creativity.
I help clients not only resolve conflict but also expand their capacity for intimacy, authenticity, and resilience. Clients can choose life coaching or therapy. My certifications as a Board Certified Coach and as a National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer and Certified Nutritionist allow me to take a whole-person approach — addressing both emotional and physical wellbeing.
I’m most proud of building three thriving, values-driven brands — Brentwood Couples, Palm Beach Couples (the sister brand in Florida), and Therapy for Bands — that serve clients who value depth, growth, and emotional honesty. My practices have grown through word-of-mouth referrals and long-term client relationships, which I view as the greatest marker of trust and impact.
I’m equally proud of the resilience and reinvention that define my own story — turning a career in the music industry into a platform for healing and helping others find their voice, both in love and in life.
Brentwood Couples and Palm Beach Couples offer therapy and coaching for individuals and couples seeking emotional clarity, connection, and growth. Therapy for Bands offers therapy or coaching for musical artists and bands. Therapy is only offered for residents of Tennessee or Florida.
Couples Therapy: Pre-marital and marital counseling focuses on communication, conflict resolution, and rebuilding intimacy.
Individual Therapy: For clients navigating anxiety, relational trauma, or major life transitions, career counseling, autism spectrum diagnosis.
Artist & Performance Coaching: Support for musicians and performers managing creative identity, anxiety, or the pressures of public life.
Relationship Coaching (International): Available worldwide for clients outside Tennessee and Florida through my Board Certified Coach credential.
Wellness Integration Coaching: Optional holistic coaching that combines emotional health, fitness, and nutrition principles for complete mind-body alignment.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The qualities that have been most important to my success are empathy, emotional courage, determination, and self-confidence. I’ve lived many lives in different places — from being a touring recording artist in Los Angeles, Tokyo and London to building a private practice in Tennessee — and through it all, I’ve learned how to listen deeply, trust my instincts, and stay grounded in who I am. Empathy and the ability to listen are truly the core of my work. Clients can feel comfortable sharing anything with me because I provide a non-judgmental, compassionate space where they can be completely themselves. I see people crying, yelling, grieving, and unraveling — and I’m honored that they trust me in their most vulnerable moments. That kind of trust is sacred to me.
I think my background helps create that sense of safety and understanding. I’ve known both privilege and struggle. I know what it’s like to be a privileged kid, and I know what it’s like to be a broke adult trying to rebuild. I come from a complicated, broken family, and most of my clients’ stories are ones I’ve lived in some form. That gives me both perspective and humility.
Determination and self-confidence have also been essential. Reinventing myself took courage, and so did opening my practice from the ground up. But perhaps what I’m most proud of is learning how to build a happy, loving marriage of my own — something I believe is vital for any marriage counselor. You have to model what’s possible, not just talk about it. My life experience has been my best education, and it allows me to meet clients exactly where they are — with honesty, empathy, and hope.
Pricing:
- $200 for 50 minute therapy session (couples/individuals
- $200 for 50 minute coaching session (couples/individuals
- $360 for 90 minute therapy session (couples/individuals
- $350 for 60 minute Band session
- $600 for 120 minute Band session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://susanhyattmft.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhyattmft/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birnholz1967/
- Other: https://therapyforbands.com/
Image Credits
Photo taken by Jenna Doolittle of Susan and her band Pillbox’s last performance at the Mockingbird Theater in Franklin, TN in 2019.
