(pronounced Mý-lee)
Burbank, CA
Maile Baird-Hicks MA, LMFT
Are you tired of the way
things are?
Have overwhelm, anxiety or burnout become too much?
Do you want more clarity, hope and joy?
I am here to support you on your path.
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Burbank, CA. I provide In Person and Telehealth therapy to adults and couples throughout California.
Specializing in therapy for Anxiety, Depression and Life Transitions.
Anxiety
Do you feel like you are stuck in "survival mode," even when you’re just trying to pick out cereal at the store. Suddenly, your heart’s racing, your palms are sweaty, and you’re convinced everyone can hear your thoughts. If you’re searching for help with anxiety, you’re not alone. Anxiety can be extremely unpleasant and exhausting—it can make the simplest moments feel like you’re in a rush to solve complex problems.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Really. Everyone—even you—has the ability to shift these patterns. With the support of the right therapist, you can feel safe enough to actually exhale, be yourself, and figure out what’s making your nervous system sound the alarm. Together, we’ll get curious (not judgmental!) about what sets off your anxiety, what fuels it—and, most importantly, what helps you find your calm. I will help you build a toolkit of strategies so you can stop feeling hijacked by anxious feelings and start living life on your own terms.
Life Transitions
Life loves to throw us curveballs. And sometimes these curveballs leave us feeling raw, overwhelmed and unsteady. Whether you're coping with the loss of a loved one, navigating career change, starting a new job, relocating or simply adjusting to the changing world around you, the impact can feel overwhelming and confusing.
You do not have to navigate these transitions alone. As a therapist specializing in life transitions counseling, I’m here to help you bolster self compassion, make sense of your reactions, find your footing, and develop real-life strategies for coping. Together, we’ll work on clarifying your goals, managing stress and anxiety and building the resilience you need to adapt to change. Therapy for life transitions can help you find steadiness in the midst of uncertainty— so you can reclaim a sense of calm, confidence and direction to begin moving forward with purpose.
Depression
Are you able to keep it together on the outside, but on the inside you feel utterly alone, or on the edge with emotional pain, where even the smallest of tasks can feel insurmountable? You may notice yourself repeating painful patterns in relationships, feeling tremendous overwhelm or burnout or maybe you are struggling with an inner critic that tells you things will never be different.
But things can be different. And you don’t have to navigate this alone. Depression is not a personal failure and it does not have to be a life sentence. It is a deeply human experience that can affect how you think and feel. How you relate to others and see yourself.
In therapy, we can gently explore and examine the patterns that may be keeping you feeling stuck. This includes paying attention to your thoughts and emotions, but (and) also to the ways your nervous system responds to stress, loss, conflict, and overwhelm. Your autonomic nervous system plays an important role in how safe, connected, energized, or shut down you feel. As we build greater awareness of these patterns, we can begin creating space for something different: more self-understanding, a quieter inner critic, increased self-compassion, and a clearer sense of what you need. Healing does not require you to have all the answers right now. It is a process. It can begin with having a supportive place to pause and feel understood; taking progressive next steps at your own pace.
Together, we can work on calming your nervous system (slowing it down), breaking free from reactive cycles that no longer serve you. We work together to rediscover the confidence and clarity you’ve been searching for. You do not have to stay stuck. You can move forward... and I would be honored to walk alongside you as you do.
About Me
I didn’t always know I’d end up as a therapist. I majored in Communication Studies at UCLA and began my career in the Entertainment Industry. I eventually realized the best parts of my day were not about the work—they were about connecting with people, listening, and offering support.
So I went back to school to get my Master’s degree in Psychology. Fast forward nearly twenty years, and I’ve had the privilege of working with adults, couples, and parents as they find regulation from anxiety, heal from old wounds, untangle relationship knots, and rediscover joy, clarity, and a little more peace.
My approach is client centered, Somatic (specifically Autonomic Nervous System focused) and designed just for you. I was trained in Postmodern Therapy (Narrative, Solution focused) and incorporate a variety of modalities like Polyvagal Theory (Nervous System Regulation), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gottman and I’m a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 (CCTP-II). I help you get to know your nervous system, notice (helpful and unhelpful) patterns, and heal the parts of you that have been carrying too much for too long.
We’ll work together—at your pace—toward relief, resilience, and building a life that actually feels good to live. If you’re ready to start your next chapter, I’m here.
What is Nervous
System Regulation?
Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and expanded into therapeutic practice by Deb Dana, offers a compassionate lens for understanding how our nervous system influences our emotions, relationships and responses to the world around us. At its core, the theory describes three distinct states of the autonomic nervous system: ventral vagal (safety and connection), sympathetic (mobilization and readiness for action), and dorsal vagal (shutdown and withdrawal). These states evolved as protective responses to help us survive in challenging environments. However, because our nervous system was shaped long ago in circumstances very different from today’s modern world, its automatic responses are not always well-matched to the situations we face now.
In therapy, this perspective can be incredibly empowering—by learning to notice and recognize these states within ourselves and gently guide our system, when appropriate, back toward a sense of safety and connection. In this process, clients discover new ways to regulate emotions, manage stress, and feel more present in daily life. Polyvagal-informed therapy provides both understanding and practical tools for building resilience, deepening relationships, and creating space for healing.
Frequently asked Questions
1 . What are your fees?
Individual sessions are $225 for 50 minutes. Couple sessions are $250 for 50 minutes. I offer sliding scale fees based on individual financial situations to help make therapy more accessible. Please feel free to discuss your needs with me. I can also provide a superbill as an out-of-network provider for PPO health insurances.
2 . Do you take insurance?
I can provide superbills as an out-of-network provider for PPO health insurances.
3 . What is your cancellation policy?
To honor both your time and mine, I kindly ask that any cancellations or rescheduling be made at least 24 hours in advance. Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, will be billed at the full session rate.
3 . What is a Good Faith Estimate?
Beginning January 1, 2022, all patients who are uninsured or not using insurance should receive a "Good Faith Estimate*." This is a detailed written estimate explaining the expected costs of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
An initial estimate will be provided during your initial consultation session. You may request an updated estimate at any time.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit
*Good Faith Estimates are only estimates for services provided and actual charges may differ from the Good Faith Estimate. The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract and does not require the individual to obtain the items or services from the providers identified in the Good Faith Estimate.