At a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island, the late Kurt Vonnegut informs his pal, the author Joseph Heller, that their host had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch 22 over its whole history. Heller responds, 'Yes, but I have something he will never have...Enough.' 
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-John Bogle, Founder the Vanguard Group
Bring more ease to your relationship with money.
A financial therapist helps individuals and couples who feel stuck with their money. Even after you consult books, financial planners, and debt counselors, you may find that you're not able to apply what you're learning. For most of us, our decisions about money are rooted in our emotional mind. 

You may be feeling anxiety, low self esteem, fear, or a sense of incompetence when it comes to your money. Do you want help addressing issues concerning: earning, saving, spending, tracking, or determining realistic goals? Or maybe you're in conflict with family or fighting with your partner about how to move forward together? 

You might benefit from counseling if you answer yes to any of the following:
  • Are you ignoring mail, phone calls, or bank statements? 
  • Are you keeping secrets from friends and family? 
  • Are you worried that you can't take the first step because you don't think it will do any good? 
  • Have your friends or family told you that you're impulsive with your money?
  • Do you pay down debt only to find it's piled up again? 
  • Are you and your partner or loved ones fighting over money?
  • Do you question whether you can get through a financial setback such as a job loss or unexpected illness?
  • Are you doing ok now, but realize that you aren't planning for the future?

A Financial Therapist provides a structured, supportive atmosphere to work on money issues.
If you answered yes to any of the above, you're not alone. Most of us didn't grow up talking openly about how to handle money. It's become a taboo topic that most of us keep secret, especially when we're in trouble. As a financial therapist, I help people exactly where you are. My clients  become more sure of themselves and feel more solid about their relationship to money.

A financial therapist counsels people (individually or with partners) on emotional stumbling blocks and other issues that come up when they try to meet financial goals. I provide a compassionate and structured way to help guide you through your goals, working side by side with you so you're not alone in this emotional work.

Want to learn more about the ways counseling helps people deal with stress over money?
One of the primary goals I have is to help you become more familiar with your core values, which can guide us to discover how you want to be spending your money. Ultimately, I help people discover ways to feel more secure as they embark on a path to financial freedom. 

For more information on ways that financial therapy can be helpful, read an article I wrote for clients considering this kind of therapy: Money: The Missing Piece. In that article, I describe some specific ways I provide assistance. One example of a service I provide is helping people develop what I call a financial wellness plan. A financial wellness plan is more than an ABC guide to get out of debt; it's a holistic look at your relationship to money and includes short, medium, and long term goals that are firmly rooted in your values and take your unique dreams into account. 

Having thoughts that you don't even know where to begin?
You may be thinking that you're not sure where to start or what goals you have. You know that where you are doesn't feel right and what you're doing isn't working. I often help people set realistic goals by working in baby steps when needed. Let's start where you are. If you don't know where to begin to unravel your situation, we can work together to explore your history, your current situation, and your dreams for the future. 

Together, we can explore what you value, what holds you back, and what can launch you forward to bring more ease and acceptance to your relationship with money.  

You've already been to a financial planner and read up on personal finance? And you're wondering how this will be different?
It's often helpful to my clients if we work together with your financial planner if you already have one. And, certainly our work will be informed by what you've learned and what did and didn't work out for you. At the same time, financial therapy with a psychotherapist is different from visiting with a financial planner or coach. 

Many of my clients tell me they've read books and talked to financial planners yet weren't able to implement what they learned in a way that really stuck. Financial planners can help choose investments and help you learn the difference between a Roth IRA and a 401K. They may even know quite a bit about the fear and shame many of their clients have. Yet many people who seek assistance from a financial planner or a debt counselor aren't sure what gets in the way when they try to implement advice they receive. Additionally, people have told me they feel frustrated when they receive advice on only one or two aspects of their financial wellbeing, such as getting out of debt or saving for retirement.

Psychotherapy focused on money is a holistic look at your relationship to money and what happens in your close relationships with others when you're dealing with finances together. While financial therapy with a licensed therapist is often more interactive and goal-oriented than you may have experienced in traditional talk therapy, my primary purpose is also to help you address your emotional barriers and make lasting changes. 

See a therapist with specialized training and background well suited for financial work
I'm a trained psychotherapist who specializes in money, relationships, and health. That means that I have the training and skill to address the reasons that many of my clients discover are underneath their financial worry. For example, as a couples counselor, I know how to help people navigate conflict with partners and families. Additionally, I provide a safe, confidential space to share things about your history, culture, and family background that provides useful insight and context for your decisions today. I'm also trained in goal-oriented behavioral change and values-based therapy methods that help manage anxiety, clarify core values, and make changes that are sustainable over time. 

Methods that work
I've found that people I work with often need emotional support and compassionate psychotherapy to help address emotional stumbling blocks. Like many emotional concerns, stress over money develops over time and deserves our attention. Along with addressing your history and feelings about money, I also help people with concrete skill building and structured support to move forward with the changes they want to make. 

I use an  integrated mix of various therapeutic methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to help you get back on track. These are evidence based method that help people set goals and take action. 

Start spending money and time in a way that matches your values and what's most important to you.