Financial Therapy; How It Can Help

How would your life improve if you had fewer financial problems?

If your relationship with money is having a negative impact on your life, financial therapy may help. Promoting financial health is the main goal of financial therapy. It is a blend of psychology and money skills that provide an opportunity for you to improve financial wellness and behavior by better understanding your emotional relationship to money.

Financial issues can affect all people and all relationships regardless of your age and the amount of money you make. Financial problems can be triggered by events such as a death, bad economy, job loss or divorce. Often, however, they can come on more slowly and subtly. More often than not, it is our own behavior that gets us into financial trouble.

Financial therapy can help in the following ways.

Financial therapy can help improve your relationships.

When money is a source of stress and worry, that stress influences many aspects of life, including relationships between members of a couple, as well as with children, other family members, and friends. Conflict and anxiety around finances will be addressed and not ignored.

Financial therapy can help you achieve your financial goals.

One size does not fit all when it comes to finances. You have your own unique set of values. It may be important for you to save money for retirement. To another individual it may be important to travel. The process of financial therapy can help you set priorities based on your individual values.

Financial therapy can help you overcome problematic beliefs.

Lessons about money are learned from your parents, some of which are helpful and others that are not. If money was not discussed in your family you learn that it is not something that is talked about, even with your spouse or partner. Or, you may have grown up in a family where money was always tight and, as an adult, you feel that no matter how much money you earn, it is never enough. A financial therapist can help you to identify beliefs that are holding you back and contributing to your current financial concerns. These self-limiting beliefs can be changed to improve your financial life.

Financial therapy can help create positive financial change.

Financial therapy can help create long lasting, positive money habits. It can instill hope that change is possible and improve your self-confidence to face financial challenges and take control of your money and your life.

Financial therapy can help increase financial knowledge.

Unfortunately, you may not have learned about budgeting, spending, savings and investing in the family you grew up in, at an educational institution or by researching the topics yourself. Financial therapy can fill in some of these gaps in your financial education.

Time is your ally in positive financial change. So, the sooner you get started, the better. Help is just an internet search away. Simply search Financial Therapy for a list of providers in your area.

Denise Kautzer is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Certified Public Accountant whose practice is located in St. Paul, MN. You can view her website at www.denisekautzer.com or contact her at denise@denisekautzer.com.

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