More Than Just Numbers: Exploring Money Wounds in Therapy
Money is never just about money.
In therapy, conversations about finances often open the door to deeper emotional terrain—stories of worth, shame, power, safety, and love. Whether you're someone who feels anxiety around spending, guilt about earning, or discomfort receiving financial support, you're not alone. Money wounds run deep, and they often begin long before we ever earn or spend a single dollar.
Common Money-Related Themes in Therapy
1. Money Shame
Clients may carry hidden guilt or embarrassment about how much they earn, spend, or owe. Some feel they're not "doing enough" financially, while others feel uncomfortable having more than their family or peers.
2. Fear and Anxiety Around Finances
Even those with financial stability can feel chronic worry about losing it all. Money becomes tied to control, security, and survival. "I’m afraid to spend in case something goes wrong."
3. Inherited Beliefs from Family
Many of us unconsciously carry money beliefs from our caregivers: "Money is the root of all evil," or "You have to work hard to deserve comfort." These narratives shape how we relate to money—and ourselves.
4. Money and Self-Worth
It's common to equate income with value. "If I don’t earn enough, I’m not enough." This belief can drive burnout, overworking, and constant self-judgment.
5. Money and Relationships
Couples often clash over spending habits, financial goals, or power imbalances. In friendships or family systems, guilt or obligation around giving and receiving money can cause deep strain.
6. Trauma and Money
Financial trauma can result from poverty, debt, sudden loss, economic abuse, or even growing up in a home where money was a source of conflict. These experiences can lead to avoidance, compulsive saving/spending, or chronic fear.
7. Overgiving and Undervaluing Yourself
This often shows up in work—especially for caregivers, creatives, and helping professionals. You may struggle to charge what you're worth, feel guilty setting boundaries, or always prioritize others' needs above your own.
8. Coping Through Consumption
Spending can become a form of emotional regulation—shopping to soothe stress, prove worth, or fill a sense of emptiness. The high is temporary, but the cycle often returns.
Why We Talk About Money in Therapy
Money touches every part of our lives, yet it’s often cloaked in silence. In therapy, naming your beliefs, fears, and emotional reactions around money can be a powerful form of self-liberation. It’s not about judgment—it’s about curiosity, healing, and reclaiming agency.
Together, we explore:
Where your money story began
How your nervous system responds to financial stress
What boundaries or patterns you’ve inherited and how to shift them
What emotional needs money has been trying to meet
Healing Your Money Story
In a safe, nonjudgmental space, money becomes less about numbers and more about narrative. Through trauma-focused, attachment-based therapy, we gently examine the roots of your money patterns and how they relate to your sense of self.
You are not broken for struggling with money. You are human. And your money story deserves compassion, not shame.
If you’re ready to explore the emotional side of money and begin a more empowered relationship with it, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
Let’s rewrite your money story—together.