Financial Therapy in Roseville, CA: Transform Your Relationship with Money
Are you struggling with financial stress, anxiety about money decisions, or finding yourself stuck in unhelpful financial patterns? As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in financial therapy, I help individuals and couples transform their relationship with money, addressing both the practical and emotional aspects that influence financial well-being.
What Is Financial Therapy?
Financial therapy represents a specialized therapeutic approach that addresses the emotional and psychological dimensions of your relationship with money. Unlike traditional financial planning that focuses primarily on numbers and strategies, financial therapy delves into the underlying emotional factors that drive financial behaviors and decisions.
The Financial Therapy Association (FTA) defines financial therapy as "a process informed by both therapeutic and financial competencies that helps people think, feel, communicate, and behave differently with money to improve overall well-being through evidence-based practices and interventions." This specialized field requires professionals to have training in both financial planning and mental health treatment.
Financial therapy recognizes that our financial choices aren't made in a vacuum—they're deeply influenced by our personal histories, family backgrounds, emotional triggers, and core beliefs about ourselves and the world. By exploring these connections, financial therapy helps you develop greater awareness, healthier financial habits, and improved overall well-being.
I am Audrey Schoen and as a certified Master ART Practitioner with specialized training in financial therapy, I bring together therapeutic and financial competencies to help you navigate the complex emotional landscape of money management. Financial therapists bridge the gap between mental health professionals and financial advisors, offering a unique set of skills that addresses both the psychological relationship with money and practical financial aspects.
Why Your Relationship with Money Matters
Your relationship with money affects virtually every aspect of your life in the financial realm:
Daily decisions: From small purchases to major financial decisions
Career choices: How you value your skills and negotiate compensation
Relationship dynamics: Communication about finances with partners and family
Future planning: How you prepare for major life transitions and retirement planning
Self-worth: How financial circumstances influence your sense of value and identity
Stress management: How money concerns impact your mental health and physical health
Many of us develop money patterns early in life that continue to influence our behaviors as adults. These patterns might include:
Avoidance: Postponing financial decisions or refusing to look at financial statements
Perfectionism: Setting unrealistic financial standards that lead to anxiety or shame
People-pleasing: Making financial decisions to gain approval rather than meeting your own needs
Self-criticism: Harsh self-judgment about financial missteps or circumstances
Impulsivity: Making financial decisions without considering long-term consequences
Excessive anxiety: Constant worry about money despite financial stability
Financial therapy helps you identify these patterns and develop healthier, more intentional approaches to managing your finances. Most people struggle with at least some aspect of their financial life, and seeking help from a financial therapist can be a transformative step toward financial freedom.
How Financial Therapy Works
When you engage in financial therapy, you'll participate in a structured yet personalized process designed to address your specific concerns and goals. Here's what you can expect:
1. Comprehensive Assessment
We begin with a thorough exploration of both your financial situation and your emotional relationship with money. This includes:
Identifying your current financial problems and stressors
Exploring your personal finance history and formative experiences with money
Examining beliefs and attitudes about wealth, success, and financial security
Recognizing emotional triggers that influence spending, saving, and financial decisions
Understanding how financial behaviors affect your relationships and overall well-being
2. Developing Awareness and Insights
With a foundation of understanding established, we work together to recognize patterns and connections between your emotions and financial behaviors. This might involve:
Uncovering "money scripts" or unconscious beliefs that drive financial decisions
Identifying emotional needs that you might be trying to meet through financial behaviors
Recognizing how past experiences have shaped your approach to finances
Understanding how financial stress manifests in your body, emotional responses, and relationships
3. Creating Strategies for Change
Based on your increased awareness, we develop practical strategies to transform your relationship with money. These might include:
Building emotional regulation skills for managing financial anxiety and stress
Developing healthy boundaries around financial discussions and decisions
Learning communication techniques for productive money conversations with partners or family
Creating personalized tools for mindful spending and intentional financial choice-making
Addressing specific challenges like financial avoidance, excessive risk-taking, or compulsive shopping
4. Integration and Growth
As therapy progresses, you'll integrate new insights and practices into your daily life, with ongoing support and refinement. This stage focuses on:
Implementing and adjusting new financial habits and behaviors
Addressing challenges that arise during the change process
Celebrating progress and successes
Building confidence in your ability to manage both the emotional and practical aspects of your financial life
Specialized Therapeutic Approaches
As a financial therapist with extensive training in trauma-informed care, I incorporate several specialized modalities that can enhance the effectiveness of financial therapy:
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
As a Certified Master ART Practitioner, I offer this innovative approach that can be particularly effective for addressing financial trauma and anxiety. ART helps process distressing memories and emotions that may be connected to financial experiences, allowing for rapid relief and transformation without requiring detailed discussion of painful experiences.
Brainspotting
This powerful therapeutic technique helps access and process emotional material stored in the brain that may be influencing your financial behaviors. Brainspotting can be especially helpful for addressing deep-seated financial anxieties and breaking through stuck patterns of financial behavior.
Who Benefits from Financial Therapy?
Financial therapy can be valuable for individuals and couples facing a wide range of financial challenges and concerns:
For Individuals
Financial therapy can help you address personal challenges such as:
Money anxiety and avoidance: Overcoming fear and resistance to engaging with financial matters
Self-doubt and imposter syndrome: Building confidence in your financial decision-making abilities
Perfectionism around finances: Developing a more balanced and realistic approach to money management
Financial trauma: Processing past experiences that continue to impact your financial behavior
Unhealthy spending patterns: Understanding and changing behaviors like emotional spending or excessive frugality
Self-criticism about financial decisions: Developing self-compassion and resilience in your financial journey
Career and income concerns: Addressing blocks to receiving fair compensation or pursuing financial opportunities
For Couples
Financial therapy offers support for couples navigating shared financial challenges:
Different money values and priorities: Finding common ground and mutual understanding
Communication breakdowns around finances: Developing effective ways to discuss financial matters
Trust issues related to finances: Rebuilding connection after financial breaches of trust
Decision-making conflicts: Creating collaborative approaches to financial choices
Financial power imbalances: Addressing inequities and fostering financial partnership
Blending financial lives: Navigating the complexities of merging finances in committed relationships
Financial planning for major life transitions: Working together toward shared financial goals like homeownership, career changes, or retirement
For Entrepreneurs
As both a therapist and business coach for therapists, I offer specialized support for entrepreneurs facing the unique financial challenges of business ownership:
Financial decision-making under uncertainty: Developing confidence in business financial choices
Pricing and valuing your services: Overcoming barriers to charging appropriately for your work
Managing financial risk and reward: Finding comfort with the financial uncertainties of entrepreneurship
Balancing business and personal finances: Creating clear boundaries and systems
Money mindset for growth: Addressing limiting beliefs that constrain business development
Financial self-care: Ensuring personal financial well-being while building a business
The Difference Between Financial Therapists and Financial Advisors
It's important to understand how financial therapists differ from other financial professionals in the financial industry:
Financial Therapists
Financial Advisors
Focus on the emotional and psychological aspects of money
Concentrate primarily on financial strategies and planning
Explore underlying beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to money
Emphasize concrete financial goals and investment strategies
Provide therapeutic support for financial stress and anxiety
Offer technical expertise on financial products and services
Address relationship dynamics around financial matters
May not address interpersonal aspects of financial decisions
Help develop emotional regulation skills for financial decision-making
Focus on rational optimization of financial resources
Work on behavioral issues related to money management
Provide advice geared specifically toward growing assets
Many clients benefit from working with both a financial therapist and financial planners or advisors, as these two disciplines complement each other. Financial advisors can provide the investment expertise while financial therapists address the emotional components of money management. As your financial therapist, I can collaborate with your existing financial professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach to your financial health.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has found that emotional factors significantly impact financial decision-making, which is why the integration of mental health and financial planning through financial therapy is increasingly recognized as valuable.
Signs You Might Benefit from Financial Therapy
Consider seeking financial therapy if you experience any of the following:
Persistent anxiety or stress about money, even when your basic needs are met
Avoiding financial tasks like checking accounts, paying bills, or planning for the future
Conflicts with your partner or family members about money matters
Feeling shame or embarrassment about your financial situation
Making financial decisions that don't align with your stated values or financial goals
Using money behaviors (spending, saving, earning) to manage difficult emotions
Finding yourself stuck in patterns of financial self-sabotage
Experiencing physical symptoms like tension, sleep problems, or digestive issues when dealing with financial matters
Feeling triggered or overwhelmed when discussing or thinking about money
Tendency to hoard money or engage in compulsive shopping behaviors
Common Questions About Financial Therapy
How is financial therapy different from regular therapy?
While traditional therapy may touch on financial aspects, financial therapy specifically focuses on the intersection of emotional well-being and financial behavior. As a financial therapist, I have specialized training to help you explore money-related beliefs, behaviors, and challenges in depth, while also addressing the broader emotional and psychological factors that influence your financial life.
How long does financial therapy take?
The duration of financial therapy varies based on your specific needs and goals. Some clients experience significant insights and changes within a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work to address deeply rooted patterns. We'll regularly assess your progress and adjust our approach accordingly.
Do I need to share detailed financial information?
While some understanding of your financial situation is helpful, financial therapy doesn't require complete disclosure of all your financial details. Our focus is primarily on your relationship with money rather than specific account balances or investment details. You control what information you share throughout the process.
Will financial therapy help me make more money?
Financial therapy isn't directly focused on increasing income, though many clients find that addressing emotional barriers and unhelpful patterns does lead to improved financial circumstances over time. By reducing avoidance, building confidence, and aligning financial behaviors with values, you may discover new opportunities for financial growth and stability.
Can couples with different financial styles benefit from financial therapy?
Absolutely. In fact, couples with conflicting approaches to money often gain the most from financial therapy. The process helps both partners understand their own money stories and those of their partner, fostering empathy and creating space for collaborative solutions that respect both individuals' needs and values.
What's the difference between financial counseling and financial therapy?
Financial counseling typically focuses on providing education and practical advice about managing finances, while financial therapy delves deeper into the emotional and psychological aspects that influence financial behaviors. Financial counseling may help with immediate financial concerns, while financial therapy addresses the underlying patterns that contribute to ongoing financial challenges.
My Approach to Financial Therapy
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with specialized training in financial therapy, I bring a unique perspective to helping clients transform their relationship with money. My approach is:
Trauma-Informed
I recognize that many money challenges have roots in difficult or overwhelming experiences. My training as a Master ART Practitioner and in Brainspotting allows me to offer effective approaches for healing financial trauma and anxiety without requiring you to repeatedly revisit painful memories.
Strengths-Based
While we'll explore challenges and difficulties, I emphasize identifying and building upon your existing strengths and resources. Everyone has innate capacities for growth and healing, and financial therapy helps activate these natural abilities.
Culturally Responsive
I understand that attitudes about money are deeply influenced by cultural background, family systems, and social contexts. I approach financial therapy with respect for diverse perspectives and awareness of how larger social forces impact individual financial experiences.
Collaborative
You are the expert on your own experience, and I view financial therapy as a partnership where we work together to explore, understand, and transform your relationship with money. I bring expertise in the therapeutic process, while you bring essential knowledge about your life and circumstances.
Integrative
I draw from multiple therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches, somatic awareness, and specialized trauma techniques like ART and Brainspotting. This integration allows for a comprehensive approach that addresses both thought patterns and deeper emotional experiences related to money.
Specialized Services for Specific Needs
Financial Trauma Recovery
For those who have experienced significant financial hardships, betrayals, or sudden losses, I offer specialized support for healing financial trauma. Using evidence-based practices like Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Brainspotting, we can address the lingering effects of these experiences without requiring you to repeatedly recount painful details.
Couples Financial Harmony
For couples experiencing conflict or disconnection around money matters, I provide structured support to improve communication, develop shared understanding, and create collaborative approaches to financial management that honor both partners' needs and values.
Entrepreneur Money Mindset
As both a therapist and business coach for therapists, I offer specialized support for entrepreneurs navigating the complex emotional terrain of business finances, helping you build confidence in financial decision-making, overcome blocks to receiving fair compensation, and create sustainable business financial practices.
Intensives and Retreats
For those seeking deeper, concentrated work on financial patterns and challenges, I offer intensive therapy sessions and retreats that provide focused time and space for transformation. These extended formats can be particularly effective for breaking through long-standing patterns and creating significant shifts in your relationship with money.
The Benefits of Working with a Certified Financial Therapist
Choosing to work with a certified financial therapist offers several advantages:
Specialized Expertise: Certified financial therapists have completed rigorous training that combines knowledge of both mental health and personal finance.
Ethical Standards: Members of the Financial Therapy Association adhere to a code of ethics that ensures client well-being is the primary focus.
Holistic Approach: Financial therapists address both the practical aspects of managing finances and the emotional components that influence financial behaviors.
Evidence-Based Methods: Financial therapy incorporates techniques and interventions that have been shown to be effective through research and clinical practice.
Long-Term Results: By addressing the root causes of financial challenges rather than just the symptoms, financial therapy can lead to lasting positive changes in your financial life.
Location and Accessibility
I offer financial therapy services in two convenient formats:
In-Person Sessions in Roseville, CA
For clients who prefer face-to-face connection, I provide in-person financial therapy at my Roseville office. The physical setting offers a private, comfortable space for exploring your relationship with money and working through financial challenges.
Online Therapy Throughout California and Texas
For clients located throughout California and Texas, I offer secure, confidential online financial therapy sessions. Virtual therapy provides the same quality of care with added convenience, allowing you to engage in the therapeutic process from the comfort of your own space.
Taking the Next Step
If you're ready to transform your relationship with money and create greater financial well-being, I'm here to help. The journey begins with reaching out:
Contact me to schedule an initial consultation
Together, we'll assess your specific needs and goals
Develop a personalized plan for addressing your financial challenges
Begin the transformative process of healing your relationship with money
Financial stress doesn't have to control your life. With the right support and approaches, you can develop a healthier, more empowered relationship with money that aligns with your deepest values and supports your overall well-being and mental well-being.
Contact me today to learn more about how financial therapy can help you create lasting positive change in your financial life. For information about session availability and rates, please reach out directly.
About Audrey Schoen, LMFT
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with specialized training in financial therapy, I bring a unique combination of therapeutic expertise and financial insight to my work with clients. My approach integrates evidence-based practices with deep understanding of the emotional aspects of money management.
My professional qualifications include:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Certified Master Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Practitioner
Certifed Brainspotting Therapist
Extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and entrepreneurs
I am passionate about helping clients transform their relationship with money and create greater financial health that supports their overall life goals and values. Through our work together, you'll develop not just better financial habits, but a deeper understanding of yourself and your unique relationship with money.
Whether you're struggling with financial anxiety, navigating couple conflicts about money, or seeking to overcome blocks to financial success, I offer a supportive, non-judgmental space to explore these challenges and develop new approaches that better serve your needs and goals.
My focus as a financial therapist is on helping you achieve not just financial stability, but true financial freedom—the ability to make choices about money that align with your deepest values and support your well-being in all other aspects of your life.
Contact me today to begin your journey toward financial and emotional well-being.