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Money-related stress is widespread. More than 90% of workers said they’re stressed about their finances, and 72% said it has worsened their mental health, according to a 2024 BrightPlan survey of U.S.-based knowledge workers. About 70% of Americans say financial uncertainty has made them feel depressed or anxious, causing them to lose sleep and feel physically ill, according to a 2025 Northwestern Mutual survey.
As a result, financial therapy is gaining traction. It combines psychological counseling with money management, addressing issues like chronic overspending, anxiety about saving, and conflicts over finances at home. More people are discovering that money problems aren’t just about math; they’re about mindset, emotion, and old wounds.
Below, we highlight some of the signs that financial therapy might be a good option for you.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional triggers, recurring money mistakes, and inherited beliefs can all signal the need for financial therapy.
- Financial therapy helps address the “why” behind your money habits, not just the “what” of budgeting or investing.
- Unresolved financial trauma, relationship conflicts, or avoidance can be transformed into healthier habits and more confident decisions.
1. You Repeat the Same Money Mistakes
Many people know what they “should” do with money, but find themselves stuck in the same patterns of overspending, avoiding bills, or missing savings goals.
“That disconnect typically stems from unresolved emotional patterns rooted in past relationships or experiences,” Sibyl Slade, the founder of IntegriVest Wealth Advisors, told Investopedia. “Whether modeled after parental behaviors or triggered by financial trauma, these patterns can become deeply ingrained.”
“Financial therapy helps identify those emotional triggers and insert new, healthier behaviors to replace the destructive ones,” Slade said.
2. You Inherited Money Beliefs That Don’t Fit Your Life
Sometimes, your beliefs about money aren’t really your own. Financial therapy can help you untangle which beliefs serve you and which are holding you back.
“Someone raised by a ‘super saver’ parent may also become extremely frugal, even if they’re a creative entrepreneur who thrives on taking risks,” Slade said. “That borrowed mindset can stifle their growth and even their ability to enjoy the wealth they’ve built.”
3. You Struggle With Money Anxiety or Compulsive Spending
If you feel anxious, guilty, or even ashamed about money, or if you find yourself overspending to feel better, these are classic warning signs. Behaviors like overspending could be filling an emotional void, while avoiding saving could be tied to fear or past loss, Preston Cherry, the founder of Concurrent Wealth Management, told Investopedia.
“Financial therapy helps people slow down and ask better questions about the emotional drivers behind their money patterns,” Cherry said. “Once you understand the ‘why,’ the behavior becomes easier to change.”
4. Money Is Causing Relationship Stress
Recurring fights or silence about money in relationships often point to deeper issues. “If money keeps turning into arguments or silence in your relationship, it’s usually not just about the numbers,” Cherry said. “It’s about how two people see money differently based on their past, their values, or what they’re afraid of.”
Financial therapy gives couples the tools to communicate, make decisions together, and rebuild trust around money.
5. You Feel Stuck or Overwhelmed by Past Financial Trauma
Financial trauma can show up as fear of checking your accounts, obsessively controlling every dollar, or being unable to make decisions without second-guessing yourself.
“People who’ve experienced instability, loss, or financial shame often carry that into their current behavior without even realizing it,” Cherry said. “If someone is constantly stressed or stuck around financial decisions, it’s a good time to talk with a professional who can help them separate the past from the present.”
The Bottom Line
Financial therapy isn’t just for those in crisis. It’s for anyone who wants to break free from unhealthy money patterns, heal from past financial wounds, and make decisions with clarity and confidence.
“Traditional financial advising focuses on the ‘what:’ Budgeting, investments, retirement plans,” Slade said. “Financial therapy focuses on the ‘why.'” By addressing the emotional side of money, you can build a healthier relationship with your finances, yourself, and your partner.
