Connecting the Dots with Financial Therapy

By Wendy Wright, LMFT, Financial Therapist and Money Coach

I feel so alone when it comes to my finances. The sense of dread that overcomes me before I look at my account balances or credit card statement is crippling. I know my relationship with money needs help, but I don’t know where to begin. 

If you’ve experienced one (or all!) of these thoughts, you’re not the only one! The answer to these issues and more lies in financial therapy. As a financial therapist, I help you connect the dots between knowing what to do with your money and actually doing it. My clients learn to not only recognize and understand their financial challenges and money roadblocks but also to confidently move towards a sustainable solution. 

Why Knowing What to Do Isn’t the Same as Doing It

Most of us were taught the mechanics of money—budgets, savings, debt—but not how emotions, stress, family history, or past experiences shape our financial behaviors.

Financial therapy bridges this gap.

It helps connect:

• What you know you “should” do with money 
• With what actually happens when fear, overwhelm, or old patterns take over 

When we work at the intersection of money and emotions, you can stop fighting yourself. Instead of relying on willpower or self-criticism, change becomes more compassionate—and far more sustainable.

Two Small Financial Therapy Practices You Can Try Today

At the heart of my Financial Therapy approach is Principle #1 of the 10 Principles of Financial Therapy©:
Approach money with Abundant Compassionate Curiosity and Zero Judgment.

This principle offers a gentle reframe. Rather than pushing yourself to “do better” with money, it invites you to slow down, get curious, and meet your money patterns with compassion. From there, change tends to unfold more naturally and sustainably.

Ready to start right now?Here are two simple ways to begin shifting your relationship with money.

1. Rename One of Your Bank Accounts

Rename one of your bank accounts with a vision you’re hoping to realize. If you have a savings account for an upcoming vacation, perhaps call it, “Sunshine and Sand, Here I Come.” Or if you’re working on paying off your student loans, name it “Almost Free”, or  “Love my degree!”   I believe that, and research supports, if you have an emotional relationship with your savings, you’re more likely to save. Plus, you’ll have a visual reminder to help you stay on track as you work towards the future.

2. Track Spending with Awareness (Not Shame)

For a second step you can take, and one that I use with my clients, I designed a new way to track your expenses. 

For one week, try writing your expenses down by hand instead of typing them into a spreadsheet.

Along with the amount, note:

• How you felt before the purchase 
• How you felt afterward 

This isn’t about fixing or restricting anything. It’s about noticing. Awareness is often the first step toward healing your relationship with money.

Beyond the item and cost, include the emotion behind the purchase as well as how it made you feel. Again, it’s important to establish an emotional connection to your money.

The Wendy Wright Financial Therapy Approach™

Over the years, I’ve watched clients experience profound shifts when they stop trying to “fix” their finances and instead begin to heal their money story.

This work led me to create the 10 Principles of Financial Therapy©, a compassionate framework that guides my work with clients.

At the heart of this approach is Principle #1:
Approach money with Abundant Compassionate Curiosity and Zero Judgment.

When judgment softens, clarity grows.
When curiosity replaces shame, choice returns.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’re curious whether financial therapy could help you feel calmer and more confident with money, I offer a complimentary discovery call.

This is a grounded, supportive conversation where we:

• Explore your current relationship with money 
• Identify what’s been keeping you stuck 
• See whether my financial therapy approach feels like a good fit for you 

There’s no pressure—just space to be heard.

Schedule a complimentary discovery call

And if this article resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend who might need this reminder:

You don’t have to face your money story alone.

To learn more about financial therapy, listen to my podcast with Sonni Abatta on her show, We Gotta Talk. We discuss how to set an abundance mindset, need-to-know financial advice for freelancers and entrepreneurs, and more.