I recently had the opportunity to lead a Financial Therapy 101 session with the team at Risewell Psychology in Calgary, a practice that specializes in supporting women and girls. What stood out most was how eager therapists are to learn about financial therapy—not just for their clients, but for themselves. Money shows up in the therapy room far more often than most of us were ever trained for, and clinicians are looking for language, tools, and frameworks that make those conversations feel more accessible.
What surprised me most was how emotional the session became during the hands-on exercises. A couple of people were unexpectedly moved to tears, not because we talked about numbers, but because we explored the beliefs, pressures, and lived experiences that shape our relationship with money. It was a reminder that financial stress, shame, and overwhelm are deeply human experiences that don’t discriminate.
I was so impressed with how engaged the Risewell team was—curious, thoughtful, and genuinely open to exploring a topic that many clinicians are still hesitant to touch. Their response reminded me how powerful it can be when you bring both financial expertise and therapeutic training into the same room. It also reminded me that next time I need to supply some Kleenex!