What is financial trauma?
How past money-related experiences shape current financial behavior, the signs to look for in clients, and how professionals can respond safely.
financial traumaclient behaviourtrauma-informed practice
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Resources
Trauma & money guides
Practical articles and explainers for financial advisors, financial counselors, therapists and coaches who work with the trauma-and-money intersection.
Start here
What is the trauma of money?
The broader field of trauma and money: how unresolved trauma shows up in financial beliefs, relationships and decisions, and what practitioners need to know.
trauma of moneytrauma and moneyfinancial wellbeing
Read the guide How trauma affects financial behavior
The nervous system patterns behind avoidance, overspending, hoarding, chronic scarcity and dissociation in client money conversations — financial behavior shaped by what came before.
trauma and moneyfinancial behaviornervous system
Read the guide Trauma & money
What is trauma-informed financial practice?
The discipline that connects trauma, money psychology, financial behavior and professional practice. The principles and who uses them.
trauma-informed practicemoney psychologyprofessional practice
Read the guide What is trauma-informed financial advice?
What trauma-informed practice means for financial advisors and planners: the five principles, what it looks like in a client meeting, and how to stay inside your scope.
trauma-informed financial advicefinancial advisorsCE credits
Read the guide What is trauma-informed financial counseling?
What trauma-informed practice means in financial counseling casework: hardship and debt work, financial abuse and coercive control, scope, and protecting yourself from vicarious trauma.
trauma-informed financial counselingfinancial counselorsCEU
Read the guide Money psychology & professions
What is money psychology?
How beliefs, emotions, relationships and early life experiences shape financial behavior. How it differs from behavioural finance and from trauma-informed practice.
money psychologyfinancial psychologyfinancial behavior
Read the guide What is financial therapy?
What a financial therapist actually does, how the work differs from financial counseling and coaching, and the training path practitioners take into it.
financial therapyfinancial therapistmoney psychology
Read the guide Money anxiety and money shame
How to tell an activating money anxiety response from a shutting-down shame response in clients, and what to change in the room for each.
money anxietymoney shamefinancial behavior
Read the guide Financial therapy vs financial counseling vs financial coaching
How the three professions differ in scope, training, regulation and practice, and where trauma-informed practice fits each role.
financial therapyfinancial counselingfinancial coaching
Read the guide Reading path
Financial therapy resources
A guided order for practitioners moving into financial therapy: what the work is, the psychology underneath it, and how it differs from counseling and coaching.
- 1
What is financial therapy?
Start here. What a financial therapist does, who the work helps, and the training paths into it.
- 2
What is money psychology?
The psychological layer underneath the practice: beliefs, emotions and financial behavior.
- 3
Money scripts
The four unconscious money beliefs — avoidance, worship, status, vigilance — and how to work with each.
- 4
Money anxiety and money shame
Read the state in front of you before you change the plan.
- 5
What is financial trauma?
When a money belief hardens into a nervous system response.
- 6
Financial therapy vs counseling vs coaching
Scope, training and referral boundaries across the three professions.
Popular courses
Guide
What is financial trauma?
Signs, causes and how it shows up in client money behaviour.
Guide
What is the trauma of money?
The broader field linking unresolved trauma to financial life.
Guide
How trauma affects financial behaviour
Nervous system responses, common patterns and what professionals notice.
Guide
What is trauma-informed financial practice?
The discipline that connects trauma, money psychology and professional practice.
Guide
What is trauma-informed financial advice?
How advisers apply trauma-informed principles in advice.
Guide
What is trauma-informed financial counselling?
A practical framework for counsellors working with money.
Guide
What is money psychology?
How beliefs, emotions and early experience shape financial behaviour.
Guide
Financial therapy vs counselling vs coaching
How the three professions differ in scope, training and practice.
Guide
What is financial therapy?
What a financial therapist does, who it helps, and how to train for it.
Guide
Money scripts
The four unconscious money beliefs and how they show up in client behaviour.
Guide
Money anxiety and money shame
Two different states, two different responses in the room.
Worldwide · Certificate
Trauma & Money Foundations
Professional development for financial professionals — no CPD or CEU credits, 7 chapters and 53 lessons.
Australia · CPD accredited
Trauma & Money — Financial Adviser AU CPD
11 accredited CPD points for Australian financial advisers and planners.
Australia · CPD accredited
Trauma & Money — Financial Counsellor CPD 1
6 accredited CPD credits for Australian financial counsellors.
Try the first lessons free
Every accredited course opens with a free preview — no card, no commitment. See the teaching style before you enrol.