Sometimes referred to as "the last taboo," money has remained something of a secret within psychoanalysis. Ironically, while it is an ingredient in almost every encounter between analyst and patient, the analyst's personal feelings about money are rarely discussed openly or in any great depth. So what is it about money that relegates it to the background, both on the couch and off? In Money Talks, Brenda Berger, Stephanie Newman, and their excellent cast of contributors address this and other questions surrounding the tender topic of money, how we talk about it, and how it talks to us. Its multiple meanings are explored in the contexts of patients and analysts and the ways in which they relate, in the training and practice of the analysts themselves, as well as the psychological and cultural consequences of having too much or too little in both flush and tight economic times. Throughout, a clinical sensibility is brought to bear on money's softly spoken place in therapy and life. Money Talks paves the way for an open discourse into the psychology of money and its pervasive influence on the psyche of both patient and analyst.

Money-related stress dates as far back as concepts of money itself. Formerly it may have waxed and waned in tune with the economy, but today more individuals are experiencing financial mental anguish and self-destructive behavior regardless of bull or bear markets, recessions or boom periods. From a fringe area of psychology, financial therapy has emerged to meet increasingly salient concerns. Financial Therapy is the first full-length guide to the field, bridging theory, practical methods, and a growing cross-disciplinary evidence base to create a framework for improving this crucial aspect of clients' lives. Its contributors identify money-based disorders such as compulsive buying, financial hoarding, and workaholism, and analyze typical early experiences and the resulting mental constructs ("money scripts") that drive toxic relationships with money. Clearly relating financial stability to larger therapeutic goals, therapists from varied perspectives offer practical tools for assessment and intervention, advise on cultural and ethical considerations, and provide instructive case studies. A diverse palette of research-based and practice-based models meets monetary mental health issues with well-known treatment approaches, among them: Cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies. Collaborative relationship models. Experiential approaches. Psychodynamic financial therapy. Feminist and humanistic approaches. Stages of change and motivational interviewing in financial therapy. A text that serves to introduce and define the field as well as plan for its future, Financial Therapy is an important investment for professionals in psychotherapy and counseling, family therapy, financial planning, and social policy.

"Money matters are treated by civilized people in the same way as sexual matters--with the same inconsistency, prudishness, and hypocrisy. The analyst is therefore determined from the first not to fall in with this attitude, but, in his dealings with his patients, to treat money matters with the same matter-of-course frankness to which he wishes to educate them in things relating to sexual life."--Sigmund Freud, "On the Beginning of Treatment" (1913) It has been almost eighty years since Freud wrote these lines, yet, money is still a disturbing topic. Therapists are often as uncomfortable as their clients discussing the fee, and this reticence can undermine the therapeutic relationship. Increasingly, it is recognized that money plays a key role in therapy and that it is necessary to clear the air about this ancient taboo. Breaking the silence, this book illuminates the problems of fee guilt and fee avoidance and proposes solutions based on a clarified understanding of what is therapeutic for all involved parties. Providing an overview of the issues, the book first examines the significance of the fee in the psychotherapeutic process and its paradoxical nature. The meaning of money and the philosophy of service for a fee is also discussed. Exploring patients' attitudes about the fee, chapters in the second section illustrate how it can operate as a barrier to entering or remaining in therapy. The relationship between the fee and changes in the patients' financial circumstances is discussed and examples of questions that commonly cause discomfort for therapists are presented.

As we deepen our understanding of the interplay between money and psychology, financial therapy has emerged as a popular field of study. This book offers a diverse range of perspectives on the practice of financial therapy, exploring its benefits, challenges, and potential critiques. The book also provides practical guidance for financial therapists as well as financial planning and mental health practitioners who incorporate financial therapy into their work. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the neurobiology of financial decision-making, models in financial therapy, online financial therapy, generational differences in financial attitudes, incorporating financial therapy into divorce planning, and techniques for coping with the stresses associated with estate planning. The book addresses the need for culturally relevant assessments of financial therapy in African contexts and offers a critical appraisal of the field of financial therapy. By providing multiple perspectives and practical guidance, this book will be a valuable resource for students, scholars, and researchers in financial therapy, financial planning and related fields, as well as the broader field of psychology.

The first book of its kind to introduce a model to help you create conversations about money with your clients, Money and Meaning provides a framework and tools to provide a safe environment in which to have conversations and resolve conflicts. Written by a respected expert in business, financial, and relational issues, Money and Meaning is filled with useful case studies and helps you open the door to thoughtful conversations that explore and resolve money’s multiple meanings.