This might sound surprising, but counselling can actually help with really practical worries. Right now the cost of living keeps rising, while wages are not. It means a lot of us are finding it increasingly difficult to get by financially.
Getting therapy might seem like adding just another cost, but if you’re reading this then hopefully you’re at least a little curious about how therapy might benefit you if you’re struggling.
Firstly let’s break down “money worries” into two parts – there’s the money itself, and then there’s the worry about the money. I’m not suggesting that counselling will make your rich (financially anyway). The cost of living crisis is very real, so feeling overwhelmed is not an unusual response. But those feelings of overwhelm – that’s where counselling can help. Anxiety about money can impact us in so many ways: lack of sleep, arguments with friends or family, or just less enjoyment in the everyday.
What is money?
That might sound like a stupid question, but what I’m getting at is what money means to you. Most of us aren’t interested in getting money for money’s sake, it usually means something else more important. That could be making sure we have a roof over our heads, food in our mouths, looking after our loved ones, a certain lifestyle, or security. Your self-worth might be tied to earning a certain amount. Even your identity can be associated with how much you earn, perhaps in comparison to friends or family members, or as a way of measuring your own career progression.
So how can counselling help?
There’s no denying the practical problems with the cost of living at the moment, so it makes sense you might be worried about money. No matter how financially intelligent you are there is only so much you can do to cut back on spending. That means some of our financial wellbeing is out of our control, and that can be scary.
What is in your control though, is how you respond to these real practical difficulties. That’s where counselling comes in. We can explore:
- What money / lack of money means to you (practically and emotionally)
- How your anxiety about money impacts you, and those around you
- Current ways you cope with stress around money
- The benefits and drawbacks of your current coping strategies
- Alternative ways to deal with financial stress
- Ways to bring more awareness to what triggers stress or intense worry
- How to deal with the feeling that finance is out of your control
These are just some of the ways counselling may be able to help ease your money worries. If you think that counselling sounds like an indulgence, think about what spending money on yourself could achieve if it led to you worrying less. Better sleep, fewer arguments, more enjoyment of life with your friends and family. Personally I think that is worth investing in.
If you want to find out more then feel free to reach out to me to see if we could work together on this.
Other support
If you’re in crisis or need urgent help you can call the Samaritans or the Sussex Mental Healthline for someone to talk to.
For more practical financial advice you could speak with Citizens Advice.
If you want therapy but cant afford it privately, and if waiting lists with the NHS are too long, you might be able to try an EAP. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are often available through your workplace, and may offer free counselling over the phone, internet or in person.