Financial Therapy with Shannah Game, CFP®, CFT™
You probably don't need another person telling you what you should do with money.
You might need somewhere to understand why money feels so hard in the first place.
Financial therapy looks at the emotional, behavioral and practical side of money — so we can work with what's actually happening underneath the numbers.
Ongoing sessions are $225 · 60 minutes · Virtual
So what is financial therapy?
It's where money meets being human.
Most of us have been taught to treat money problems like information problems. Make the budget. Spend less. Save more. Invest. Pay off debt.
And sometimes that works.
But what happens when you already know what you're "supposed" to do and you still can't make yourself do it?
That's the territory I'm interested in.
Financial therapy helps us look at the beliefs, emotions, experiences, relationship dynamics and behaviors that influence how you earn, spend, save, avoid, fight about and think about money.
If you'd like to understand more about why money behavior can be so different from what we logically know we should do, you can also learn more about money behavior here.
Things we might work on
The money stuff humans don't always say out loud.
"I make good money. Why am I still anxious?"
Financial anxiety, scarcity, hypervigilance and why earning more doesn't always make you feel safer.
"I know what I should do. I just don't do it."
Money avoidance, procrastination, unopened accounts, ignored numbers and the shame that tends to come with all of it.
"We keep having the same money argument."
Spending, saving, income differences, resentment, financial roles, secrecy and what money represents to each partner.
"I thought I'd be further along by now."
Comparison, retirement fears, enoughness, career expectations and the midlife money reckoning nobody really prepares us for.
"Why do I keep spending like this?"
Emotional spending, impulsivity, deprivation cycles and figuring out what you're actually trying to get from the purchase.
"My life changed. Now my money needs to change too."
Divorce, career shifts, entrepreneurship, caregiving, menopause, inheritance, grief or simply deciding you want something different now.
Financial therapy may be a fit if...
The numbers aren't the only thing getting in the way.
Here's the thing
You can be incredibly competent in your life and still have a complicated relationship with money.
You can run a company, lead a team, raise a family, solve everyone else's problems — and still feel your stomach drop when you log into your bank account.
That doesn't mean you're bad with money. It means there's probably more going on than a spreadsheet can fix.
How it works
Let's start small.
Book a complimentary 15-minute fit call.
Tell me a little about what's going on and I'll answer your questions about financial therapy. We'll see whether working together feels right.
If it feels right, we'll book your first session.
Financial therapy sessions are 60 minutes and $225. You don't need to organize your entire financial life before showing up.
Meet weekly or every other week.
We'll decide on a cadence based on what you're working through and the kind of support that makes sense for you.
Ongoing financial therapy
per 60-minute session
Sessions are available weekly or every other week. I keep my ongoing financial therapy practice intentionally small so the work stays personal.
A quick distinction
Financial therapy isn't another financial lecture.
I'm not here to give you a gold star for being "good with money."
And I'm not going to automatically hand you a budget and tell you to stop buying coffee.
I'm a CFP® professional and a Certified Financial Therapist™, so I can understand the financial side of what you're dealing with while helping you explore the emotional and behavioral side too.
This work is not psychotherapy and does not replace care from a licensed mental health professional when that's what's needed.
Hi, I'm Shannah.
I've spent my career fascinated by the gap between knowing what to do with money and actually being able to do it.
I'm Shannah Game, a CFP® professional, Certified Financial Therapist™, author and money behavior expert.
My work lives in the part of money traditional financial education often skips: shame, identity, relationships, enoughness, avoidance, anxiety and the strange ways our old money stories keep showing up in our current lives.
I know the financial rules and formulas. What interests me most is everything they don't explain.
My job isn't to tell you what your relationship with money should look like. It's to help you understand the one you already have — and build something steadier from there.
Ready to talk?
Let's see if financial therapy feels like a fit.
Start with a complimentary 15-minute conversation. No giant questionnaire. No need to have your finances perfectly organized. Just come tell me what's going on.
Questions you might have
Financial therapy FAQ
Can financial therapy help with money anxiety even if I make good money?
Yes. Financial anxiety isn't always tied to how much you earn or how much you know about money. Financial therapy can help you explore the experiences, beliefs and behaviors that keep money feeling unsafe or stressful even when the numbers suggest you should feel okay.
Can financial therapy help couples who fight about money?
Yes. Money arguments are rarely only about the dollars involved. Financial therapy can help couples explore communication, family history, values, financial roles, power, safety and what money represents to each partner.
Can financial therapy help with emotional spending or money avoidance?
Yes. We can explore what happens before, during and after behaviors like emotional spending, avoiding accounts, procrastinating on financial tasks or cycling between restriction and spending.
What's the difference between a financial therapist and a financial advisor?
Financial advisors typically focus on financial planning, investments, retirement and financial strategy. Financial therapy focuses on the emotions, beliefs, relationships and behaviors influencing financial decisions. Because I'm also a CFP® professional, I understand the financial side while we work on what may be happening underneath it.
Is financial therapy the same as psychotherapy?
No. Financial therapy can involve emotions, relationships and behavior around money, but my services are not psychotherapy, mental health treatment or a substitute for care from a licensed mental health professional.
Will you tell me what stocks to buy or manage my investments?
No. Financial therapy sessions do not include individualized investment management. We can absolutely explore how you make financial decisions and what emotions or behaviors may be influencing those decisions.
How long do people typically work with a financial therapist?
It depends on what you're working through. Some people want support through a particular season or financial transition. Others benefit from ongoing weekly or every-other-week sessions.
You don't have to figure it all out before you start.
We can start with the part that feels hardest right now.
Book Your Free 15-Minute Fit CallFinancial therapy services provided by Shannah Game / Winnie Stardust Creative, Inc. are educational, coaching and behavioral in nature and are not a substitute for psychotherapy, mental health treatment, medical care, legal advice, tax advice or individualized investment management. Results are not guaranteed and clients remain responsible for their own financial decisions.