Anyone who has experienced the stress and pressure associated with the current economic downturn knows the importance of managing their financial situation.  One of my areas of specialty is helping people to understand the psychology of money.  The psychology of money shows how our finances are influenced by our beliefs, our feelings and our expectations. 
     The first point that I try to get across to people is that money itself is not the source of most financial and emotional problems.  Money itself is an inanimate object with no morals or beliefs.  In other words, people do not have problems with money itself, they have problems managing it.  The way people manage their money can also be a strong indication of how they manage other significant areas of their life.  It is not uncommon for someone who is impulsive with money decisions to also be impulsive with relationship or career decisions.  The current research on finances and marital relationships show that 80-90% of marriages that end in divorce are due to financial difficulties. 
     Next, I assist people in figuring out what money represents in their mind.  Money can be symbolic of happiness, freedom, control, power, security and many other things.  More often than not, the beliefs that people have concerning money and what it represents in their minds stem from the money messages they received during their upbringing.  It is important for people to learn what money represents in their own mind because they might perceive money as being more powerful and influential than it actually is.  In working through those unrealistic perceptions and beliefs, people can learn to manage their finances and the emotions attached to the finances in a healthier way.  

These are some of the questions I assist people in answering:

• Can money actually buy happiness?
• Why does a person who is already wealthy want more money?
• What causes me to be impulsive with money?
• How is my self-control affected by my emotions?
• How can I make better decisions with money?

     I assist people in overcoming problems with impulsive spending, saving money, getting rid of debt and many other money related problems.  There are a plethora of books, infomercials and advertisements that promise to help people get out of the financial messes they have created for themselves by giving them the proper tools and techniques.  The problem with most of those schemes is that they do not delve into the psychological realm of the financial issues.  Having the proper tools and techniques will not do a person any good if they are not willing to change their behavioral patterns associated with their finances. 

     For those of you that may be having difficulty controlling your finances or your emotions related to your finances, please consider calling me to schedule an appointment.  I would be happy to assist you in freeing yourself from the financial and emotional burdens from which you may be suffering.      



Sincerely,

Nathan M. Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC      
    
If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone regarding relationship issues, emotional difficulties or mental health problems, help is a phone call away.  Schedule an appointment today!
Just call (248) 932-7799 to set up an appointment with
Nathan Comerford, MA LLPC NCC.
    
Visit www.thoughtperspectives.com for more information on counseling and psychotherapy!

Visit the "Ask the Counselor" Blog at: www.thoughtperspectives.com/blog

• This is a question and answer blog where Nathan answers questions concerning mental health topics.
•  If you have a question, you can send it to: questions@thoughtperspectives.com to have it answered by: Nathan Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC.

Nathan M. Comerford is a psychotherapist in Farmington Hills, MI who has been helping people with their relationship issues, emotional difficulties and mental health problems for the past 8 years. 

Thought Perspectives Counseling
31275 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 120
Farmington Hills, MI 48334