my journey to financial serenity
“I often think of life as a quilt, and every phase is a new square. At the time, you don’t know exactly what you’re making and how it’s going to all fit together. It’s only in looking back that you can see the beautiful pattern you’ve made.”
For me, connecting financial strategy with psychology was a natural fit, but that’s not to say it was an easy journey!
In my undergrad at Baylor, I was hyper-focused on the financial world, diving deep into business with concentrations in marketing and computer information systems.
During my first job out of college as a mortgage loan officer, I realized I wasn’t just a banker. I was also a counselor, helping my clients understand their financial story and envision the path to homeownership. I didn’t find it awkward or uncomfortable at all to have candid conversations about money with my clients.
After getting my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, I came across the concept of Intuitive Eating through my own recovery work. (This led me to later develop a specialty in supporting those with eating disorders and their families.)
During this time, I learned how to listen to my intuition, which was all I had after my sudden divorce—my life was in chaos, and my finances were in ruins.
In what seemed like an instant, my credit score was in the 500s and I had no savings. I worked hard, but I never saved money because, unconsciously, I felt like putting money into savings meant taking it away from my kids. Buying them something felt like a greater show of affection and motherly love; it felt like an affirmation that I could do it on my own.
Through my own money work, I later realized part of this was due to an underlying belief that buying them something felt like a greater show of affection and motherly love.
When you see this rationale from the outside, it’s easy to see how illogical it is. But in the moment, it felt like the obvious choice. This became one of my own great “aha!!” moments when I did my own financial recovery work.
All of that turmoil and uncertainty eventually led me to a place of clarity and peace, and enabled me to do the work I do today with clients. I now specialize in the emerging field of Financial Therapy as a Certified Financial Recovery Counselor and Licensed Therapist. I’m also a member of the Financial Therapy Association.
I want you to know that no matter how shaky the ground you’re standing on is, I can guide you to a firm financial foundation.
When you hear words like “financial issues” or “financial therapy,” it can stir up so many emotions: fear, shame, anxiety, even anger…But in my financial counseling sessions, you’ll feel empowered, confident, relieved and *gasp* we’ll even have fun!
I absolutely love my job. I get to work with individual clients, couples, families and business owners to explore their relationship with money and get past obstacles in their way.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Financial Recovery Counselor based in Denver, but I’m available anywhere virtually thanks to the use of telehealth!
I’m here to help you understand more about the psychology of money in an open, supportive space.
I help people connect to their intuition and learn to listen when it comes to money. This often means looking for patterns, stories, and subconscious beliefs and putting judgement-free words to them. I always encourage my clients (and myself) to look at their finances with compassionate curiosity.
We have to learn compassion for our own negative feelings, and get curious about resolving our financial issues instead. When you examine your money story through a lens of kindness, it opens up so much and transforms your relationships—with your money, with others, and with yourself.
I offer financial counseling in the form of hourly sessions in my Denver office or virtually. Clients can use Health Savings Accounts and Flex Spending Accounts for payment. If you have Out of Network Benefits with your insurance provider, I can provide receipts for filing.
I’m also available for speaking engagements, from how to talk to your kids about money, to money in relationships, to changing your financial story. Contact me or reach out via LinkedIn to learn more.
media mentions
CNBC. It’s time to ask for a raise. Don’t let your nerves get in the way
ED Matters. When a Loved One Returns Home from Residential Treatment
elephant JOURNAL. A Guide to Holiday Meals when an Eating Disorder is at the Table
Entrepreneur Money Stories. Episode 37: Rewriting Your Money Story with Wendy Wright
Healers. Healing Your Holiday Story WHEN IT’S NOT THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR
It’s Not a Crisis with Doryn Wallach. Financial Therapy
Nurture: A Wellness Marketplace. Why Financial Therapy Matters for Entrepreneurs by Wendy Wright
The Mental Health and Wealth Show by Melanie Lockert. Looking at Financial Therapy for Money and Other Issues: An Interview with Financial Therapist Wendy Wright
The Nav.it Podcast. Nav.ing Financial Therapy with Wendy Wright
The Pledgettes. Healthy, Wealthy Money Talks: Couples Edition
The Pledgettes. The Money Mindfulness Masterclass for Entrepreneurs with Wendy Wright, LMFT
The Pledgettes. What’s a Financial Therapist? A Good Addition to Your Financial A-Team!
Smart Money Mamas. How to Talk About Money with Wendy Wright
This Is Uncomfortable. Season 6, Episode 10: No money, no baby
Voyager Denver. Life and Work with Wendy Wright
We Gotta Talk with Sonni by Sonni Abatta. Episode 101: We gotta talk…Money. Getting Your Mindset Right to Earn Big in 2021
ED Matters. Healthy Conversations About Eating Disorders: When a Loved One Returns Home from Residential Treatment
elephant JOURNAL: A Guide to Holiday Meals when an Eating Disorder is at the Table
Voyager Denver: Life and Work with Wendy Wright
Healers.: Healing Your Holiday Story WHEN IT’S NOT THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR
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