Do you need a new lawyer on retainer?!! Omg

Many of us could use the advice of a financial advisor when it comes to areas like investing, consolidating debt, and planning for retirement. Some of us need more than financial knowledge or advice that only addresses the number side of the equation though. We also need help addressing our emotional relationship with money. This task isn't as well-suited for a financial planner as it is for a financial therapist.

Financial therapy is a rather new field, as the Financial Therapy Association has only been around since 2010. The concept of therapy isn't new at all though. Just as someone might need a therapist's help to deal with thought patterns and emotions surrounding their relationships with family, spouses, or friends, we all have a very real relationship with money that might need similar attention.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it might be time to see a financial therapist:

  • Do you feel frequently depressed or anxious about your finances or making financial decisions?
  • Do you think about what to do about your finances obsessively but fail to follow through with changes?
  • Have you tried to make positive changes like saving money, but keep failing or falling back into old habits?
  • Do you suspect you could be sabotaging your own goals?

Like any kind of therapy, financial therapy is designed to help you get to the place where you can help yourself. That means a financial therapist isn't going to give you advice about which stocks to pick or which budget plan will work best for you (although they might refer you to a financial expert who can help with that). Rather, the therapist will ask you questions that causes you to think about the situation differently.

A financial therapist might ask you to talk about your overall money goals, your past financial failings, or how your parents handle money (it's no secret that we get a lot of our money mindsets from our parents!). They might also ask you to do a word association test that revolves around money. By talking things out, it becomes easier to identify the negative emotional and mental underpinnings of your relationship with money and then move on to tackling them.

Like traditional therapists, financial therapists will recommend a variety of psychological techniques and practical steps to help you change your behaviors. For example, if you're struggling to save money, they might help you find motivation by focusing on how good you felt the last time you were successful at it. If you discover that spending money on yourself makes you feel guilty or anxious, they might help you set up a system that makes it feel safe to do so and reinforces it as a positive way to care for yourself.

If you think you might benefit from seeing a financial therapist, it will be hard to find a professional with that exact certification, although some universities are starting to offer programs of study in financial therapy. Most who title themselves as a financial therapist will have a combination of financial training and psychology or counseling degrees. The best place to look is through the online Financial Therapy Association's directory.

Whether we seek out financial therapy or choose to deal with our emotional and mental hang-ups around money in other ways, it's helpful for all of us to examine the impact of this relationship on our current habits, financial situation, and goals. What do you think will happen if you talk to a therapist about money? Do you think you will benefit from financial therapy?

Written by Jessica Sommerfield for MoneyNing and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by MoneyNing

How You Can Get Back Into Shape Without All Of The Pain

How You Can Get Back Into Shape Without All Of The Pain

One of the main reasons that mothers do not want to get into shape is that being extremely sore is something that nobody looks forward to. Avoiding this sore feeling is possible if you have the correct exercise program. This will take you being proactive about taking care of your muscles. Failure to do this will lead to you being sore or overdoing it during your first few weeks leading to injury. The following are tactics that will help you avoid that sore feeling when getting back into shape after a long period of inactivity.

Slowly Ramp Up Your Workouts

The worst thing that you can do is exercise as hard as you can when first going back to the gym. In fact, it is probably wise to take it even easier than you think that you should. Rest days are important when you are starting to get back into shape as inflammation of muscles can lead to pain or even injury. You should try to do a few different methods of exercise so you don’t overuse a specific muscle group. Your cardio can differ week to week with one week doing the stationary bike with the next being a swim workout.

Recovery Foods

There is a recovery window after you exercise where you need to refuel your muscles. Getting in a protein shake or amino acids into your system can help your muscles recover in an efficient manner. Take the time to research certain supplements that will aid in your recovery. Those people who have a healthy diet generally have a better chance at avoiding that sore feeling. Make sure that the foods are in line with the goals you have for getting into shape. Some people want to lose weight while others want to improve their physique.

Icing and Heating Muscles

You are going to need to be proactive about heating and icing your muscles. You know what problem areas that you have on your body but making sure your joints are healthy is important. Those with access to ice tubs should take full advantage as this can help reduce inflammation in the entire body. If you have tight muscles after a workout then heating them can help out. Before a workout you need to warm up to avoid sore muscles as well as injury.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used for years for people wanting to recover quickly. The combination of massage and acupuncture that many professionals offer is perfect for a mother just trying to get back into shape. If you have a fear of needles you do not have to worry as you can barely feel a majority of the needles as they are inserted. Take the time to do research on those acupuncturists available in the area as the quality of your treatment is extremely important.

The above tips will help you avoid being extremely sore to the point of barely being able to move. Getting into shape is a process and not an overnight magic trick so do not injure yourself trying to do your max weight on your first day back in the gym.

Written by Natalie Bracco for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by Working Mother