Flourish - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 48
Small shifts that make a big difference
Real lives, real shame
Clinicians and counsellors
report the same barrier
again and again: shame.
People delay asking for
help because they’re
embarrassed, which then
magni昀椀es the problem missed payments, threats
from creditors, sleep loss,
rela琀椀onship strain. That
shame loop is precisely
what 昀椀nancial therapy is
built to break, by crea琀椀ng
a non-judgemental space
to talk about money
mistakes, grief and fear.
In Australia, Beyond Blue
and Financial Counselling
Australia have even
developed online tools
and resources to help
people navigate this
overlap between 昀椀nance
and mental health.
You don’t need to be in crisis to bene昀椀t. Here are a
few everyday techniques therapists use that you can
try today:
1. The “if/then” budge琀椀ng rule: Rather than rigid bans,
set condi琀椀onal spending rules (e.g. “If I feel the urge
to impulse-buy, then I’ll wait 48 hours and check my
savings goal 昀椀rst.”). This builds breathing room.
2. Values-led spending: List your top three life values
(family, security, health) and check purchases
against them. If spending doesn’t align, pause and
re-evaluate.
3. Micro-exposures to fear: If opening bills is
overwhelming, set a 琀椀ny, 琀椀med task: open mail for
昀椀ve minutes and mark the most urgent item. Small
wins reduce avoidance.
4. Behavioural nudges: Automa琀椀ng savings (paying
yourself 昀椀rst) or using round-up apps can create
昀椀nancial bu昀昀ers without needing
ongoing willpower.
These steps are simple
but rooted in behavioural
science. When combined
with compassionate
coaching, they can alter
long-term habits.
