115: Financial Therapy: The Intersection of Money and Emotions with Wendy Wright

Take Back Retirement

“There is not good or bad with money”

Our hosts, Stephanie McCullough and Kevin Gaines, sit down with financial therapist Wendy Wright to unpack the emotional complexities that often underlie our financial behaviors. Wendy believes that money issues aren’t just math problems—they’re emotional ones too!

Rather than focusing on dollars and cents alone, Wendy helps her clients understand why they avoid budgeting, overspend in emotional moments, or feel incapable of managing money.

Her mantra? “Abundant, compassionate curiosity and zero judgment.”

Wendy discusses common patterns like the belief of being “bad with money,” the influence of childhood messages, and the emotional burden of debt. She advocates for intentionality, self-awareness, and sustainability over perfection, as well as financial journaling and identifying emotional triggers to help people rewrite their “money stories” and build healthier, more resilient habits.

“Nothing's going to work for you if it’s not sustainable.”

Healing your relationship with money begins with something as small as a $10 weekly savings goal. It’s totally unhelpful to label yourself as “good” or “bad” with money. Personal finance is a deeply personal journey that benefits from reflection, not just spreadsheets.

Whether you're confronting debt, struggling with avoidance, or simply seeking a more peaceful relationship with money, give yourself permission to start exactly where you are—with grace.

Key Topics:

• Wendy’s Financial Therapy Framework (03:20)
• Avoidance and Emotional Burdens (08:39)
• The “Bad with Money” Myth (10:45)
• Algorithmic Influences on Money Shame (13:22)
• Debt, Shame, and Sustainability (15:10)
• Money as a Tool, Not a Goal (31:28)
• Where to Begin: Curiosity, Not Judgment (34:14) Resources:
• WendyWrightFinancialTherapy.com

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You can find the transcript and more information about this episode at www.takebackretirement.com.

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