Matthew Gray hosts an episode of the Financially Fit Couple with guest Sarah Carr, a CFP® and certified financial therapist, to discuss how couples communicate about money. Sarah explains financial therapy as the convergence of financial planning and mental health, clarifying she is not a licensed mental health clinician and does not diagnose or create treatment plans, but helps identify emotional barriers that block follow-through on financial plans.
They explore why money is a top source of conflict, how it can represent many different piece of our identity, and how subconscious “money scripts” formed in childhood shape behavior. The discussion emphasizes shared goals, curiosity, and creating emotional safety, using values-based planning to align spending with what matters. Also covered in the conversation are regular money check-ins, worksheets, and the Financial Therapy Association directory to find help.
00:38 Meet Sarah Carr
02:33 What Is Financial Therapy
05:18 Emotions Block Action
07:16 Why Money Talks Are Hard
09:26 Money Scripts And Origins
13:23 Healthy Couple Communication
26:48 Finding Your Values
27:48 Reconciling Different Values
30:16 Curiosity Over Conflict
33:28 Creating Safety in Money Talks
36:03 Internal Scripts and Trauma
45:58 Practical Tools and Money Check Ins
49:44 When to Seek Financial Therapy
Resources
Sarah Carr
Money Histories Worksheet (file:///S:/Shared%20Files/Podcast/Sarah%20Carr/Money%20Histories%20Sarah%20Carr%20Financial.pdf)
https://sarahcarrfinancial.com/
Matthew Gray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/
https://schrockfin.com/
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC
