FAQs | Auriavia
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FAQs

Common Questions

What is Financial Therapy?


Financial Therapy is a specialised approach that addresses the emotional, psychological, and behavioural aspects of money. It helps individuals, couples, families, and professionals overcome financial stress, anxiety, guilt, and decision-making struggles. Financial therapy explores why you think, feel, and behave the way you do with money and how to develop a healthier relationship with your money and decision making around it.

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Financial Therapy is an emerging profession with body of academic literature, Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics and required qualifications for practitioners. Financial Therapy tools and modalities are supported by evidence and peer-reviewed research.

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Note: financial therapist is not a regulated term in Australia. Anyone can call themselves a financial therapist.

I am the only Australian Financial Therapist  registered with the Financial Therapy Association. 

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Certified Financial Therapist™ (CFT™) and Certified Financial Behavior Specialist® (FBS®) designations are not currently available in Australia.

What is money coaching?


Money coaching typically focuses on setting goals, changing habits, and providing motivational accountability. Bachrach-style coaching helps financial advisers guide clients to articulate values and align them with financial strategies. These are valuable but they don’t address the emotional roots of money-related stress, conflict, or avoidance.

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Common certifications include:

  • Certified Money Coach (CMC) through the Money Coaching Institute

  • Certified Financial Coach (CeFC) – The Money Panel

  • Financial Fitness Coach (FFC) offered by Sage Financial Solutions

  • Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach

  • Money Mindset Coach certifications (offered by private training providers)

  • Timeline Therapy, NLP, EFT, and behavioural coaching certifications

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These programs vary in depth and are often focused on financial literacy, goal setting, and habit formation not on healing the emotional roots of financial distress. Among these only Financial Fitness Coach (FFC) offered by Sage Financial Solutions is aligned with an empirical evidence based framework through the University of Wisconsin.

 How is financial therapy different to financial planning?

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In Australia, financial planners must meet strict educational and professional standards, including completing an approved degree, passing the Financial Adviser Exam, and meeting ongoing CPD and ethical obligations under ASIC regulation. They are licensed to provide financial product advice, including strategies for superannuation, investing, insurance, retirement, and cash flow.

Financial therapy, on the other hand, is not about products or compliance. It focuses on the emotional, behavioural, and psychological side of money.

🔹 A financial planner might help you structure your superannuation or investment portfolio.
🔹 A financial therapist helps when you’re feeling anxious, avoidant, guilty about spending, or stuck in conflict with a partner over money.

Financial therapy supports clients to unpack:

  • Deep-seated money beliefs and emotional triggers

  • Stress and indecision around financial choices

  • Family conflict, wealth guilt, or financial identity shifts

  • Avoidance of financial tasks or repeated self-sabotage

Many clients benefit from working with both a licensed financial planner and a financial therapist to create a holistic, values-aligned approach to wealth and wellbeing.

How is financial therapy different to financial counselling?

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Financial counselling in Australia supports individuals experiencing financial hardship, debt stress, or crisis situations. Financial counsellors provide free, confidential advice on managing debts, negotiating with creditors, accessing hardship programs, and understanding legal rights. They are accredited through the National Financial Counsellor Accreditation Program (NFCAP) and must hold a Diploma of Financial Counselling (CHC51122). Their role is focused on advocacy, crisis support, and systemic financial issues not therapeutic or emotional work.

How is financial therapy different to a  family therapist, counsellor or psychologist?

 

In Australia, psychologists are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and must complete an accredited postgraduate degree, clinical supervision, and ongoing professional development. Many are also members of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Similarly, family therapists often hold postgraduate qualifications in counselling or psychotherapy and may be registered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT).

These professionals are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or relational distress—many of which can involve financial stress, but extend beyond it.

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Financial therapists do not diagnose or treat mental illness, and financial therapy is not a replacement for clinical care. However, it can be a powerful complement especially for clients whose financial challenges are deeply emotional, but not rooted in a diagnosable disorder.

Do you offer financial therapy outside of Australia?

Auriavia primarily serves clients across Australia, NZ and the Asia-Pacific region.

If you are located internationally, please contact us to discuss availability.

​🚫 What We Do NOT Do (Out of Scope):

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🔴 We Do Not Provide Mental Health Therapy

  • We do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or addiction.

  • We do not provide psychotherapy, counseling, or crisis intervention.

  • If a client presents with a mental health crisis or severe emotional distress, we refer them to a licensed mental health professional.

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🔴 We Do Not Provide Financial Product Advice or Investment Recommendations

  • We do not recommend specific financial products, investments, insurance, or retirement plans.

  • We do not provide personalised financial advice under Australian financial services laws.

  • We do not engage in tax or estate planning services.

  • If a client needs professional financial,  taxation, investment advice or legal advice, we refer them to a licensed financial adviser, accountant or legal practitioner as appropriate.

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🔴 We Do Not Provide Financial Counseling for Debt Management

  • We do not provide debt counseling or budgeting assistance for individuals seeking to manage or repay debt.

  • We do not negotiate with creditors, consolidate debt, or provide repayment plans.

  • If a client needs assistance with overdue bills, bankruptcy concerns, or debt relief, we refer them to a licensed financial counselor or debt specialist.

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