TheraBrake™ Goal and Budget Guide Assessment
Your budget knows what to do.But do you know why you don't?
Financial stress isn't just about money. It's about the beliefs, emotions, and patterns that shape every decision you make. Let's address all of it.
The Cycle
You create a budget. You break the budget. You feel shame. You avoid looking at your finances. Repeat.
The Feeling
Anxiety about checking your account. Shame about purchases. Conflict with your partner. Sleepless nights.
The Question
"Why can't I just follow my own plan?" It's not a willpower problem. It's a pattern that runs deeper.
Free Self-Assessment
What's Your Money Script?
Discover the unconscious beliefs that drive your financial behavior. This 2-minute assessment reveals patterns most people never recognize.
Ready to discover your money script?
Answer 7 quick questions honestly. There are no right or wrong answers only insights waiting to be discovered.
Professional Support
Financial Wellness Counseling
A structured 6-8 session program that addresses the psychological roots of financial stress not just the spreadsheet.
What We Work On
Money Beliefs
Uncover the scripts you inherited about money—from family, culture, and past experiences—and decide which ones still serve you.
Spending Triggers
Identify the emotional states, situations, and patterns that lead to financial decisions you later regret.
Financial Anxiety
Develop tools to reduce the stress, avoidance, and sleepless nights that come with money worries.
Goal Alignment
Connect your financial behavior to your deeper values—so your budget reflects what actually matters to you.
Relationship Dynamics
For couples: learn to communicate about money without conflict, judgment, or resentment.
Rory E. Carothers Sr., LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
With 20 years of military service and experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, I bring a unique perspective to financial wellness. I've developed and used the budgeting methodology behind this tool for over two decades and I understand that lasting change requires addressing both the practical and the psychological.
Structured program with clear milestones
Focused sessions that respect your time
Convenient, private, from anywhere
Ready to address what the spreadsheet can't? Schedule a session to see what direction is right for you.
Schedule SessionSessions provided through Mental Health Defense and Fitness PLLC
Common Questions
Is this therapy or financial advising?
This is therapy specifically, counseling that focuses on your psychological relationship with money. I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor, not a financial advisor. I won't tell you where to invest or how to structure your accounts. I'll help you understand why you do what you do with money, and help you develop healthier patterns.
Do I need to use the budget tool to do counseling?
No. While the budgeting tool can be a helpful framework for our work together, it's not required. The counseling program stands on its own and can integrate with whatever financial system you currently use.
Is this covered by insurance?
Mental Health Defense and Fitness PLLC can provide superbills for potential out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your insurance plan. We can discuss payment options during your first session.
What if I'm in financial crisis right now?
If you're facing immediate financial hardship (job loss, overwhelming debt, bankruptcy), counseling can help you process the emotional weight of that situation while you work through practical solutions. Sometimes addressing the anxiety and shame is what allows you to take effective action.
Can I do this with my partner?
Yes. Couples sessions are available for partners who want to improve how they communicate about and manage money together. Financial conflict is one of the leading causes of relationship stress and it's very addressable.
Your financial life is about more than numbers.
The budget tool handles the math. But if you're ready to address the beliefs, emotions, and patterns behind your financial stress let's talk.