Sold Out Money and Meaning: An Exploration of One’s Money and Class Identity [In-Person]

As therapists, we often avoid and miss opportunities to talk about money due to our own discomfort around the meaning of money and class in our families and society. This discomfort can manifest in setting fees and discussing billing, especially when we work with clients with less or more financial resources than ourselves.

This workshop will help therapists explore the beliefs we hold and the premises we have internalized around when and how we speak about money and how it relates to social standing, class and internalized feelings of superiority and inferiority. Participants will be guided in exploring the thread of money and class identity through a multigenerational emotional mapping of patterns in their family history with the goal of developing fluidity and comfort with guiding one’s self and clients to a deeper understanding of the meaning of money in our lives. Registration is limited to 10 participants.

Learning Objectives:

• Invite conversation and exploration of money and meaning in a neutral safe environment
• Follow the thread of money and money/class identity through a multigenerational mapping of patterns, family histories and class identities
• Get greater understanding of one’s money identity to offer a fuller location of self around class and economic circumstances
• Feel more at ease in setting fees with clients

Presenters:

Judith Stern Peck, LCSW, is a prominent family therapist and family business consultant. She is the Director of the Money and Family Life Project at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, was a participant in the consultant referral service on the Council on Foundations’ Family Foundation Services department, and received “Fellow” status by FFI, the professional organization for Family Business Consultants after her 20+ years of experience working with family businesses and family foundations. Judy’s received a BA from Finch College, an MSW from Yeshiva University, and received a post-graduate certificate in family therapy from the Ackerman Institute for the Family.

Betsy Witten, JD, is a New York-based coach who helps clients develop self-awareness and agency around money.  She supports their navigation of legal and investment relationships through life-cycle transitions including trust creation, estate planning, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Her professional history includes being an attorney, a social justice advocate, a founder of a high school for court-involved students, and a Program Director at a national foundation.  Betsy received both her BA and JD from Columbia University.

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