TRAUMA
OF MONEY™
The Trauma of Money Method™ is a compassionate approach, delivered through online training, that explores frameworks for healing collective and individual traumas to create financial safety and well-being.
Trauma of Money™ (TOM) is a unique psychoeducational program that certifies professionals and organizations in trauma-sensitive approaches to money. By integrating the psychology of scarcity with the principles of trauma, and examining how these dynamics operate within dominant economic systems, TOM helps individuals and organizations understand how these factors influence the mind and shape financial behaviors.
Our primary focus is training professionals, but individuals are also welcome to attend our cohort training to support their own personal financial healing journey.
Who We Certify:
We work with therapists, financial therapists, social workers, coaches, counsellors, venture capitalists, entrepreneurship program leaders, non-profit directors supporting economically marginalized communities, financial advisors, mortgage brokers, debt counsellors, and other professionals seeking to empower clients to overcome trauma and build financial security.
This site is dedicated to our bi-annual cohort training for individual professionals. If you're an organization seeking staff training, program development consultation, or workshops, please email us at info@thetraumaofmoney.com.
Student feedback
“Being part of this program was one of those life-changing and memorable experiences that you never want to end, and that you would repeat over and over again. I would have paid double or triple for this course (no more TOM moments!) because of the knowledge and experience gained from you and from the entire cohort. I have gained so much more depth when it comes to talking to clients about money, and I have had major shifts in my own mindset around money, value and worth and how I show up in the world.” - Taheera, @tulacpa
Trauma is not what happens to a person, but what happens within them. In line with its Greek origins, trauma means a wound—an unhealed one, and one the person is compelled to defend against by means of constricting their own ability to feel, to be present, to respond flexibly to situations.
— Dr Gabor Mate, Addiction Expert, Speaker and Best-Selling Author
TRAUMA WRITES SCRIPTS IN
OUR MINDS….
You may tell yourself that you are bad with money, that you lack financial literacy. You may be experiencing money shame.
The key term to learn here is trauma. Chances are, you hold some sort of trauma whether it be individual, generational, intergenerational, relational, societal or systemic.
What does this trauma do? It shapes your beliefs around yourself and around money.
Trauma writes scripts in our minds, embedding behaviours into our nervous system. These narratives lead us to different painful disruptive behaviours and money disorders. Without healing that trauma and changing those scripts, financial strategies will only help superficially.
Our focus with this program is to reveal how trauma impacts the mind, and, in turn, our relationships with money and financial wealth. The reality is, if we aren’t able to identify our past traumas, and subsequently, how they influence us, we will not be able to either consciously or subconsciously resolve our money issues.
AS SEEN ON
ORGANIZATIONS
WE HAVE WORKED WITH
MEET THE FACULTY & ADVISORS
Chantel Chapman
Dr Joi K. Madison
Emmanuel Jal
Shulamit Ber Levtov
Shayla Martin
Jeneva Burton
Sunnie Townsend
Andrea Gutiérrez-Glik, LCSW
Cicely Belle Blain
Ondine Hogeboom
Nika Khanjani
Naya
Maceo Paisley
Dr. Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John
Agnetha Jaime Gloshay
Nafasi Ferrell
Lystra Germaine Sam
Meenadchi
Dr. PennElys Droz
When it comes to trauma and financial literacy, we believe in equitable practices and accessibility. Therefore, TOM™ offers partial scholarships to folx who are on a journey of healing from economic marginalization. As scholarships are limited, please consider your proximity to privilege when applying.
Unfortunately, we can not honor all scholarship requests at this time.
Scholarship applications for our SPRING 2025 Cohort are open from Dec 10th, 2024, to Jan 20th, 2025. Scholarships and financial assistance will be issued by Feb 3rd, 2025.
PROGRAM CURRICULUM
SEE OUR CLASS SCHEDULE
MODULE 1
The TOM™ Framework
The Why: A navigational map for this certification program
The link between trauma and our financial situation
Frameworks for psychological healing
Overview of the financial and therapeutic roles that currently exist
How this certification will bridge the gap
Somatic exercises
MODULE 2
Trauma 101
Neurobiology of Trauma: The basic principles of neuroanatomy and how trauma impacts the brain and the body
Beliefs and Physiological Protectors: Recognizing the voice of the saboteur and identify deeper self-beliefs and paradoxical behaviors
Somatic trauma healing approaches: exploring Polyvagal Theory, The Window of Tolerance and other trauma healing frameworks and how they connect to financial disorders
MODULE 3
Bridging the Gap:
Brain & Money
Emotions, feelings, and narratives
Money Narratives: Myths and stories that we create. or are exposed to, that shape our behaviors and relationship with money
Financial Disorders: The behavioral patterns that lead to debilitating financial distress
The Psychology of Scarcity
Exploring our relationship with time
MODULE 4
The “How” of
Happiness & Pain
Consumerism and the dopamine treadmill
Hedonic vs Eudaimonic: Shifting from instant gratification to finding deeper meaning in life
Pain Management: The false promise of all marketing strategies and the fake solution to pain, boredom and loneliness
Addiction and Codependency: Exploring the fine line between overspending, undercharging, workaholism, gambling, and the patterns of addiction
The Brain and Addiction: The biology, psychology, and spirituality of addiction
MODULE 5
Social Justice
The Racial Wealth Gap
Decolonizing Money
Intergenerational Mapping
Racial Divide: Race as a socially constructed concept and how it creates injustice
Looking at money from the lens of Black, Brown and Indigenous people
Looking at money from the lens of marginalized populations
Scarcity and becoming aware of social and cultural narratives and systemic injustices
MODULE 6
Money Tool Box 101
Credit Score Secrets
Debt Payback Strategies
Behavioural Strategies for Money Disorders
Cashflow Management Strategies for personal and small business
Women, Divorce and Money
Conscious Money Management for Couples
MODULE 7
Money Tool Box 102
How our relationship with time impacts our relationship with money
The tools of compassionate presence and empathetic listening
The tool of asking the right questions
Visioning: Reimagine Capitalism
MODULE 8
Integration and Elevation
Executive Summary of the TOM™ principals
Being a TOM™ facilitator: Tools to help you optimize this unique certification in your space
Social Impact Business Canvas Map
Customer Funnel Creation: Converting leads into customers
Positioning yourself as an expert
Landing press and speaking gigs
Media training
Facilitating a Trauma of Money™ Program, online or in-person
What you will get:
Live Online Classes
Our classes are hosted on zoom weekly for three hours. We record all classes and post them in te portal for those who can't make them live.
**Worksheets and Exercises**
The TOM™ Curriculum comes with many resoueces such as worksheets, reading materials, additional videos, somatic exerices, etc.
**Class Resource Portal**
Access to our online resource portal which hosts all of our class recordings as well as our supporting resources. Class recordings available 48 hrs after class and can be viewed at your own pace if you prefer.
**Online Cohort Community**
Connect with your fellow cohort'ers in our online connection community.
**Presentation Materials and Promotional Assets**
Our Professional Enrollments will have access to templates, worksheets and presentation materials that you can use to integrate TOM into your own offerings.
**Alumni Directory Listing**
Once you are Trauma of Money™ Certified, you will be listed on our website under the Alumni Directoy. This will allow you to get access to referrals through our network.
**TOM Certification License:**
The TOM™ Certification authorizes you to integrate the Trauma of Money™: A Compassionate Approach to Finances Program into your work, and promote it with your other offerings to expand and grow your client reach.
**BONUS: Online Alumni Community**
You'll have access to our online alumni community. Bond and connect with like-minded finance and mental health professionals and program grads. We will also be hosting exclusive experiences in this space for alumni. Professional pathway recieves 2yrs free access.
Spring Cohort Registrations Are Now Open
Spring 2025 Cohort
Registration Details
Scroll to reveal registration info
TRAUMA OF MONEY™ CERTIFICATION
This program equips individual practitioners with the skills to effectively apply the Trauma of Money™ methodology with their clients over a 18-week cohort offered in Fall and Spring. Successful completion certifies participants, granting access to licensed materials for individual practice. Ideal participants include mental health professionals, coaches, finance experts, social impact entrepreneurs, economic justice or HR leaders, family lawyers, and entrepreneurship or finance curriculum development educators.
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Absolutely. Many individuals undertake the TOM training as a means of fostering personal healing and empowering themselves in their financial endeavours. We invite all participants (even those who are looking to get certified) to apply the methodology to their own lives before considering professional integration, ensuring you'll have support along the way. If you opt not to pursue certification, it won't be a mandatory component of your graduation requirements.
THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES
18 classes via zoom
Access to any of the following Affinity Groups: Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQIA2s+, and/or General Affinity Groups
Templates and presentation materials
Affiliate listing on our directory
Certification
Licensing to call yourself TOM™ Certified and integrate our materials into your offerings
Additional Professional Affinity Groups
Alumni Membership Community Access free for 2 yrs
PAYMENT OPTIONS
In the interest of making TOM™ sustainable and accessible to as many as possible and understanding that everyone has different capabilities, we have made two payment plan options.
All prices are in USD.
Join the Spring Cohort Early Bird!
$2,000 Up-front Payment
$350/mo for 6 months
$175/mo for 12 months
REGISTRATION
The program runs for 18 weeks. All classes are recorded and sent out within 48 hrs for those students that can’t attend live.
Spring 2025 Cohort 12
Learn more and register below!
Starts March 5th, 2025
If these options are not accessible, please contact us. We have a limited amount of sliding spots available in addition to our scholarships. We invite you to consider your proximity to power and privilege while realizing that there are a limited number of spots available for financial assistance.
WHAT IS THE ONGOING MEMBERSHIP COST & ANNUAL LICENSE RENEWAL FEE?
In order to have on-going access to the alumni community and be listed on the directory, there is an annual membership fee of $200 but for the 2025 cohorts, this cost is $0 for 2 years!
FAQ
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No - we do not require this. This education is relevant to many professions including coaching, or mental health care professionals. This program will cover financial literacy through a trauma informed lens. It will be relevant for finance experts as well as people who are new to financial literacy.
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No- we do not require this. This education is relevant to many professions including financial advisors, business or life coaches, mortgages brokers or really anyone who works with people that may be impacted by their relationship with money.
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No worries! We will send the recordings the following day.
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No, TOM™ is not an investment advisor nor an accountant and will not be giving investment, legal, or tax advice.
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While we hope that everyone enjoys the course and structure, we understand that it may not be the right time or right fit for everyone. We honor refund requests that are submitted before the 3rd class meeting. Refund requests made after the 3rd class meeting may not be eligible for a refund.
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Yes, of course! Shoot us an email and we will schedule a discovery call with you.
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