Episode Details

EPISODE SUMMARY

Ever walk into Target for milk and leave with a cart full of things you didn't plan to buy? You're not alone, and it's not a willpower problem. In this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan speaks with Stacy Peterson, to explore the connection between your nervous system and your spending habits.

Stacy is a licensed therapist & a certified financial therapist. Together, Rachel and Stacy unpack how to recognize when you're in the right state to make conscious money decisions, what to do in the Target parking lot when you feel activated, and how to come back to center after overspending.

💬 "The goal is not to always be regulated. No human can exist and nor do we want you to because our survival expects us to be able to have our threat responses work appropriately. We just don't want them to happen at unnecessary times." - Stacy Peterson

Key Takeaways:

• Your spending is not a willpower problem, it's a nervous system awareness process
• Making conscious money decisions happens when you're in your "window of resilience"
• Notice what's happening in your body before making purchases (the Target parking lot check-in)
• Understand the difference between hyper arousal (activated, anxious) and hypo arousal (shut down, disconnected)
• Ask yourself: "What is the want beneath the want?" to uncover deeper emotional needs
• Practice "pendulation", the natural movement between different nervous system states
• Self-compassion is essential when you spend more than you intended

About Stacy Peterson:

Stacy is a licensed therapist and certified financial therapist with over a decade of experience. A former teacher, she brings a patient and encouraging approach to her work. She's a Trauma of Money Methods certified practitioner and is pursuing her polyvagal informed certificate. Stacy offers individual and group financial therapy through River Bend Financial Therapy, blending practical tools with nervous system awareness.

⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN

03:00 | The Window of Resilience Understanding when you're in the best nervous system state to make conscious money decisions.

07:00 | The Target Parking Lot Exercise A powerful guided practice for checking in with your body before shopping, noticing what's happening in your nervous system as you pull into the parking lot.

14:00 | What Is the Want Beneath the Want? Going deeper than surface-level desires to uncover the emotional needs driving your impulse purchases.

30:00 | Pendulation: The Word That Rocks Our Socks Learning about the natural movement between nervous system states and why regulation isn't about staying calm all the time.

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Trauma of Money professional training course & book
• Consumerism Documentary: Century of Self
• Window of Tolerance

Connect with Stacy Peterson:

• Website: riverbendfinancialtherapy.com
• Instagram: @riverbendfinancialtherapy
• Facebook: River Bend Financial Therapy

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