Mental health professionals to examine financial stress

Financial stress and its impact on marriage will be discussed at the March 6 meeting of the Conejo Valley Mental Health Professional Association in Agoura Hills.

"Money is not just paper and plastic," marriage and family therapist intern Helen Edler said in an e-mail. "It can represent power, security, protection, love, self-worth and more. It is such a loaded topic that few couples are able to discuss it directly."

Edler will be the featured guest at the lunchtime "meet and greet" meeting.

According to Edler, couples usually avoid financial discussions before marriage. "Put two people together with different ideas about money and disagreements are bound to happen," she said. "Each partner can bring irrational attitudes and beliefs about money that were internalized as a child."

While financial problems can be stressful to a healthy marriage, the current economic crisis is stretching more people to the emotional breaking point, she said. The resulting frustration, anxiety and sense of hopelessness result in destructive behavior, including the inclination to drink too much alcohol, smoke too much and overeat.

"No wonder some couples find it hard to discuss money issues openly," she said.

Before she became a marriage and family therapist intern, Edler worked in the financial services industry. She now works under the supervision of Susan Tschudi, a marriage and family therapist in Westlake Village.

The Conejo Valley Mental Health Professional Association conducts meetings on the first Friday of each month, said Judy Wiener, a marriage and family counselor and member of the group.

The meeting will be from noon to 1 p.m. at the Teen Outpatient Program, 30343 Canwood St., Ste. 208A, in Agoura Hills. There is no charge to attend, and participants are welcome to bring their lunches to eat during the meeting.

For more information, call Judy Wiener at (818) 706-0140 or e-mail j-wiener@sbcglobal.net.