Ep 114: When Money Stress Meets Chronic Illness: What Financial Therapy Actually Is with Megan Stevenson LCSW, CFSW
Fri Feb 06 2026
FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:
🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE!
NON THERAPISTS: SIGN UP FOR DESTINY'S NEXT LIVE WORKSHOP
→ Upcoming Workshops!
JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness
→ Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)
Episode summary:
In this episode, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Financial Social Worker Megan Stevenson shares practical insights on navigating the financial and emotional complexities of chronic illness. Through her private practice, Curiosity Counseling and Consulting, Megan helps individuals and caregivers manage the unique intersection of money stress, healthcare costs, and the emotional weight of living with conditions like chronic kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
In this conversation, we cover:
What financial therapy really is—why it focuses on the emotional relationship with money rather than just budgeting, and how common money blocks like impulsive spending and shame show up with chronic illness
Practical strategies for navigating healthcare costs, including offsetting expenses through patient assistance programs, understanding hidden insurance benefits, and finding community resources
Why the healthcare system is working exactly as designed (just not for patients or providers), the critical need for care coordinators, and how providers can build coalitions to advocate for systemic change
Megan reminds us that money is a skill that takes time to develop, and that financial stress during chronic illness isn't a personal failing, but a predictable response to a system that was never designed to support patient wellbeing. Her work emphasizes the importance of addressing both the practical financial literacy side and the deeper emotional and trauma work that shapes our relationship with money.
MEET DESTINY: Website / Instagram / BlueSky / YouTube / TikTok
MEET GUEST: Website / Facebook / Threads
→ READ THE BLOG FOR THIS EPISODE
ASK DESTINY ANYTHING
→ Submit your questions here
FOR YOU, OUR PODCAST LISTENERS:
JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness
→ Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)
FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:
🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE!
🛋️ Join The Mastermind! (monthly business and clinical consultation calls for medical professionals specializing in working with patients with chronic illnesses)
🧭 Get Your Client Roadmap For Navigating Complex Trauma and Chronic Illness (specifically for mental health therapists) (COMING SOON- sign up for the waitlist)
WANT TO SAY THANKS? Reviews tell the app, “hey, people like this! Show it in the algorithm to more people!” :)
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.
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FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: 🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE! NON THERAPISTS: SIGN UP FOR DESTINY'S NEXT LIVE WORKSHOP → Upcoming Workshops! JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness → Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments) Episode summary: In this episode, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Financial Social Worker Megan Stevenson shares practical insights on navigating the financial and emotional complexities of chronic illness. Through her private practice, Curiosity Counseling and Consulting, Megan helps individuals and caregivers manage the unique intersection of money stress, healthcare costs, and the emotional weight of living with conditions like chronic kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis. In this conversation, we cover: What financial therapy really is—why it focuses on the emotional relationship with money rather than just budgeting, and how common money blocks like impulsive spending and shame show up with chronic illness Practical strategies for navigating healthcare costs, including offsetting expenses through patient assistance programs, understanding hidden insurance benefits, and finding community resources Why the healthcare system is working exactly as designed (just not for patients or providers), the critical need for care coordinators, and how providers can build coalitions to advocate for systemic change Megan reminds us that money is a skill that takes time to develop, and that financial stress during chronic illness isn't a personal failing, but a predictable response to a system that was never designed to support patient wellbeing. Her work emphasizes the importance of addressing both the practical financial literacy side and the deeper emotional and trauma work that shapes our relationship with money. MEET DESTINY: Website / Instagram / BlueSky / YouTube / TikTok MEET GUEST: Website / Facebook / Threads → READ THE BLOG FOR THIS EPISODE ASK DESTINY ANYTHING → Submit your questions here FOR YOU, OUR PODCAST LISTENERS: JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness → Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments) FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: 🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE! 🛋️ Join The Mastermind! (monthly business and clinical consultation calls for medical professionals specializing in working with patients with chronic illnesses) 🧭 Get Your Client Roadmap For Navigating Complex Trauma and Chronic Illness (specifically for mental health therapists) (COMING SOON- sign up for the waitlist) WANT TO SAY THANKS? Reviews tell the app, “hey, people like this! Show it in the algorithm to more people!” :) 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.