About Mindset Counseling Services
If you’ve ever felt anxious, overwhelmed, or even guilty about money, you’re not alone.
For many of us, money is more than numbers. It’s tied to family, culture, responsibility, and expectations. That can make it feel complicated, emotional, and sometimes heavy.
I understand this not just professionally, but through lived experience. I’ve seen how financial stress can affect mental health, relationships, and the way we show up in our lives.
That’s why I created Mindset Counseling Services, a space to talk about both mental health and finances without shame, judgment, pressure, or a sales agenda.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Financial Therapist™, and founder of Mindset Counseling Services.
I believe our relationship with money is shaped by much more than what we know about finances. Our families, culture, experiences, relationships, and the messages we've received about money all play a role.
My own financial journey is what led me to this work. As a Latina immigrant from Mexico, I grew up with valuable lessons about working hard, budgeting, and saving—but there were also parts of the financial world I had to learn to navigate on my own.
Like many people, I realized that financial literacy isn't something most of us are taught, and as adults, there aren't many spaces where we can talk openly about money without judgment, pressure, or someone trying to sell us something.
I wanted to create that kind of space.
Meet Karla Crespo, LCSW, CFT™
From Social Work to Financial Therapy
My career began in community-based social work, supporting individuals and families through life transitions, stress, relationships, and complex systems. Over time, I saw how often money was connected to the challenges people were experiencing even when finances weren't the reason they initially sought support.
That led me to specialize in the intersection of mental health and financial well-being. Today, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Financial Therapist™, I help individuals and couples understand not only what they do with money, but the emotions, experiences, and patterns behind those behaviors.
My approach brings together traditional therapy, financial therapy, and practical financial tools to help clients create changes that feel realistic and sustainable.
My Approach
Therapy with me is collaborative, practical, and judgment-free. I'm not here to tell you what you should be doing with your money or to measure your success against someone else's.
Instead, we'll get curious about what's happening, understand the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and identify changes that align with your values, goals, and life.
As a bilingual and bicultural therapist, I also recognize that money doesn't exist outside of culture. Family expectations, immigration experiences, generational differences, sacrifice, responsibility, and ideas about success can all influence the way we relate to money.
Money is never just about money.
Professional Background & Credentials
Karla Crespo, LCSW, CFT™
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified Financial Therapist™
Certified Financial Social Worker
10+ years of experience in social services
Bilingual services in English and Spanish
A Space to Talk About Money Differently
You don't need to have your finances figured out before reaching out. You also don't need to be in a financial crisis.
Whether you're experiencing money anxiety, struggling with financial habits, navigating money in your relationship, or simply ready to understand your relationship with money differently, we'll start with where you are.
You’ve been doing the best you can with the tools you had. Now, we can build new ones together.