One of the tenets of couple therapy is that sex, parenting, and money are the power issues— power because it is often not about how you work together to address these issues but more about whose way will come out on top. However, money problems, more so than the other two, can take on different faces and be the tip of the iceberg for other dynamics in the relationship. Here are a few of the most common ones:

Karl and Erica have been married for six years, a second marriage for both. Karl grew up in a frugal family, while Erica’s family is always comfortable running up a credit card balance. Their money arguments are over what is spending too much versus who is too controlling; Karl feels dismissed, and Erica feels micromanaged.

Here, we get into the power dynamics of money and where savers marry spenders. It’s about each having different priorities and levels of anxiety.

Erica has an adult daughter who has been struggling with drug issues and holding down a job for years. Erica sends a few........

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