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Authors of Financial Books
for Women
Judith Gruber, LCSW, CCET.
 Judith
Gruber, LCSW, CCET has been studying the concept and implications
of money in our lives for over 20 years. She is a Holistic
Psychotherapist, Personal and Business Coach and Certified
Core Energetic Therapist. Judith developed and founded Money
and Self-Empowerment Co., and facilitates groups, workshops,
classes and lectures nationally. She is on the faculty of
NYU, Hofstra University and the Whole Health Coaching Institute.
Judith is an Education and Training Provider with the NYS
Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the
National Association of Social Workers. She has taught The
Psychology of Money, Budgeting 101, The Dynamics of Money
in Treatment for Addictions and Learning to Take Risks, and
has been featured on cable TV. Judith integrates her rich
background of training and experience in clinical social work,
Pathwork Studies, spirituality and banking into her work.
She believes that the journey of the soul is a healing process
that restores energy and consciousness to the individual,
which promotes creativity, self-expression and personal integrity.
Judith maintains a private practice in Brooklyn Heights and
Manhattan.
- What do you feel to be the biggest challenge facing
women today when handling their finances?
The biggest challenge facing women today when handling
their finances is establishing a relationship with money.
This means paying attention to and learning about how
they interact with money, and what their beliefs, attitudes
and misconceptions are in relation to money. From this
awareness, women will be able to make better choices in
how they make investments and use money on a daily basis.
Additionally, it is imperative that women create a vision
of what they want to achieve financially and begin setting
goals to reach them. As we continue to take responsibility,
we become empowered women. Empowerment ultimately gives
us access to creating the reality we want to manifest.
As a money therapist and clinical social worker, I have
seen women who have not taken responsibility for creating
financial stability, and it can be devastating if our
basic needs for food, shelter, medical bills and clothes
are not provided for.
- How has the atmosphere changed for women investors
in the last 10 years?
In the last ten years, I have seen the emotional atmosphere
steadily change. Women have become more responsible and
empowered in their relationship with money. Women have
been more curious, eager and determined to understand
who they are and explore their life purpose. Women are
returning to school to become more educated; more women
are starting new businesses in and out of their homes;
women are taking more risks personally and in workplace;
and women are taking a firm stance in claiming their knowledge,
experience and personhood. In other words, they are worthy
contributors to society. When women do this, they take
more control of their finances.
- How will the atmosphere change for women investors
in the next 10 years?
I believe the atmosphere will be even more exciting within
the next ten years. More woman want to understand their
relationship with money -- which means understanding their
relationship to how they created their attitudes toward
money - which means digging up the past - which means
looking at why they chose to create their images the way
they did. This is a positive direction for women because
the more they become conscious of the underlying negative
attachments, the more they can transform them and manifest
financial balance in their lives. My experience in working
with women in workshops, groups and individual sessions
leads me to believe that they have a lot of ambition and
yearn for this in their lives.
- Where did you start your career and how did it lead
you to where you are today?
I started my career in the money world over 25 years
ago as a cash management administrator for a major bank
in New York City. I was helping large corporations set
up systems for maximum cash flow and, at the same time,
I couldn't manage my own money responsibly. I was divorced
and really didn't understand the value of money or the
concept of creating a budget or "spending plan." I learned
early in life that men made the money, men had the power
and made had more rights. So, of course, I didn't really
understand the meaning of money other than how I wanted
to see it work for me, or how to value it in relation
to who I was. I learned early in life and grew up believing
that a man would take care of me - that as a female I
didn't need to know anything else. In short, I was unconscious
about the true value of money, about the true value of
myself.
A friend of mine came over and helped me create a budget
in order to meet my monthly bills. For the next six years,
I wrote down and accounted for every penny I spent. This
helped me to see where my money went, what my patterns
were, and where I placed my values. I learned about myself
and became fascinated about how all this worked together.
It grew into a passion.
During this time, I was also entrenched in a spiritual
path studying what is known throughout the world as The
Pathwork lectures. These lectures touch on every human
element in helping one transform unconscious images and
negative patterns into a life of self-responsibility,
self-acceptance and self-love. Studying these lectures
for 20 years has had a profound impact on my life. It
helped me be in reality and find the core of my being.
I also consulted with a very creative career counselor
who I worked with for some time. She helped me put together
my love and compassion for the human spirit and money.
This led me to give individual sessions and a workshop.
I have continued to feel my passion for this all through
the years, even when I took a break because I didn't feel
confident enough to do it. I eventually went back to earn
my undergraduate degree in Counseling and Psychology in
my early 40's during which I studied with a consumer psychologist.
She was intrigued with my Money and Self-EmpowermentTM
concept and, as soon as I graduated, I was invited to
teach The Psychology of Money at SUNY Empire State
College.
I then began to facilitate money support groups in New
York. After completing a four-year professional training
program in Core Energetics, a modality of therapy that
integrates the body, mind, emotions and spirit, I began
to integrate this work into my groups, coaching and private
practice. In addition, I have served on the faculty of
the World Health and Healing Collaborative facilitating
and teaching money classes, as well as helping to develop
their coach training curriculum throughout the country.
Through meeting people - then through meeting other people
- I have shared my passion about Money and Self-EmpowermentTM.
I have been quoted in financial articles and books, as
well as been interviewed on cable television that focused
an entire show on Money and Self-EmpowermentTM.
And now I've come to work with MsMoney.com as a columnist
and contributing author. This is very exciting, and I
believe that this medium will reach millions of women
who are ready to move forward in a positive direction,
taking one step at a time.
I am also thrilled to say that I will be completing my
graduate studies in clinical social work this spring.
This has provided me with greater foundation and breadth
in my knowledge and experiential base in working with
people.
I feel blessed and privileged to do this work in helping
others in their journey towards self-empowerment. As we
all continue to evolve and transform our negative patterns
into positive directions, we are each richer in our souls.
This is the gateway to creating financial integrity and
abundance on all levels.
- How much money do you need to start investing?
Any person can start investing with a dollar and an intention
to create abundance. If a person literally has no extra
money, they can take one dollar and put it in an envelope
with an intention to continue adding to it. As she continues
to do this, she will experience a sense of accomplishment.
Thus, she will be motivated to add money each week and
begin to see it grow. When she saves enough money, she
can then invest it in a prime money market account where
she'll receive more interest than a savings account. As
this success is experienced, the person will evolve and
begin to understand that the more she saves and invests,
the more fulfilled she will be in taking responsibility
and accomplishing a great goal.
- How should a woman get started investing with no investment
experience?
Begin talking to friends and family who have investments,
and ask as many questions as you need to understand what
it is you need to understand. There is no such thing as
a stupid question. You can also go to a good bookstore
where there is an abundance of books on finance and investing
for people with no background or knowledge about what
investments are and how to invest. You need to begin someplace,
and taking the first step is a great start.
In addition, you can contact a Certified Financial Planner,
or financial advisor at your local bank, who will help
educate you. Education is the key. Now it is time to make
a decision where and how you will invest your money. Look
at the facts, know what kind of risks you are willing
to take, and then make your investments as an informed
and educated person. It's all a learning process.
- If a woman has debt, at what point should she become
an investor?
There are many levels to this question. On one level,
as soon as you decide to take control of your finances,
you invest in yourself. That's a good place to begin and
one to acknowledge!
As far as debt is concerned, this could be unique with
each individual. I believe that on one hand, if a woman
has debt, pay it first -- then begin to save and invest
your money. On the other hand, I think that while you
pay back your debt, you can begin to save even small amounts
of money. This will give you hope. Hope is essential to
keep you going, to keep you connected to your money and
how you feel about yourself. As a result of taking these
steps, all kinds of things can happen, such as being more
creative and ultimately earning more money. It's a personal
decision one makes about investing while paying off debt.
- What are your future plans in the financial field?
This question is another opportunity that leads me into
opening my imagination and vision, as I continue to evolve
my passion for Money and Self-EmpowermentTM.
The main thing for me is to enjoy what I do, have fun
while I work and make money while doing it. I plan to
continue writing my column, Money and Self-EmpowermentTM
and other articles for MsMoney.com. I plan to continue
facilitating money workshops and support groups, as well
as expanding my coaching and private practice. I plan
to have the children's book I wrote about money and values
published. I plan to have a cartoon strip about Money
and Self-EmpowermentTM.
I also plan to create a line of cards that takes on a
unique form, which you can enjoy and learn about abundance
on many levels. I want to have a game produced about the
MoneyMasksTM we wear.
Most importantly, I want to create a way to reach and
touch as many people as possible, to help them create
financial integrity, reflecting the best of who they are.
Judith Gruber, LCSW, CCET
Holistic Psychotherapy, Coaching and Core Energetics
(718) 722-7907
judith@moneyandempowerment.com
www.moneyandempowerment.com
Abundance and Prosperity Cards
www.moneyandempowerment.com/cards.html
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