Using denial to cope with money troubles is a common roadblock to help. Denial is about hoping that a solution will appear even without a plan to make it happen. If this sounds like you, avoid drifting where this torrent of stress may lead. Your first step may not be financial counseling, but rather short-term mental health counseling to deal with fear of change, fear of living on a no-frills budget, and fear of conflict as you petition your spouse to join the cause. After this prep work, allow the mental health counselor to guide you to suitable resources for financial counseling. Mental health counseling often makes sense when a personal problem has lingered for a lengthy period and has been managed by denial and avoidance. Counseling also helps increase the likelihood that you will stick with a plan later if it gets tough.