By Elaine Bero, M.S. Counseling, Financial Counselor

"A lot of people care about me and my situation and they try to console me, but I feel that you truly understand my financial problem.  You're showing me the steps to gain control of my finances. I needed a plan and I now feel relieved."

Thanks for listening and for giving me a road map to stress-free money management."

These are two comments that I have heard recently as I met with clients who are struggling financially. When a person is facing a mountain of bills and there is little or no income coming in, a sense of hopelessness and helplessness overwhelms them. Even though friends and family may know they are  hurting and care, they don't understand how a financial difficulty completly consumes a person. It is common for depression to set in and often sleeping is impossible.

When I meet with a person or couple, the first thing I do is to get a grasp of the complete picture of their finances. No situation is hopeless. Even though it may seem to the person that they cannot improve their finances, that is seldom the case. Often a tremendous burden is lifted when they can share with me their financial circumstances.

Obviously, a bad financial situation is not going to change overnight, but together we begin to take small steps toward good financial health. The financial counseling that New Hope offers includes "New Focus" materials. You can check them out at www.newfocus.org.

We also offer Financial Classes. The first six weeks class is "Steps to Change" followed by another six weeks class, "Steps to Freedom." These classes help us discern the difference between needs, wants and desires. It helps to work together with other people toward life changes.

The bottom line to financial freedom is that a person needs to be willing to make changes. Once we can get the situation under control, the person needs to commit to a plan to pay off debts and to live within their means.

I love helping people. To see a person come in who is feeling entirely hopeless and leave with a sense of worth and hope is very rewarding. A verse that New Focus uses that is also one of my favorites is from Hebrews 12:11:

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."