Jessenia Baez, LMSW
Financial Therapist
AFC Candidate
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Hi, I’m Jessenia. Maybe you know exactly what you should be doing with money, and you still don’t do it. Or you make a plan, stick with it for a couple of weeks, and end up right back where you started. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It usually means there’s more going on underneath, and that’s what I help people work through.
About
As a psychotherapist and financial therapist, I’m most interested in the thoughts behind your money habits. A lot of us carry beliefs we’ve never really questioned, like “I’m just bad with money” or “there’s never going to be enough.” I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help you notice those thoughts, figure out whether they’re actually true, and practice responding in a new way. My sessions feel more like a conversation than a checklist. I’m patient, but I’ll also give you a gentle push when you need one.
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A lot of how I work comes from my own life. I was born and raised in Hartford, and I learned early on how to keep going when things got hard. Serving in the military later took me to places and communities I never would have seen otherwise, and it taught me to really listen to people whose lives looked different from mine. Both of those experiences are a big part of why I do this work.
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Clients tell me they appreciate that I’m honest with them. I won’t sugarcoat things, but I will notice when you’re making progress, even if it seems small to you. Maybe you catch yourself before an impulse purchase, or you look at your credit card balance without that old wave of dread. Those moments are worth celebrating, and I make sure we do.
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Outside of sessions, I love DIY projects, digging into data, and karaoke whenever I get the chance. When it’s time to wind down, I’ll pick up a good book or relax in the jacuzzi. I’m also an investor and I’m currently working toward my Accredited Financial Counselor® certification. In my own life, I’ve seen how growing as a person and growing financially tend to go hand in hand.
Let's Talk
​If you’re ready to take an honest look at your money, I’d love to hear from you. You can start with whatever feels most pressing right now, and we’ll go from there.