The Hidden Trauma of Money: Shulamit Ber Levtov

Content warning: This episode includes discussions about domestic violence, partner abuse, sexual assault, child abuse, suicidal ideation, and mental health challenges. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know is affected by these issues, consider using discretion or seeking support.

In this emotionally powerful and deeply informative episode, Stacey sits down with Shulamit Ber Levtov, also known as The Entrepreneurs’ Therapist, to unpack the often unspoken and complex link between trauma and money. Through Shulamit’s personal stories—surviving abuse, navigating a math learning disability, enduring medical trauma, and rebuilding life as a single parent—we explore how financial shame is rooted not just in personal choices but in systemic structures and emotional wounds.

The conversation illuminates the many ways women experience financial control—by partners, children, institutions, or even internalized societal expectations—and how trauma-informed perspectives can empower healing and financial agency. Shulamit candidly shares how trauma impacted her ability to manage money, and how self-compassion, daily peer connection, and trauma-aware education changed her life. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed, ashamed, or isolated about money.

📅 What You’ll Learn

• Why money and trauma are more connected than you think

• How shame manifests in everyday financial behavior

• The emotional toll of financial control in relationships

• The psychological impact of scarcity, avoidance, and financial systems

• Shulamit’s story of healing from financial trauma and abuse

• Practical, compassionate strategies for reclaiming your financial agency

• The concept of “financial infidelity” and when it does or doesn’t apply

• How different generations approach money, trauma, and resilience

👤 Guest: Shulamit Ber Levtov

Shulamit Ber Levtov, known as The Entrepreneurs’ Therapist, is dedicated to supporting women business owners in managing their mental and emotional well-being amidst the unique challenges of entrepreneurship. With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience and more than 22 years as a mental health professional, she brings a wealth of wisdom to her work.

Shulamit holds a Master’s degree in Counselling and Spirituality and is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario. She is certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional, a Trauma of Money facilitator, and a Financial Social Worker. Trained in Nonviolent Communication and Focusing, she is also a retired certified Kripalu Yoga teacher.

Beyond her therapeutic practice, Shulamit is a sought-after speaker and educator on mental health, trauma, financial psychology, and entrepreneurship. She is the co-founder of the Business Therapy Centre, creating space for entrepreneurs to address the emotional complexities of running a business.

Follow Shulamit:

• Website: shula.ca

• Facebook: facebook.com/ShulaBerLevtov

• Instagram: @the_entrepreneurs_therapist

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shulamitberlevtov

• Medium: theentrepreneurstherapist.medium.com

📂 Resources & Links

• The Trauma of Money Program

• The Wheel of Power and Control

• Financial Power and Control Wheel

• Hadassah Damien (economic justice educator)

• Dana Miranda – Author of “You Don’t Need a Budget”

• Eldar Shafir TED Talk on Scarcity

• Coast Financial credit union study on money shame