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Online Therapy for Shopping Addiction

Compulsive buying can affect more than your wallet. Dealing with shopping addiction can strain your relationships with loved ones, trigger stress, and erode your self-esteem. Learn to create a stronger future without the cycle of addiction.
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Online Therapy for Shopping Addiction
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Can Counseling Help Overcome Shopping Addiction?

Therapy offers a gentle path to mastering and managing shopping habits. Through counseling, someone who suffers from shopping addiction can identify triggers, develop coping methods, and reclaim management of their money and well-being. Our experienced counselors provide a safe space to navigate underlying concerns and create personalized plans for a balanced life.

Who Needs Therapy for Shopping Addiction?

Are you hiding purchases from family and friends? Are you spending money on things you don't need? Do you go on shopping trips often? That might be a compulsive buying disorder. Shopping addiction is a serious issue that harms many lives.
Uncontrollable urges to buy.
Uncontrollable urges to buy.
Hiding purchases from loved ones.
Hiding purchases from loved ones.
Financial difficulties due to overspending.
Financial difficulties due to overspending.
Shopping to cope with stress or negative emotions.
Shopping to cope with stress or negative emotions.
Feelings of guilt or shame after shopping
Feelings of guilt or shame after shopping
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Symptoms of shopping addiction

Compulsive buying disorder can take a very diverse number of forms, impacting finances and relationships.
 Intense urges to shop
Intense urges to shop
People with a shopping addiction experience an intense desire to buy things, even when they don't need them.
Excessive spend crisis
Excessive spend crisis
Consistently spending exceeds their means, leading to debt, or inability to cover essential expenses.
Anxiety shopping relief
Anxiety shopping relief
Using shopping to escape negative emotions or fill an emotional void, rather than addressing the underlying issues.
Purchase guilt feelings
Purchase guilt feelings
Despite the initial excitement, shoppers often experience remorse or shame after shopping spree.

Our Approach to Shopping Addiction Counseling

We provide compassionate and evidence-based counseling to inform people who suffer from shopping about this disorder and recovery. Our individualized program is structured to develop strong coping skills and induce long-term behavior change.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps manage compulsive buying by identifying triggers like stress or depression, and replacing impulsive purchases with healthier coping strategies.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
DBT involves managing shopping addiction by teaching emotional control, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills.
Mindfulness techniques
Mindfulness brings shopping addicts closer to their thoughts and feelings in the present. Therapists guide mindful consumption, pausing purchases to identify true needs.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps manage compulsive buying by identifying triggers like stress or depression, and replacing impulsive purchases with healthier coping strategies.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
DBT involves managing shopping addiction by teaching emotional control, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills.
Mindfulness techniques
Mindfulness brings shopping addicts closer to their thoughts and feelings in the present. Therapists guide mindful consumption, pausing purchases to identify true needs.
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Benefits of shopping addiction counseling

Counseling can also provide a supportive space to understand why, learn healthier ways to deal with urges, and improve clients' mental health condition.
Better impulse control when shopping
Better impulse control when shopping
With targeted therapy, people can build effective strategies for managing impulsive shopping behavior. Counseling focuses on building self-regulation skills to help them break the urge for unnecessary spending. This leads to greater control of spending and improved money relationship.
Improved self-esteem and self-image
Improved self-esteem and self-image
Shopping addiction will conceal the underlying low self-esteem or feelings of inadequacy. Under guidance, shoppers will explore the real causes and construct a more realistic and better image of themselves. They will understand how to love themselves more than possessions and build self-esteem that is internal and not superficially sought from others.
New methods of coping with stress and negative emotions
New methods of coping with stress and negative emotions
Shopping could be a way to deal with stress or negative feelings. Better options are counseling. We'll determine what your emotional triggers are and acquire coping skills like mindfulness, relaxation, and effective communication. These enable addicts to deal with life without resorting to compulsive shopping
Address common co-occurring mental health disorders
Address common co-occurring mental health disorders
Shopping addiction usually co-occurs with other mental health issues like OCD, anxiety, or depression. Therapy offers integrated treatment, which addresses such connected issues. It allows a therapist to create a comprehensive plan for long-term recovery and better health.
Develop strategies to combat urges and triggers
Develop strategies to combat urges and triggers
Relapse is always a possibility in any recovery. Counseling provides one with the tools to learn their triggers and coping strategies. Shopaholics will be able to identify warning signs and how to avoid high risk situations, making them better able to have healthy shopping behaviors.
Jacqueline Gall
Jacqueline Gall
LMFT, 7 years in practice
Jasmine Cope
Jasmine Cope
LCSW, 27 years in practice
John Jones
John Jones
Dr.PhD, 14 years in practice

Find a Therapist for Shopping Addiction Counseling at Calmerry

Calmerry provides a private and accessible platform to connect with certified therapists specializing in shopping addiction. With over 1,000 experienced therapists, averaging 7 years in the field, you'll receive personalized support. Access therapy from the comfort of your home and regain control of your spending habits to build a healthier financial future.

How to get started

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Create your account in a few steps:
Create your free, secure account on our website.
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Let us know your needs:
A brief survey will allow us to match you with the best-suited therapist.
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Get matched with an expert:
We'll match you with a licensed therapist with an average of 7 years of experience.
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Schedule online sessions:
Start your private therapy choosing the best format for you - messaging, video, or both.

Frequently asked questions

What methods can be used to recover from a shopping addiction?

Recovering from compulsive buying disorder requires a complex approach. Treatment options include learning to manage urges and developing healthier ways to address emotional needs.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is frequently used to help you uncover negative thought patterns that fuel compulsive shopping.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can also be highly effective, teaching skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance, which are crucial for managing urges.

Mindfulness techniques are incorporated to increase awareness of triggers and impulses, allowing for conscious choices instead of reactive spending.

What is the best treatment for compulsive shopping?

The best treatment for compulsive shopping is personalized, as the causes of shopping addiction vary. Typically, therapy, especially CBT, is a cornerstone. An addiction therapist can help identify triggers and develop coping strategies. Shopping addiction requires a commitment to change and a willingness to explore underlying issues.

What are the long-term effects of online shopping addiction?

Compulsive shopping may have severe consequences. People with shopping addiction often accumulate significant credit card debt and spend beyond their means, leading to financial problems. Shopping addiction may also damage relationships. The constant compulsion to shop can worsen relationships with family, as the addictive behavior may be perceived as irresponsible or self-destructive.

The ease of access many online platforms provide makes it difficult to determine when casual browsing becomes a problem. Additionally, the constant marketing stream promotes buying new things, which may cause financial and emotional distress.

How do I know if I have a shopping addiction?

Recognizing the signs of shopping addiction is the first step toward seeking help for shopping addiction. If thinking about shopping consumes your thoughts, if you feel a high from buying, or if you frequently spend beyond your means, you might have a problem.

Signs and symptoms include hiding purchases, experiencing guilt or shame after shopping, and continuing to buy even when negatively impacted. Shopaholics often use shopping as a coping mechanism for stress or negative emotions. If a loved one is struggling with excessive spending, offering support and encouraging them to get shopping addiction treatment is important.

Can online counseling help me stop compulsive shopping?

Yes, online counseling can provide a highly effective treatment program for shopping addiction. Many online platforms offer specialized addiction therapist support, providing flexibility and accessibility.

Will my counseling sessions be confidential?

Yes, all counseling sessions are strictly confidential. Your privacy is paramount. An addiction therapist adheres to professional ethical guidelines, ensuring that any information shared during therapy remains private. You can feel safe openly discussing your compulsive shopping issues without fear of judgment.

How long does shopping addiction therapy take?

The duration of shopping addiction depends on individual needs and the severity of the cases of shopping addiction. Some shoppers may see improvement within a few months, while others may require longer-term therapy. Treatment options are tailored to each person's unique situation. An addiction therapist will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Do you offer financial counseling as part of therapy?

Compulsive spending often leads to financial difficulties. Therefore, our therapists can help you break free of shopping addiction and regain control over your life. You will develop strategies for managing impulses and improving decision-making, which can positively impact your financial habits.

For more information, please visit our FAQ