Designed to assist professionals who are confronted with clients in need of financial guidance, this financial counseling manual is presented in seven chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the helping relationship and discusses counselor attitudes, client characteristics, making contacts, and interviewing. Chapter 2 explains the causes of over-extension of credit, including temporary unemployment, permanent loss of income, lack of planning, and other possible causes. Financial counseling techniques are presented in chapter 3, including structuring the interview; asking appropriate questions; systematic inquiry; active listening and effective use of silence; reflection; conceptualizing client concerns; establishing realistic and achievable goals; designing effective procedures; values and behavior change; termination, evaluation, and follow-up; and review questions and feedback. Chapter 4 describes two major stages in decision making: anticipation and implementation. Chapter 5 outlines a process for developing a budget which includes guidelines for determining values and goals and suggestions for decreasing spending. Forms for recording these expenses are also included. Chapter 6 provides directions for developing a contractual payment plan. Finally, chapter 7 describes an evaluation and follow-up plan which can be used to assess the financial counseling process. (A series of related consumer education learning modules, CE 016 111 and CE 016 086-087, are also available.) (BM)