Christine Hargrove

Christine Hargrove serves as Clinical Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Love and Money Center within the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Financial Therapist (CFT), she bridges clinical practice and financial counseling to address the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals and couples.

Education:

• BA in Religious Studies, Vanderbilt University (2003)
• MDiv, Harvard University (2006)
• MSFT in Family Therapy, Friends University (2020)
• PhD in Human Development & Family Science (Couple and Family Therapy emphasis), University of Georgia (2024)

Research Interests:

Dr. Hargrove's pioneering work focuses on neurodiversity-informed financial therapy, specifically examining how executive functioning impacts financial decision-making in ADHD populations. Her research investigates financial stress allocation in couples, develops ADHD-friendly financial tools, and creates therapeutic frameworks for financial professionals. Through the Love and Money Center, she translates these findings into practical interventions that empower neurodivergent clients to achieve financial wellness while navigating relationship dynamics.

Publication Trends:

Her prolific output (20+ works in 2023-2025) reveals three dominant trends: 1) Clinical applications of ADHD research in financial contexts, 2) Development of neurodiversity-affirming therapeutic techniques, and 3) Interdisciplinary collaborations bridging psychology, finance, and family studies. Her work increasingly appears in high-impact journals while maintaining strong connections to practitioner communities through podcasts, webinars, and media contributions.

Professional Recognition:

• Elected President-Elect of Financial Therapy Association (2025-Present)
• Featured expert in USA Today, Fidelity, NerdWallet, and The Globe and Mail
• Active leadership roles in Financial Therapy Association since 2021
• Regular presenter at International Conference on ADHD and Financial Therapy Association Conference

Academic Contributions:

Dr. Hargrove supervises undergraduate and graduate students through clinical internships and research projects at the Love and Money Center. She teaches FACS 5910: Undergraduate Internship in Couple and Family Therapy and delivers guest lectures on ADHD and financial therapy across departments. Her research is institutionally supported through the University of Georgia, with growing external recognition that facilitates collaborative funding opportunities. She maintains active partnerships with financial professionals to ensure clinical relevance.

Center Leadership:

As Associate Director of the Love and Money Center, Dr. Hargrove leads initiatives that integrate financial therapy into clinical practice, with specialized programs for neurodivergent populations. The Center serves as both a research hub and clinical training ground, developing evidence-based approaches to financial counseling while providing direct community services. Its innovative focus on neurodiversity has positioned it as a national leader in this emerging specialty area.