What is Hoarding?

Hoarding is a term that is widely used to refer to a broad number of behaviors ranging from mere messiness to extreme clutter that prohibits daily functioning. In severe cases, the amount of clutter poses a threat to health and safety. The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) has created the Clutter Hoarding Scale to assist in assessing the different levels of hoarding.  
 
While non-clinical hoarding refers to what most people would consider your average "pack-rat" or "clutter bug," clinical or compulsive hoarding is the term that is typically used in reference to a specific mental health condition. Many researchers believe that compulsive hoarding is connected to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), though hoarding behaviors can be associated with other conditions, as well.*
 

According to Frost and Hartl (1996),  the definition of compulsive hoarding is threefold:

1. The excessive accumulation of a large number of possessions that appear to others to be useless or of limited value, coupled with the failure or inability to discard them;
2. The amount of clutter in living spaces is so extensive that it prevents or severely limits the intended uses or functions of the spaces; and
3. The clutter, acquiring, or difficulty discarding causes significant distress or impairment in functioning. 

[Frost, R.O., & Hartl, T.L. (1996). A cognitive-behavioral model of compulsive hoarding. Behavior Research and
    Therapy, 34, 341-350.] 

How We Can Help..

Order and Balance, LLC specializes in assisting clients who struggle with hoarding.  Our mission is to help our clients create positive physical changes in their homes that will make the most efficient use of the available time, space, and resources, thereby improving the overall quality of life. The purpose of getting organized is to reclaim your space so that it supports you in achieving your goals and living the life that you desire to live.

Please note that organizing is a process. This is especially true for people who hoard. Indeed, it is often a challenging and emotional process--but it is also a very rewarding one, as well.  Unlike what is often seen on television, this will not be an instant makeover.  The results, however, will be longer lasting. 

At Order and Balance, LLC, we work hard to provide customized services to meet your needs and to help you achieve your goals.  We are dedicated to guiding you through the entire organizing and decluttering process.  By taking advantage of our coaching and hands-on organizing services, you can expect the following:

• We will help you create a plan based on your goals and needs, gather resources, and take action.
• You will improve your ability to sort, categorize, and organize your belongings. 
• We will assist you in finding your treasured possessions and make them easily accessible to you.
• You will be empowered with the ability to decide what to discard, what to keep, and how to manage it all.
• Together we will create simple, yet creative, organizing systems that will help you to maintain your progress and improve the functionality of your space.

A Collaborative Effort and a Team Approach... 

In certain situations it may be appropriate for the client to seek the services of a mental health professional* and a Professional Organizer. A collaborative effort is often a successful method for achieving lasting change in both, hoarding behaviors and physical environments.

Whenever appropriate, and if so desired by the client, Order and Balance, LLC is willing to work collaboratively with the client and his or her therapist, as well as other service providers. In many circumstances of compulsive hoarding, a team approach is the best approach.

Resources for Hoarding

Organizing Organizations

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD)
The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)

Mental Health Organizations

Obsessive Compulsive Foundation
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
American Psychiatric Association

Related Online Sites and Organizations

Children of Hoarders
Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Hoarding
Helping Hoarders
Squalor Survivors

                                                        

*If you suspect that you may have a physical or mental health condition, please discuss this with your physician or mental health provider.