Hoarders

I am watching the show Hoarders on A&E. It is painful to watch. I get calls occasionally asking if i work with hoarders. Sometimes it is from children of hoarders desperate to help their parents. I tell them I will work in tandem with a psychologist that is trained to deal with compulsive hoarding. It takes a lot of time, a lot of patience and a lot of understanding to deal with this type of behavior. Organizing is just one aspect of it. The other component is mental and must be addressed for long term success.
I work with clients now who have a hard time letting go of things. They are afraid to let the things go because they feel a moral obligation to see that they go to the proper place. My heart goes out to these people. If you are a hoarder or you know someone who is a hoarder, please visit the National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization at www.nsgcd.org. It is a place to start.
God bless.