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Louise Kurzeka
Everything’s Together®©2017 Everything’s Together®
• Entered the organizing field in 1992
• Consulting, Teaching and Training
• Challenging clients begin to surface
• Needed to be more educated
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
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� People who Collect
� People who Clutter
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� People who Hoard
The acquisition of, and failure to discard a large number of objects that appear useless or of limited value. Amount of possessions in the home renders living spaces unusable. Causes significant distress or impairment. (Frost and Hartl, 1996)
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� Excessive Acquisition
� Excessive Acquisition
� Difficulty Discarding
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� Excessive Acquisition
� Difficulty Discarding
� Possessions are Cluttered
� Excessive Acquisition
� Difficulty Discarding
� Possessions are Cluttered
� Distress is caused by the Issue
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2-5 % of the population
Tend to be single
Not seeing gender differences
Tend to be better educated
Roots of the behavior in childhood - chronic
Genetic Connection
� Traumatic Life Events
◦ Significant loss
◦ Relational trauma
◦ Fear of losing self or identity
◦ Fear of losing something important
◦ Severe chronic depression
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� Control
� Perfectionism
� Frugality
� Excessive responsibility for the environment
� Perceived needs for things
� Fear
� Beliefs that things will bring emotional comfort
� Discarding takes too much time and effort
� Printed Material – Newspapers, magazines, coupons, books, mail, notes and lists
� Clothing
� Bags
� Storage containers
� Toys
� Photographs
� Dead flowers
� Memorabillia
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• How we Interact with the ClientHow we Interact with the ClientHow we Interact with the ClientHow we Interact with the Client
◦ Language is key - tone in voice
◦ Respect for possessions & non-judgemental
◦ Just the facts Ma’am
◦ Establish specific and manageable goals
◦ They always retain the power of choice
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
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• Hazardous items/locations
• Blocked Exits
• Pests
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
• First onFirst onFirst onFirst on----site appointmentsite appointmentsite appointmentsite appointment
◦ Show the hoard
◦ Additional assessing
◦ Shame and guilt displayed
◦ Establish the goal for time together
◦ Avoid burdening with homework
◦ Use visual tools to assist
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
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� Reading Material
� Excess Food
� Unused/Replaced Electronics
� Other
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©2017 Everything’s Together®
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©2017 Everything’s Together®
©2017 Everything’s Together® .
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• Close of each sessionClose of each sessionClose of each sessionClose of each session
• Review the progressReview the progressReview the progressReview the progress
• Move items as close as possible to area of useMove items as close as possible to area of useMove items as close as possible to area of useMove items as close as possible to area of use
• Eliminate trash/recycleEliminate trash/recycleEliminate trash/recycleEliminate trash/recycle
• Have a plan for removing hazardous itemsHave a plan for removing hazardous itemsHave a plan for removing hazardous itemsHave a plan for removing hazardous items
• Confirm next appointment and area of focusConfirm next appointment and area of focusConfirm next appointment and area of focusConfirm next appointment and area of focus
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
• Challenges will appearChallenges will appearChallenges will appearChallenges will appear
• Staying in same location over timeStaying in same location over timeStaying in same location over timeStaying in same location over time
• CoCoCoCo----morbid conditions add a twistmorbid conditions add a twistmorbid conditions add a twistmorbid conditions add a twist
• Client impatient with progressClient impatient with progressClient impatient with progressClient impatient with progress
• Family impatient with progressFamily impatient with progressFamily impatient with progressFamily impatient with progress
• May stop as soon as “crisis” is avertedMay stop as soon as “crisis” is avertedMay stop as soon as “crisis” is avertedMay stop as soon as “crisis” is averted
• May need to change May need to change May need to change May need to change with whom with whom with whom with whom they work they work they work they work
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
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INDIVIDUAL
Public Health
Social Services
Mental Health Professionals
Professional Organizers
Medical Providers
First Responders
Animal Control
Building Inspectors
Biohazard Cleanout
Property Mgmt
www.mnhtf.org
https://hoarding.iocdf.org/
www.aarp.org (search hoarding for articles)
www.childrenofhoarders.com
www.squalorsurvivors.com
www.clutterersanonymous.org
� http://www.flylady.net/
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http://www.ocdtc.org/support-groups.html
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/H-C/info
http://prcstpaul.com/buriedintreasures%20.pdf
• Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding
by David Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Stekedee
• Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things
by Randy O. Frost and Gail Stekedee
• Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Therapist’s Guide
by Gail Stekedee and Randy O. Frost
• Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean about Her Mother’s Compulsive Hoarding
by Jessie Sholl
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
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• Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash by Vickie Dellaquila
• Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding: Why You Save & How You Can Stop
by Fugen Neziroglu, Jerome Bubrick and Jose Yaryura-Tobias
• The Hoarding Handbook: A Guide for Human Service Professionals
by Christiana Bratiotis, Cristina Sorrentino-Schmalisch and Gail Steketee
• Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding and
Compulsive Acquiring by Michael A. Tompkins and Tamara L. Hartl
copyright 2017 Everything’s Together®
Louise Kurzeka
Everything’s Together
(952) 939-8080
Speaking, Training and One-on-One Consultation
©2017 Everything’s Together®
