Is it just Clutter? Or is it more than that? Don't Let Hoarding Control Your Life

Are you tired of the clutter in your home and your life? Has anyone ever told you that you have issues with hoarding? Don't be embarrassed - it's more common than you think!

If you are ready to make a change in your life and want to live in a home that is less cluttered - where you can have family and friends over - there is help available! 

A Group to Address Hoarding Behavior

The Buried in Treasures Workshop is about more than clutter...

· Overcoming challenges 

· Increasing motivation 

· Reducing acquiring

· Prioritizing and celebrating choices

Clutterers, Collectors, Treasure Hunters,  Savers, Pack Rats

                             Unite and Support Each Other 

Is clutter getting in the way of how you want to live your life?

Are you feeling overwhelmed with too many possessions?

Are you embarrassed to have people over?

This program offers a 16-week course that is based on the book ‘Buried In Treasures’​.  Join us on this journey to learn what's behind your clutter and how to start living the life you deserve. A life that is  less - cluttered! 

​The Buried in Treasures group is for people who would like to learn tips on how to de-clutter and stop over-acquiring with people who know what it’s like. Each week we will have a discussion around a specific skill, followed by the completion of challenging and rewarding exercises. Individual progress, challenges, successes, and goals are also monitored throughout the sixteen weeks.

You can make changes to the way you live your life - with support and understanding from people that are going through the same thing. You are not alone! 

Participants are expected to commit to attending all the sessions as well as to participate actively.

A Buried in Treasures Group is forming  >>>

*** this will be a VIRTUAL CLASS - anyone - anywhere can participate in the class

Sessions start Wednesday, February 5, 2025

    Wednesday, February 5, 2025   -   6:00 pm – 8:00 pm   -  Mountain Time  

     Wednesday, February 5, 2025   -   9:00 am - 11:00 am  -  Mountain Time

This group offers a judgment-free environment for people ready to make a change in their life.

Early Registration required. Call or email for more information.

(440) 666 – 9326 or  kefconsulting@gmail.com

**** Class is on Zoom-  call / email for more information or to be put on a Waiting List for future classes

 **** ask about our condensed 8-week class "Getting Unburied and Moving Forward" which starts in March 2025

Senator Casey Urges Biden Administration to Address Hoarding Disorder in an Aging Nation

From Chairman Bob Casey - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

As a Professional Organizer and Advanced Hoarding Specialist I was honored to be asked to participate in Chairman Bob Casey's special report: "The Consequences of Clutter: How Hoarding Disorder Affects America's Older Adults, First Responders, and Their Communitites"

  Statement from Karin Fried, Organizational Consulting Services .......................................B-139  

>>>>>>>>>>>>>  from Douglas Hartman   >>>>>>>>> 

This morning, Senate Aging Committee Chairman Bob Casey sent letters to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The letters outlined the affects of hoarding disorder on older adults, communities, and first responders in America, and called on HHS and HUD to take steps to implement the recommendations in The Consequences of Clutter.

 

.........  The Chairman’s communications team also issued a press release about the letters. That release is available at the end of this e-mail, for you to review, as well as online at https://www.aging.senate.gov/press-releases/casey-urges-biden-administration-to-address-hoarding-disorder-in-an-aging-nation.

Sincerely,

 

Douglas Hartman

Research and Policy Analyst

Chairman Bob Casey

U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

G-16 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

202-224-5364

https://www.aging.senate.gov/press-releases/casey-urges-biden-administration-to-address-hoarding-disorder-in-an-aging-nation

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

The Consequences of Clutter - The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Report

As Professional Organizers who work with people with hoarding disorder we are trying to change the way that people think about and treat people with hoarding issues. Older adults, especially, are often mistreated and stigmatized because of their hoarding issues. Social service agencies, city agencies and hoarding task forces are limited in their ability to help these clients due to the lack of funding and lack of education and services available.

Bob Casey (D-PA) reached out to our national association (Institute for Challenging Disorganization - ICD) to get some feedback on what we have experienced in working with this clientele.

The result was a very long report about the community impact of hoarding disorder, comunity responses to hoarding disorder and the federal government and hoarding disorder.

As a Professional Organizer with Advanced Hoarding certification and the organizer of the Missoula Hoarding Task Force - I am proud to have contributed to this report.

Professional Organizers who work with this population have specialized training (through ICD) that enables them to work with individuals with "challenging clutter and hoarding issues" in a sensitive and caring manner. People with hoarding issues must be ready to accept help. Once they are, it is usually a long, slow process to help them get out from under their clutter. Our aim is not to make their home "picture perfect". We start with making their home safe and teaching them skills that they can use in the future.

Hoarding is complex. It's not about the "stuff".  

Our special group of Professional Organizers is committed to helping change the way hoarding is seen. We are  providing education to many agencies about hoarding issues and we hope that someday soon we will be able to provide help to people with hoarding issues who have limited funds by having our services covered by insurance.

We still have a long way to go!

The Consequences of Clutter 

How Hoarding Disorder Affects America's Odler Adults, First Responder, And Their Communities

A Report by the Majority Staff of The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

Chairman Bob Casey - July 2024

   Statement from Karin Fried, Organizational Consulting Services .......................................B-139  

   Statement from Kim Cox, President-Elect,The Institute for Challenging Disorganization..................................B-025  (our national group leader)

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Hoarding – Everyone’s Concern

Hoarding is a complex mental health issue. It can also be a safety issue. Intervention needs to take place at several levels. Hoarding cleanup can be extremely costly for property owners and local governments. Hoarding can cause a variety of complications, including:

·        * Unsanitary conditions that pose a health risk

·        * Increased risk of falls

·        *  An inability to perform daily tasks, such as bathing and cooking

·        *  Untreated medical or psychological conditions

·        *  Family conflicts

·        *  Loneliness and social isolation

·         * Fire hazards

Some Signs of Hoarding:

·         * Extreme collection and storage of items in the home and yard

·         * Accumulation of combustible materials (newspapers, magazines, and rubbish)

·         * Blocked exits (doors & windows)

·       *   Narrow pathway in the home

·         * Rotting food and/or used food containers

·        *  Insect infestations

·         * Long-term neglect of home maintenance

·      *    Non-working utilities, such as heat, running water, refrigeration

Fire Safety

Know the fire-safety risks and how you can keep yourself and first responders safe.

Risks: 

Personal items can crowd cooking equipment, making it unsafe to cook.

Personal items can crowd heating equipment, putting you at risk of having a fire.

Difficulties for firefighters:

Blocked windows and doors make it difficult for firefighters to get into your home to fight the fire and search for occupants.

Piles of belongings make it difficult for firefighters to move through your home quickly.

Important:

Always keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from cooking and heating equipment.

Keep doorways and windows clear for escape in case there is a fire. This will also prevent injuries from falling over excessive personal items.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Getting Unburied and Moving Forward - a Clutter Class

New 8 week class – “Getting Unburied and Moving Forward” –  a class for people with chronic disorganization and hoarding issues.

We have created a new condensed 8 week version of the "Buried in Treasures" class for people that don’t want to commit to a 16-week class.

 

The class covers the most important information that is in the 16-week “Buried in Treasures” class plus has expanded information on time and paper management.

 

In the 8-week “Getting Unburied and Moving Forward” class – we will cover:

 

·         Understanding the complexities of hoarding issues

·         What’s stopping you from working on your clutter problem

·         How to reduce acquiring and start decluttering

·         How your goals and values play an important part in your success

·         How to make categories that work

·         Learning the organizing process

·         Paper and time management

·         Putting it all together and moving forward

 

Let this be the start of your journey to the life you want to be living….

“Getting Unburied and Moving Forward” – a Virtual Class

 

Sessions start: Wednesday, June 21, 2023  -  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm  -  Mountain Time – USA

or

                           Wednesday, June 21, 2023  -  9:00 am – 10:30 am  -  Mountain Time – USA

 

(The fee for the 8-week class is $ 240 US)

 

Anyone – anywhere – can take the class! Class is held on Zoom.

 

This group offers a judgment-free environment for people ready to make a change in their life.

 

Early Registration and acceptance into the group is required. Email for more information - kefconsulting@gmail.com

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....   

Hoarding in the News - Radio, TV and Podcast Interviews

WOW! It's been a busy few weeks with numerous Radio interviews (2), a TV Interview (NBC Montana - KECI) and a Podcast interview with Laura Ingraham!

It's been a whirlwind! Lots of conversations around the complexities of hoarding behavior.

Laura has over 4 1/2 million followers! She was really great and the Podcast was about 40 minutes long.  You do need a subscription to listen to the Podcast - either Quake or Apple Podcast.

The radio interview that I did Sunday morning for a station in Albuquerque, NM(96.3 Newsradio KKOB)  is listed below.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-weekend/hording-workshop

 

Hoarding Workshop - The Weekend with Terry Travis

Karin Fried tells us how to declutter our lives and

demystifies the negative connotations of the

word "Hoarder"

****************************************************************************************

Organization Expert Karin Fried on Clutter and Being on Hoarders

The Laura Ingraham Show  - "Most of us know someone who lives with clutter. But what drives people to hoard? Why can’t they bring themselves to throw things away? Karin Fried, owner and founder of Organizational Consulting Services, an advanced hoarding specialist who has appeared on the hit A&E TV show “Hoarders” joins Laura to discuss.".

There are 2 ways to listen - they do however require a subscription - but with Quake you can have a one week free trial.

Laura Ingraham             -            http://quakemedia.com/Laura              

Listen on Apple Podcast   -  Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/organization-expert-karin-freed-on-clutter-and-being/id914065708?i=1000594113797

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding - If You Are Ready to Make a Change - There is a Class for You

Are you tired of the clutter in your home and your life? Has anyone ever told you that you have issues with hoarding? Don't be embarrassed - it's more common than you think!

If you are ready to make a change in your life and want to live in a home that is less cluttered - where you can have family and friends over - there is help available! 

A Group to Address Hoarding Behavior

The Buried in Treasures Workshop is about more than clutter...

· Overcoming challenges 

· Increasing motivation 

· Reducing acquiring

· Prioritizing and celebrating choices

Clutterers, Collectors, Treasure Hunters,  Savers, Pack Rats

                             Unite and Support Each Other 

Is clutter getting in the way of how you want to live your life?

Are you feeling overwhelmed with too many possessions?

Are you embarrassed to have people over?

This program offers a 16-week course that is based on the book ‘Buried In Treasures’​.  Join us for this group created by and for people who are ready to live a less - cluttered life! 

​The Buried in Treasures group is for people who would like to learn tips on how to de-clutter and stop over-acquiring with people who know what it’s like. Each week we will have a discussion around a specific skill, followed by the completion of challenging and rewarding exercises. Individual progress, challenges, successes, and goals are also monitored throughout the sixteen weeks.

You can make changes to the way you live your life - with support and understanding from people that are going through the same thing. You are not alone! 

Participants are expected to commit to attending all the sessions as well as to participate actively.

A Buried in Treasures Group is forming >>>

*** this will be a VIRTUAL CLASS - anyone - anywhere can participate in the class

Sessions start Wednesday, August 24th, 2022:

    Wednesday, August 24^th, 2022  -  6:30 pm – 8:30 pm   -  Mountain Time  

     Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 -   9:00 am - 11:00 am  -  Mountain Time

This group offers a judgment-free environment for people ready to make a change in their life.

Early Registration required. Call or email for more information.

(440) 666 – 9326 or  kefconsulting@gmail.com

**** Class is on Zoom-  by phone and/or computer - call /email for Starting Date / Time and to be put on a Waiting List for future classes

 

Too Many Books - When is it Time to Let Go

People collect all kinds of stuff. From clothes to craft items to books. 

So - when is a "collection" a "collection" and when is it a "hoard"?

Another question is - "when is enough - enough" and "when is it time to let go"?

There is no "one size fits all answer". 

If you have the room in your home and there is no safety issue - and let's throw in - that you know what you actually have and can find it and actually use it - then it might be o.k. to have a bunch of "stuff".

But - if you never use it - what good is it? It just takes up room. And you spent money on something that you are not getting use and enjoyment out of.

So let's take books for example. How many books can you have? How many books should you have? It all depends on the above answers.

If you have hundreds of books - have you actually read them all? Or can you / will you - actually read them all? How long will it take you? Is it realistic to have hundreds or thousands of books that you will never read? Even with "good intentions". 

Books are wonderful. They can teach you so many things. They an transport you to another world and brighten your day. But if they are "just there" and you never really use them - what good are they?

And the next question is - who is going to be responsible when you are gone? Is the next person going to care about them as much as you do? How will you feel if they just throw them all out? Those are questions that most people won't ask themselves - because they don't really want to know the answers.

So - take charge of your own life - and books - and make some decisions.

For some interesting reading about book collecting and book hoarding - read these articles:

                  Are you a book hoarder? There’s a word for that. 

                  There’s A Japanese Word For People Who Buy More Books Than They Can Actually Read

 

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Hoarding - Help for Families and a Workgroup for the Person with Hoarding Issues

Hoarding is complex. Most people don't understand what's really beneath it - including the person that has issues with hoarding and their family.

There are two virtual seminars that are starting soon that will help explain things to the family and help the person with hoarding issues start on their way to creating a better, less cluttered life.

Understanding Your Family Member or Friend that Hoards

Understanding Hoarding Behavior and How Not to Deal with It 

Thursday, January 14th, 2021  -  from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm  -  Mountain Time 

This seminar offers a judgment-free environment for people that have family or friends with hoarding issues. 

In this seminar you will:

·         Learn what hoarding is – and is not

·         Explore the complex issues surrounding hoarding

·         Learn how to understand and support your family member/friend

·         Learn ways to enable your family member/friend to start on the way to making changes

·         Learn how to help your family member/friend “let go” and start to declutter

·         Have the opportunity to ask questions

Registration required.   Call or email for more information. Seminar Fee is $ 40. 

Registration link:  Family-and-Friends-Seminar 

                    ******************************************************

Hoarding - Help is Available - if You are Ready to Make a Change

A  VIRTUAL Group to Address Hoarding Behavior

              "Buried in Treasures" - a 16-week work group

Starting:  Wednesday, February 17^th, 2021  -  from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm  Mountain Time 

or  9:00 am - 11:00 pm Mountain Time

  This group offers a judgment-free environment for people ready to make a change in their life.

Early Registration and Acceptance is required. Call or email for more information.

(440) 666 – 9326 or  kefconsulting@gmail.com

 

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more....