Mental Health Professionals
Couples argue about how their stuff is valuable, but their partner is collecting junk. People who are grieving have trouble letting go and often end up wallowing in their grief rather than trying to move on. Disorganization and clutter add stress and depression that exacerbates other problems, real or imagined in someone’s life. Being disorganized can jeopardize people’s jobs which leads to even more stress.
As a therapist, you can only see a patient for a few hours each week, leaving the patient to manage alone for all the other hours of the day. After years of working with therapists we understand that supporting the desired changes in between sessions can lead to better results. With the client’s permission, of course, we are happy to collaborate with their therapist.
Many therapists don’t go on site to see their patient’s living conditions. We can provide an unbiased third-party description, pictures, etc. so you and your patient can develop a true frame of reference. We can inform you that we see signs of stress when discussing or handling certain types of items so you can explore these in your sessions. We can act as the hands-on component in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We can help relieve their stress and anxiety by working with them to remediate their physical environment.
Sometimes a patient embraces change for better mental health but the reality of their life is beyond their ability to change without onsite help. They feel overwhelmed, needing the reassurance of others to move toward the new goal. They can’t do it alone, and you, their therapist, can’t do it alone. We can be the people you need to help with the follow through.
Maria wrote A Practical Guide to Hoarding for Friends and Family for people who have someone in their lives who might be hoarding. Now she has written a Supplement to the Guide for Therapists who may have clients who are experiencing hoarding behaviors. It expands on the material in the Guide in ways that can assist the Therapist, who may never set foot in a hoarded environment, to better help the client on the road to wellness.
