After working in mental health for the past 17 years, and the last 7 years with people who experience hoarding and squalor issues, it is evident that there are significant gaps in interventions for people who live in clutter. Research highlights the importance of working with the person in their home but I am not aware of anyone who provides a holistic, wrap-around model of care to support the whole person and not just their clutter. That’s why I decided to start Inside Out Recovery. If people are going to make long-term and sustainable change, change has to happen from the inside out. Developing a holistic plan that includes skill development alongside clinical intervention and medical assessments will be needed for people to live a life less cluttered.

Hoarding Disorder is a complex mental health issue, requiring a targeted intervention and support strategy. The first response is usually to do a clean-up of the property, but this isn’t always the first place to start. Hoarding Disorder is complex, so rushing in and doing a clean-up can be more traumatic for the person and may do more harm. Psychological intervention is needed before a clean-up to help the person understand the reasons why they hoard, learn skills and strategies that will support them to sort and discard, and to achieve long-term, sustainable change.

In my work with people with hoarding disorders, many people state that they wish they had support in their home because the task is too overwhelming and they don’t know where to start.

Inside Out Recovery works with a 3 prong approach: (1) in home intervention; (2) training for front line workers; and (3) facilitating consumer support groups.

Inside Out Recovery will work with people in their home by providing a recovery plan that is individual and targeted to meet the needs of the person and help them reach their recovery goals. Intervention could include counseling, Psychosocial Declutter Coaching, and other supports applicable to their needs which are designed to help them identify why they hoard and how to get their clutter under control.

In most cases, people will need a minimum of 10 sessions but may need as many as 20. The number of sessions will be confirmed after initial assessments are completed.

Inside Out Recovery will also work with any other support networks which may already be in place or if there are no services involved, we will work with the person to explore options and assist them to engage with other services and supports beneficial for their recovery.

Professional development training for the sector is paramount in understanding how to work with people with Hoarding Disorder. It equips workers to work effectively with people experiencing hoarding and squalor challenges by building an understanding of the complexity of associated disorders and learn the skills and strategies to assist and not re-traumatise.

Consumers participating in support groups will be able to meet with others who also experience hoarding and squalor issues. Support groups offer people the opportunity to further explore the skills and strategies to beat hoarding while creating a safe, accepting, and non-judgemental environment for change.