Kolberg helped me see hoarding from a different angle. I am hopeful this will pave the way toward increased collaboration (between professional organizers and mental health professionals) to help those who suffer from this common, debilitating disorder.--David. F. Tolin, Ph.D.
Compulsive hoarding is a complex disorder. This book provides basics about the disorder for professional organizers, social workers, community agencies, mental health practitioners, law enforcement and anyone who encounters people who hoard. You'll learn the psychological underpinnings and the organizational challenges of people who acquire and save so excessively that they undermine the health, safety and comfort of their own home. This is a hopeful book that examines creative collaborative approaches including combinations of organizing and therapy, self-help efforts, support groups and other means for making a difference in the life of a person who hoards. The Foreword is written by Dr. David Tolin, a leading authority on the topic. The author is Judith Kolberg, the founder of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. If you work with, love or are a person who hoards, this book is for you.