When I began working with hoarders, very little had been written about hoarding, either from a psychological perspective or with regard to developing organizing strategies. Today, you can benefit from a number of excellent, well-researched resources designed for hoarders, their loved ones, and for the professional organizers who work to improve their lives. Consider the following as required reading.
Professional Perspectives on Hoarding
The academic and medical professionals who authored the following titles are well-educated specialists with extensive expertise in the field of hoarding. Their writing will not only help you understand the experiences of hoarding clients, but will also provide guidance to avoid pitfalls and develop and refine solid, workable solutions. Although the material may sound academic in scope, don’t be daunted!
Non-Fiction Books
Buried in Treasures by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee
The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook for Personality Disorders by Jeffrey C. Wood, Psy.D.
Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Therapist Guide by Gail Steketee and Randy O. Frost
Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Workbook by Gail Steketee and Randy O. Frost
The Hoarding Handbook: A Guide for Human Service Professionals by Christiana Bratiotis, Cristina Sorrentino Schmalisch and Gail Stekatee
Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding by Fugen Neziroglu, PhD, ABBP, Jerome Bubrick, PhD, and Jose A. Yaryura-Tobias, MD
Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee
Non-Fiction DVDs
Information About Compulsive Hoarding with Renae M. Reinardy, Psy.D., LP
General Perspectives on Hoarding
The following titles were written with laymen in mind and provide clear, non-medical explanations and descriptions of the obstacles and challenges associated with helping those who hoard as well as those with related decluttering difficulties. These resources will expand your knowledge base as a professional organizer, and you may find yourself suggesting these books to the loved ones of hoarders as recommended reading.
Non-Fiction Books
Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring by Michael A. Tompkins, PhD and Tamara L. Hartl, PhD
Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About Her Mother’s Compulsive Hoarding by Jessie Sholl
Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash by Vickie Dellaquila
It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys by Marilyn Paul, PhD
Making Peace with the Things in Your Life by Cindy Glovinsky, M.S.W., A.C.S.W.
The Secret Lives of Hoarders by Matt Paxton and Phaedra Hise
Fiction Books
Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu
Non-Fiction DVDs
My Mother’s Garden directed by Cynthia Lester
Consumer Psychology
Hoarding involves the obsessive acquisition of possessions. Although compulsive shopping is only one type of acquisition, understanding the underpinnings of consumer psychology will help you in your work with hoarding clients.
Non-Fiction Books
Dematerializing: Taming the Power of Possessions by Jane Hammerslough
Shoptimism: Why the American Consumer Will Keep On Buying, No Matter What by Lee Eisenberg
To Buy or Not to Buy by April Lane Benson, PhD
Thanks for including my book! And what a great list – I’m cross posting this on my blog and on the DLS Facebook page. Great!
thanks for posting this list. It’s a great list of books we should all read. Obviously I’m biased since I wrote one of these, but all of them have something different to add.
Thanks again for covering this issue.
-Matt Paxton
Hi Geralin-Thanks for including my book on your list. It is a great list of books to learn more about the issues surrounding hoarding.
Vickie Dellaquila, CPO
Thanks Geralin, for this list. I see that I need to add a couple to the resource bookshelf.
Heather, Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I’ve been meaning to ask you, who are the Canadian hoarding experts? (medical, psychological, academic, etc.)
Geralin, which book would you recommend as a starting point for an organizer who is interested in learning more about working with hoarders?
Janet, I think that organizes [who want to work with hoarders] should read a MINIMUM of 3 books about the topic. My top 3 choices for new organizers are written by Drs. Frost, Dr. Tolin and Tompkins. I also suggest that they subscribe to the Institute of Challenging Disorganization and take as many classes about hoarding as possible and print a copy of the 2011, revised Clutter Hoarding Scale.