Our Blog
Challenging stories our brains tell us: Hoarding
As a hoarding therapist, I help individuals, couples, and families confront the beliefs, emotions, and triggers that reinforce their connection to items in their homes, enabling them to create safe, ...
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Won’t I Lose the Memories?
Walking through my home, I look around and survey the displayed items. Penguin salt and pepper shakers that I display each winter becuase my husband is fond of penguins. Photos ...
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Montana “Save the Date”
You might think you've encountered every situation in your practice, but nothing could prepare you for a client who confesses, “I think I have a hoarding problem.” This revelation can ...
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Whose Problem is it Anyway?
Ever come home from visiting with family and wondered why you felt like someone else's hoarding was your issue to deal with? I mean, whose problem is it anyway? One ...
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Celebrating!
I just wanted to take a brief pause to stop and celebrate the reach of the Parents Who Hoard guided workbook that I released in May. To date, more than ...
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Milestone: 50 Downloads!
Thank you to each and every one of the amazing people who have helped share the word about the FREE! downloadable workbook I created. I released it online back in ...
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AMA: Hoarding–10 Reasons to Keep the Things and the Response that May Change the Conversation
Ten reasons to keep our things, or maybe it's one hundred! We save because of values and we move past resistance by changing our conversation. Have a question about hoarding? ...
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| practice letting go
3 Reasons Why It Feels Scary Letting Go of That
We all tend to acquire things and then hold on to them; letting go is difficult! Some of us have a greater tolerance for the amount of clutter in our ...
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3 Things to Look for in a Hoarding Disorder Therapist
The decision to enter therapy for any disorder is a significant one. Yet, many looking for a hoarding disorder therapist have already struggled with shame and embarrassment and possibly even ...
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| collecting, mental health impacts, postponed decisions
Collecting, Clutter, and Hoarding: How the Difference May Impact Your Mental Health
Learn the key differences between hoarding, clutter, and collecting. Recognize the warning signs that indicate the need to seek help for hoarding disorder. It can be challenging to know whether ...
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| harm reduction
AMA Hoarding: 1 Challenging Question and the Answer You’re Going to Hate
One of the most enjoyable parts of advocacy work is offering website visitors the opportunity to ask me anything about hoarding. Most of the questions submitted come from family members ...
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| clinical treatment, continuing education training, hoarding disorder, hybrid CE training
Hybrid Hoarding Disorder Treatment Training Coming Soon!
Lightening the Load Counseling is pleased to offer an upcoming CE training on Monday, October 6, 2025, in Puyallup and online. This 6.0-hour continuing education training, "Clinical Treatment for Hoarding ...
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