Hoarding: Best Practices/Tools

Proven methods and techniques that have helped people with hoarding behavior reduce acquiring, simplify sorting, and promote discarding.

Buried in Treasures: Non-Acquiring Help Card 

The "Non-Acquiring Help Card" (from page 137 of the book 'Buried in Treasures') replicates the thought processes that many go through when deciding whether or not to purchase something. Keeping this in one’s wallet or purse can be helpful for reminding someone with hoarding behavior of the benefits of not acquiring. 

Motivational Exercise - Reasons to Declutter 

An exercise from Buried in Treasures (Tolin et al., 2017) that encourages people with hoarding behavior to come up with their own motivational reasons to declutter.  

Solutions to Decluttering Obstacles 

An exercise that can help one to push through ambivalence by confronting thoughts that arise surrounding decluttering. Solutions brainstormed by Mental Health Association of San Francisco's Advanced Support Group for Hoarding Behavior and compiled by Peer Counselor Elizabeth Barr. 

200 Fun Things to Do Besides Shopping

A list of other activities that can replace the enjoyment that acquiring provides.  Inspired by page 117 of Buried in Treasures. 

Buried in Treasures Exercise: Personal Goals

A worksheet that asks about one’s goals and motivations for working on their hoarding challenges. 

Buried in Treasures Exercise: Clutter Visualization Exercise

An exercise for people with hoarding behavior that identifies the feelings, thoughts, and beliefs they have while actively looking at their clutter. 

Buried in Treasures Exercise: Unclutter Visualization Exercise

An exercise for people with hoarding behavior that identifies the feelings, thoughts, and beliefs they have while picturing that their clutter in the room is gone. 

Buried in Treasures Exercise: Treatment Contract

A contract of promises someone with hoarding behavior can make to themselves. 

24/7 California Peer-Run Warm Line
855-600-WARM
info@mentalhealthsf.org

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Tax ID#94-1218623

24/7 California Peer-Run Warm Line
855-600-WARM
info@mentalhealthsf.org

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Tax ID#94-1218623

24/7 California Peer-Run Warm Line
855-600-WARM
info@mentalhealthsf.org

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Tax ID#94-1218623

24/7 California Peer-Run Warm Line
855-600-WARM
info@mentalhealthsf.org

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Tax ID#94-1218623