Synopses & Reviews
Hoarding is a serious, time-consuming, and expensive problem for virtually every community across the United States. First responders often encounter hoarding unexpectedly and are confused about how to resolve the wide range of problems, from public health and fire safety violations, to housing violations, to concern for the welfare of children, elders and animals. Sometimes solutions must be coordinated across several human service disciplines. The first of its kind, this handy guide is a nuts and bolts resource filled with case studies, tips and strategies, and easy-to-use suggestions for professionals responding to hoarding situations.
Organized around the common ways hoarding captures the attention of social service providers, this user-friendly guide provides tools to assess the problem, to coordinate and delegate tasks among helping professionals, and to work directly with reluctant hoarders and those affected by the hoarding. Chapters give hands-on guidance and decision trees for who should be involved and what strategies are needed for each case. This book is compassionate and comprehensive, an invaluable reference for social workers and human service providers in a broad range of fields.
Review
"This is a great handbook in the true sense of the word. For organizers, it will significantly contribute to their professional development and result in a higher quality of service to their hoarding clients." --Judith Kolberg, Founder, National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization
"As experts in the field of hoarding, the authors' extensive experience working with a broad range of agencies are reflected in the detailed and constructive case illustrations, provision of assessment tools and other resources, and specific techniques for real-world application. A wealth of information is presented with great clarity and accessibility; this handbook promises to be a highly valuable and utilized resource." --Jordana Muroff, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice, Boston University School of Social Work
"This is a 'must read' for human service professionals working with clients who hoard. The authors provide the reader with a clear and concise understanding of hoarding and its impact on individuals, families, and communities, then walk the reader step-by-step through specific ways that various service professionals can help." --David F. Tolin, PhD, ABPP, coauthor, Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding
"This thoughtful and comprehensive book is certain to appear on the desk of every professional, from elder service worker to fire official, and become the go-to resource for service personnel looking for ways to deal with this devastating problem." --Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy and Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California, Berkeley
About the Author
Christiana Bratiotis, PhD, is a post-doctoral fellow at the Boston University School of Social Work.
Cristina Sorrentino Schmalisch, PhD, is a psychotherapist in private practice at the Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine and a staff therapist at Hope Psychological Services.
Gail Steketee, PhD, is Dean and Professor at the Boston University School of Social Work.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Randy O. Frost
Introduction
1. Hoarding and Its Effects
2. Special Challenges: Interpersonal Aspects of Working with Hoarding
3. Working with Service Delivery Systems: The Hoarding Task Force Model
4. Assessment of Severity and Risks to Self and Others
With contributions by Sarah L. Dowal
5. Hoarding and Mental Health Services
6. Hoarding and Housing
With contributions by Jesse Edsell-Vetter
7. Hoarding and Public Health and Safety
With contributions by Paul Halfmann
8. Hoarding and Protective Services
9. Hoarding of Animals
With contributions by Jesse Edsell-Vetter and Gary Patronek
10. Hoarding and the Legal System
11. Medical Aspects of Hoarding
12. Role of Professional Organizers
13. Next Steps in Services for Hoarding
Appendix
Resources
Glossary
References
Index