December Chapter Meeting - The Psychology of Letting Stuff Go

The Psychology of Letting Stuff Go:  Helping Clients Who Struggle to Release

Many people struggle to part with their “stuff,” likely due to a combination of cultural and psychological factors.

This presentation coincides with the holiday season – which for many Americans has become the year’s greatest acquisition of stuff! – and will touch on many of the factors that make it difficult for individuals to let go of items and keep down on clutter. Focus will also be placed on how professional organizers can tailor their approach based on these factors when working with clients. Specifically, attendees will learn:

• Common emotional and psychological factors that make it difficult for people to let go of stuff
  
• Common cognitive processing deficits associated with hoarding and difficulty discarding in general -- and how professional organizers can address these processing weaknesses
  
• The spectrum of “savers”: from those who are reluctant to part with objects to those meeting criteria for compulsive hoarding disorder
  
• Tools for assessing the severity of clutter
  
• How to assess individual’s readiness for change (i.e. letting go of stuff) and how to enhance motivation
  

Dr. Jami Socha is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of children and adults with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, as well as individuals with compulsive hoarding. She works in private practice in Ann Arbor, MI at the Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center of Ann Arbor (www.anxietyannarbor.com)

Dr. Socha is a professional member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).

Meeting Cost

Chapter meetings are a benefit of membership for Option 1 Members and Business Partners. Option 2 Members and Guests pay $20 at the door. Please ask for the Treasurer when you arrive. Click here for more information about joining our NAPO Michigan Chapter.