Hoarding Disorder: Treating the underlying vulnerabilities beneath the clutter, featuring Cecilia “Ceci” Garrett, MSW, LICSW
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying vulnerabilities that are common in those with hoarding and how effective clinical treatment addresses those factors.
We’ll highlight differences between the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model of hoarding disorder and the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) model to identify common elements for effective clinical intervention that focuses on resolving the roots of hoarding behaviors instead of focusing on the environmental aspects of the disorder.
We’ll discuss how effective treatment concentrates on developing insight into the client’s personal map of vulnerabilities, boosting motivation, decreasing avoidance driven by anxiety sensitivity, and challenging maladaptive beliefs about possessions. And we’ll detail strategies to redirect individuals toward healthier distress tolerance behaviors while also reducing shame and introducing emotional self-regulation skills.
Session objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify key vulnerability factors (biological, psychological, and social) that contribute to hoarding behaviors, which make it more than an issue of clutter.
- Summarize how key components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing can be combined to effectively address the common underlying vulnerabilities in hoarding disorder.
- List strategies to redirect individuals toward healthier distress tolerance behaviors and introduce emotional self-regulation skills.
Cecilia “Ceci” Garrett, MSW, LICSW
Ceci is a clinical social worker specializing in Hoarding Disorder, anxiety, and trauma. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, she advocates for compassionate, evidence-based approaches to hoarding through education, treatment, and community engagement.
Ceci is trained in several modalities, including Feedback-Informed therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and exposure therapies.