GLSS program aims to help de-clutter hoarders

LYNN – The design for The de-Clutterers’ Group is a Picasso-esque print of a head filled with whirling gears, baubles and symbols that Greater Lynn Senior Services Hoarding Specialist Laurie Grant said she was surprised to find resonates with her group members.”It really speaks to them,” she said. “I think because it’s not just about the clutter in their houses but in their minds. We’re helping to unclutter their minds so they can make right decisions.”Three years ago Grant launched a de-cluttering program that has grown significantly, but if you ask her if that surprises her she’ll tell you, “no.””There are still a lot of people who need help,” she said.The 10-week program is a psycho-educational model that includes support as well as a teaching component, Grant explained. Group members check in, take part in a discussion and use the book “Buried in Treasure” by Dr. Randy Frost as a guide, she said. When they leave, “they have a measurable, attainable goal for the week and next week after they check in we’ll discuss how they used what they attained.”Members will do a lot of work, and discover things about themselves they may not want to know, but Grant warned they won’t necessarily end up with a clean house.”Some people think they will leave the group with a perfect house,” she said. “No one has a perfect house but what they will leave with are tools to help them with their ?acquiring,’ that will help them work on their homes a little more and shop a little less.””Acquiring” is one of the signs of hoarding, Grant said. Whether it’s shopping, picking up free things, collecting, or just refusing to toss things away, it is a sign. Grant said people need to ask themselves; is clutter taking over their home or work space? Is it creating a safety problem in your home, are you embarrassed by your environment or is it affecting your life and relationships?If you answer yes to any of those you might want to think about signing up for her program, Grant said.Two Clutterers’ Groups will be launched in October. Grant said one will meet Wednesdays at the Saugus Senior Center from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. The second group will meet Thursdays at GLSS, 8 Silsbee St., also from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.Grant has run three groups already and all three are still meeting on an informal basis despite the fact the program is over. That is one of the pluses of the program, she said, “It’s like you meet your people, they’re all going through the same thing. You make friends and you find that the support groups value people as individuals who just have this one little thing they need to work on.”Grant said she finds that many who join her groups are self-referrals but there are a lot of others that are in denial or don’t believe they have a problem that need to be reached as well.”My big thing this year is educating Boards of Health on why they should refer,” she said. “Police, fire and ambulance are also mandated to report but they don’t always.”Once they reach the point where they are ready to join a group, Grant said it can be revelation for some.”There is a level of acceptance and for some they learn so much about themselves that they might not have wanted to,” she said. “Sometimes we have a lot of tears.”Anyone who would like to join either group should contact Grant at 781-586-8605 or via email at [email protected] to do so.”We will always talk to people who want to talk and we’re always willing to meet with someone,” she said. “There is a little hoarder in all of us. Stuff is important to all of us.”