Individual and group services for Hoarding Disorder in Manitoba
Registered Clinical Social Worker
Specializing in Hoarding Disorder
What is Hoarding Disorder?
Hoarding is a mental health disorder that is characterized by the acquisition of items, and the difficultly discarding these items (Steketee, Frost & Tolin, 2007).
For an individual who suffers with hoarding their living spaces are cluttered significantly which can impede their ability to use the area for the reason it was designed for.
Individuals with hoarding disorder also have an immense difficulty throwing items away as well as experience a significant level of distress or impairment in their functioning as a result of the hoarding behavior (Steketee, Frost & Tolin, 2007). Serious hoarding problems will significantly affect quality of life.
Tolin, D. F., Frost, R. O., & Steketee, G. (2007). An Open Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Compulsive Hoarding. Behaviour research and therapy, 45(7), 1461-1470.
Services
In Home Hoarding Treatment
Evidence based practices are used to work with clients who experience hoarding behaviour by examining underlying thoughts and emotions related to the hoarding and teaching skills and techniques to tackle the behaviour long term.
Assessments and Consultation
Assess the client's hoarding disorder in order to gain valuable knowledge about the severity and difficulties in performing daily tasks. Also assessing difficulties with discarding and acquiring as well as the clients perception of the hoarding problem.
Professional Development Training
Customized trainings on an individual or group basis to help professionals learn the best strategies to work with clients with hoarding disorder.
Service Provider
Lindsay Bacala is a registered clinical social worker with experience working with individuals and families suffering with hoarding disorder since 2011. Lindsay has experience using a range of interventions and focuses on integrating best treatment practices to help clients resolve negative thinking patterns and learn ways to change behaviours.
Lindsay is well versed in a variety of counselling techniques and best treatment practices for those experience hoarding disorder, OCD, perfectionism and anxiety. She is skilled at conducting assessments, building trusting therapeutic relationships and designing and implementing individualized treatment plans.
Much of the work with individuals who experience hoarding disorder is conducted in the home. Lindsay has extensive experience conducting in home assessments to evaluate the level of hoarding and completed research to create and evaluate the efficacy of treatment methods. Whenever possible families, significant others, collaterals are included in the treatment process.
Therapeutic Models
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at how emotions, thoughts and behaviours are linked. With CBT you examine the underlying thoughts and emotions that are contributing to the hoarding behaviour and learn techniques to effectively deal with the challenges.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing is a therapeutic technique to reduce ambivalence and increasing motoviation for positive changes in behavior. Clients are encouraged to analyze their own ambivalence and identify goals to achieve lasting change.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness looks at attending to the present moment and understanding your own body and how it reacts to stressful situations. Mindfulness is used during hoarding treatment as a way to decrease rumination about possessions and lower anxiety.