Making Space for What Matters: Find Freedom from Clutter and Hoarding with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

by Jennifer Krafft PhD, Clarissa W. Ong PhD, Michael E. Levin PhD, Michael P. Twohig PhD, David F. Tolin PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

If you hoard—or have a loved one who hoards—you may feel helpless, hopeless, or ashamed. The thought of letting go of belongings may fill you with anxiety, dread, or grief. And you may wonder if you’ll ever experience the freedom of living without the weight of this debilitating behavior. It’s important to know you are not alone, and that hoarding isn’t your fault. This book will help you find your way out of the clutter and chaos, and into the life you truly want.

Written by a team of mental health professionals and grounded in evidence-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), this book offers a values-based approach to finding lasting freedom from hoarding. Based on cutting-edge research, this book will help you unravel the stories your mind has created about you and your belongings. You’ll also discover how emotions and thoughts play a role in hoarding behaviors, and how you can declutter to live a life more closely aligned with your deepest values.

Most importantly, you’ll learn to move beyond feelings of shame and guilt that are associated with hoarding, and cultivate the self-compassion, self-awareness, and self-understanding needed to make real, lasting changes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798228660359
Publisher:	Tantor
Publication date:	11/01/2025
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Clarissa W. Ong, PhD, is a postdoctoral associate at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. She received her doctoral degree in clinical/counseling psychology from Utah State University, and completed her clinical internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Her research interests include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), process-based therapy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding disorder, and perfectionism. She has contributed to more than sixty peer-reviewed publications and a book. She has also received funding from the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).


Michael P. Twohig, PhD, is well known for his work in ACT and OCD, which is closely related to perfectionism. Twohig is professor in the psychology department at Utah State University. He is past president of the ACBS, and a current member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). He has written more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, seven books, and has received funding from many organizations, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Amber Dekkers is a biracial poet and actor from Dallas, Texas. She earned her BFA in theater from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Since graduating, she has performed on many stages, from comedy improv in NYC to elementary school read-alongs in Frisco, Texas. Amber's enchantment with storytelling, along with her southern warmth, infuses her readings with something familiar to the listener. Her voice has been described as warm, bright, and buttery and lends itself best to YA, romance, and cozy mysteries. Her southern roots bring a likeability to her characters, and she is well suited for memoirs and nonfiction.

Amber is approachable and sincere. She loves volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, teaching new skills in the classroom, and spending time with friends and family. With a soulful ease, she sounds like home.