Dealing With the Clutter: Stockton University to Hold Conference on Hoarding

Stockton University will host a full-day conference that focuses on what happens when a person’s possessions take over their lives on Monday, May 18.

“Perspectives on Hoarding,” will be co-sponsored by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County and the Atlantic County Division of Public Health.

A professor of Psychology, a housing official, a person who has lived the hoarding experience, and a family member will all offer their perspectives on the subject. Clinicians and building code officials will also attend the conference to address struggles related to clutter and hoarding disorder.

The goal of the conference is to educate individuals and family members of people overwhelmed by too many things on strategies to deal with the overwhelming feeling accompanied by clutter/ hoarding disorder, and learn ways to reduce collecting, clean, sort, and organize processions.

Ultimately, participants should be able to:

• Identify the signs of hoarding;
• Identify resources for treatment and ongoing support; and
• Discuss strategies to minimize behaviors associated with finding/keeping and clutter.

Featured presenters will include:

• Dr. Randy O. Frost, professor of Psychology at Smith College;
• Jesse Edsell-Vetter, hoarding intervention coordinator, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership;
• Lee Shuer, director of Mutual Support Services at ServiceNet; and
• Rebecca Belofsky Shuer, a certified wellness recovery action plan facilitator.

The program runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

Public health, occupational therapy and social workers may receive continuing education credits.

The cost is $85.

To register, visit Stockton.edu/grad/hoarding or call 609-652-4227.