From Grief to Purpose: My Journey to Becoming a Hoarding Specialist

My journey to becoming a professional organizer and certified hoarding specialist began in the depths of depression and extreme grief. The year 2017 changed my life forever. First, my mother passed away after an extended battle with early-onset dementia. Then, just five months later, my perfectly healthy father lost his life under questionable circumstances. These back-to-back losses struck me to the core.

I had always struggled with depression, but nothing compared to what I experienced while grieving. I gave up on life and went from living to merely existing. Getting out of bed felt like a chore, and somehow the shower felt a hundred miles away. My home, meanwhile, became a level 1 hoarding situation. I used shopping as a way to cope with the pain, but while items kept entering my house, nothing was leaving. Dishes piled up, trash went unattended, and I held onto countless sentimental items that reminded me of my life with my parents. My belongings were scattered everywhere. I think you get the picture.

Healing Through Organization:

One day, I reached a breaking point. I transformed my home into a clean and organized haven. The weight on my shoulders lifted slightly, and breathing became easier. Shortly after, I helped a friend move inventory for her business from her basement to her new brick-and-mortar store. We organized everything for display, and I enjoyed every minute of it. That’s when I learned what a professional organizer was—and instantly knew it was the career path I was meant to follow.

I began organizing homes, but something didn’t sit right with me. I noticed other organizers creating Pinterest-perfect spaces that required a mass of storage bins and products. To me, being organized meant embracing the decluttering process and living with less, focusing on function over aesthetics while still creating beautiful spaces. Regardless of industry trends, I continued organizing, loving every minute of it.

Discovering My Niche:

Then I took on my first hoarding client, and it brought the clarity I needed. Becoming a certified hoarding specialist was the niche I was meant to pursue. While I still helped my clients create beautiful spaces, the focus shifted from aesthetics to creating clutter-free living environments that restore order and balance to their own lives.

And that is how I went from being a grieving, semi-hoarding daughter to a woman who truly changes the lives of others.