Hoarding Treatment & Support Group
Supportive, structured group meetings focused on gradual change, values-based action, reducing avoidance, and building momentum in recovery from hoarding disorder.
Hoarding Support in a Compassionate, Structured Environment
Hoarding disorder is often misunderstood. Many individuals struggling with hoarding experience overwhelming anxiety, shame, indecision, emotional attachment to possessions, difficulty discarding items, and increasing isolation over time. These challenges can affect relationships, daily functioning, safety, and quality of life, and yet many people feel deeply alone in the experience.
Our Hoarding Treatment & Support Group is designed to provide a supportive and structured environment for individuals actively working toward change. The group focuses on helping participants develop practical strategies, strengthen motivation, reduce avoidance, and build momentum through consistent, manageable steps over time.
Rather than emphasizing perfection or extreme clean-outs, the group encourages gradual progress, psychological flexibility, self-awareness, and values-based action. Participants are supported in learning how to tolerate difficult emotions, approach decisions differently, and develop more sustainable patterns of behavior.
The group is informed by evidence-based approaches for hoarding disorder, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure-based principles, behavioral strategies, and skills focused on reducing avoidance and increasing functioning.
Group Meeting Details
Hoarding Treatment & Support Group
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Meets monthly every third Monday at 6:00 PM EDT
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60-minute meetings
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$45 per meeting
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Best suited for individuals currently engaged in active treatment for hoarding disorder
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ACT-informed skills & real-life application
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Focused on gradual, sustainable change
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Facilitated by Sara Sutphin, M.Ed, LPP
Hoarding Treatment & Support Group: What to Expect
Group meetings are designed to provide structure, support, accountability, and practical discussion surrounding the unique challenges associated with hoarding disorder.
Topics may include:
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Difficulty discarding possessions
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Emotional attachment to items
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Avoidance and procrastination
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Resisting urges to acquire new items
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Decision-making difficulties
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Shame and self-criticism
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Anxiety related to sorting or discarding
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Values-based goal setting
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Building tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort
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Maintaining momentum over time
Participants are encouraged to move at a pace that supports meaningful and sustainable change rather than focusing on perfection or unrealistic expectations.
The group is intended to complement ongoing treatment and recovery work while helping participants remain engaged, connected, and supported throughout the process.
Why Group Support Matters in Hoarding Recovery
One of the most difficult aspects of hoarding disorder is the isolation that often develops around it. Many individuals experience shame, embarrassment, fear of judgment, or hopelessness that can make it difficult to seek support or talk openly about what they are experiencing.
Group-based support can help reduce that isolation by creating opportunities to connect with others who understand the emotional complexity of hoarding disorder firsthand. Participants often find that hearing others’ experiences helps normalize struggles that previously felt uniquely overwhelming or difficult to explain.
Groups can also provide:
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Ongoing encouragement and accountability
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Support during setbacks and discouraging periods
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Opportunities to learn from others’ experiences
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Greater awareness of avoidance patterns
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Reinforcement of therapeutic skills and strategies
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Increased motivation for gradual change
Recovery from hoarding disorder is rarely about quick fixes. More often, it involves developing new ways of relating to discomfort, uncertainty, possessions, and decision-making over time. Group support can help make that process feel more manageable and less isolating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Group Therapy
Is this group therapy?
Yes. This group is designed as a therapeutic support group focused on hoarding disorder recovery and related challenges.
Do I need a formal diagnosis of hoarding disorder to participate?
Not necessarily. However, the group is intended for individuals experiencing significant difficulty with hoarding-related behaviors, excessive acquiring, difficulty discarding possessions, or related impairment. Please contact us if you're unsure whether or not you would be a good fit for this group.
Is this group focused on forced clean-outs or pressure to discard items?
No. The group emphasizes gradual, sustainable change and evidence-based approaches rather than shame, pressure, or extreme clean-out approaches.
Do I need to already be in individual therapy?
This group is best suited for individuals actively participating in treatment or recovery work related to hoarding disorder, OCD, anxiety, or related concerns.
Is hoarding disorder considered part of OCD?
Hoarding disorder is classified as an OCD-related disorder and shares some overlapping features with OCD and anxiety disorders, though it also has important differences.
How do I know if this group is a good fit?
All participants complete a brief screening process before joining to help determine whether the group aligns with their current needs and goals.
Interested in Learning More?
If you are interested in participating in the Hoarding Treatment & Support Group or would like help determining whether the group may be a good fit, we would be happy to answer your questions.
To Learn More about this group:
Phone: (502) 901-7827
Email: info@rivercityocd.com
Or contact River City OCD Clinic through our online contact form to learn more about upcoming group availability and screening options. and enrollment availability.