Join Our Mailing List
International OCD Conference in Seattle
The team recently travelled to Seattle, USA, to attend the International OCD Foundation’s 31st OCD Conference, an incredible opportunity to share our work, connect with professionals from across the field, and contribute to conversations shaping the future of hoarding support. It was an unforgettable experience for the whole team, and a particularly special milestone for our Director, Kayley Hyman, and
The team recently travelled to Seattle, USA, to attend the International OCD Foundation’s 31st OCD Conference, an incredible opportunity to share our work, connect with professionals from across the field, and contribute to conversations shaping the future of hoarding support.
It was an unforgettable experience for the whole team, and a particularly special milestone for our Director, Kayley Hyman, and Head of Research, Amie Cook, in their work around Hoarding Disorder. Kayley had the opportunity to speak at the conference and join a panel alongside renowned hoarding researcher Dr Randy Frost, while Amie presented research from her PhD with the University of South Wales.
Amie’s presentation focused on the need for a wider, more compassionate and rights-based approach to understanding hoarding behaviours. Rather than viewing hoarding solely through a clinical lens, this approach recognises the importance of a person’s experiences, circumstances and the wider systems around them.
The work highlighted several key principles that underpin our approach at Holistic Hoarding:
- Building trust and safety: Developing genuine relationships with individuals and working alongside them, rather than making decisions on their behalf.
- Understanding the person, not just the behaviour: Recognising that hoarding behaviours can be connected to life experiences, difficult circumstances and a person’s need for security.
- Working together: Encouraging collaboration between individuals, practitioners and services to ensure support is respectful, joined-up and centred on the person’s rights and needs.
These principles reflect our belief that meaningful change begins with understanding, trust and collaboration, rather than judgement or pressure.
For Amie, the opportunity was equally significant. Having graduated just 12 months earlier, presenting her research on an international platform was a remarkable step in her academic journey and an opportunity to advocate for a more compassionate approach to hoarding support.
For Kayley, the opportunity to speak at the conference and join a panel alongside Dr Randy Frost was a milestone she never imagined reaching when she first began her work in hoarding support. Being able to share Holistic Hoarding’s approach with an international audience and contribute to conversations about more compassionate, person-centred support was a significant step, both personally and for the organisation.
The trip also gave the team the chance to connect with others working in the field, exchange ideas and learn from different perspectives. These conversations are important in helping challenge stigma, improve understanding and shape the future of hoarding support.
We are incredibly grateful to Mary Clare, creator of Clutter Buddies, and the University of South Wales for helping make this experience possible for the whole team. It was a special opportunity to share our work, celebrate how far we have come and bring new knowledge and connections back to the people and communities we support.
