H-C (Compulsive Hoarding Community) : For people with OCD-related hoarding disorder and a strong desire to improve their living or work spaces. This is a working list and a community. Members must be in action stage within the first month of joining. In addition, members must post at least twice per month (1) about their actions, and (1) response to discussion threads. Advisor: James Claiborn, Ph.D., ABPP. List moderators: Paula and Vildy.

This is a private and unlisted Yahoo group; all information and conversations are confidential. Postings will not show up in search engines. Maximum membership is 105 to 115, depending on where newly admitted members are in the joining process. Overflow applicants will be placed on a waiting list upon request.

***** Important note: *****
When applying, DISREGARD Yahoo's auto-rejection and look for our Welcome letter (w/ forms) instead. CHECK YOUR BULK, SPAM OR TRASH FOLDER IF YOU DON'T SEE IT IN YOUR INBOX. Write to the group moderators at <H-C-owner@yahoogroups.com> and ask to be sent a duplicate.

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Our approach is based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatment model* and methods developed by psychologists Randy Frost and Gail Steketee (workbook pictured on the right). We use Randy Frost and psychologist Tamara Hartl's definition of clinically significant hoarding** in our group:

(1) the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions,
(2) living spaces that are sufficiently cluttered as to preclude their intended use, and
(3) significant distress or impairment in functioning caused by the clutter.

* We do not use an addiction or 12 step model because the disorder is not based on or due to physiological dependence.

** Frost, R.O.; Hartl, T.L., "A cognitive-behavioral model of compulsive hoarding" Behavior Research and Therapy (1996)

If you have questions, please write to the list manager at: H-C-owner@yahoogroups.com