FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I completely understand why you might think that, but the truth is you have your clutter challenge because you don’t yet have some of the SKILLS you need to clear it and the HABITS you need to keep it clear.

You can LEARN those skills and CREATE those habits, but it takes time. You have to repeat something between 66 and 254 times for it to become a new automatic habit. So unless you’re willing and able to pay for someone to come to your home between 66 and 254 times (!) to help you clear your clutter and help you create the habits you need to STAY Clutter Free, then this is the most cost effective way to learn the SKILLS and create the HABITS you need to succeed and get back control yourself.

You put in the time, energy and effort, and a Clutter College Course will give you the knowledge, understanding and ‘How-To’ you need to succeed.

It entirely depends on which course you choose.

• The Workshops are a maximum of 2 hours.
• The Social Gathering Group Support is 2 hours a week.
• The Short Courses are designed to be a maximum of 2 hours a day over a few days.
• The LIVE Classes require 3 hours a week.
• To BootCamps require 3 hours a day, 2 days a week for 2 weeks.
• The 7 Step Journey requires a minimum of 2 hours a day, 5 days a week TOTAL 10 hours a week.
• If you choose the Group Journey membership then it requires 13 hour a week.
• If you choose the PRIVATE Journey membership then it requires 11 - 13 hours a week.

It entirely depends on which course* you choose.

• Online Workshops
  • One-off payment - £27 /$34
• Online Short Courses
  • One-off payment - £47 /$60
• Online Social Gathering Group Support
  • Term price - £97 / $127
• Online LIVE BootCamp
  • £155 / $205
• Online LIVE Classes
  • Term price - £197 / $254 per term
  • or Two monthly payments - £97 / £127
• Online Private Support
  • Term price - £375 / $490 (£75 / $98 per call)
  • or Two monthly payments - £190 / $250
• Online 7 Step Journey
  • DIY Journey (no support) - £47 / $60 per month
  • Group Journey - £147 / $192 per month
  • Private Journey - £297 / $397 per month

*Prices and courses are subject to change.

Yes.

Lots of Clutter College members have - or do - struggle with the following:

• Anxiety

• Social Anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Depression – either long term, severe or periodic bouts

• Weight issues / obesity

• Schizophrenia

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• PTSD

• Extreme Overwhelm

• Isolation

• Parental relationship issues – either past or current - particularly with their relationship with their mother

• Relationship issues – either past or current

So if you struggle with any of these, know you're perfectly normal.

So if you struggle with any of these, know you're perfectly normal and it’s still possible for you to Clear your Clutter.

All the courses are online, so you can go at your own pace.

I would recommend you start with an online workshop so you can get comfortable with how it works and then build up slowly from there.

Everyone in Clutter College struggles with impatience (!), but it's important we take it slowly precisely because even if you don't suffer from a pre-existing issue, going through your belongings that you may not have seen for years can cause anxiety / depression.
If you decide to take the 7 Step Journey Course which is the most time consuming of all the courses, I would recommend that you make sure you have appropriate support in place in the form of a therapist / counsellor BEFORE you start your Journey, that way you’re more able to manage any symptoms before they become an issue.

It depends which course you take.

If you’re a beginner and you want to meet others and get more comfortable with how it works and build up your confidence and belief that you CAN clear your clutter, the Social Gathering Support Group is a great place to start. You don’t have to be doing any other course to join the Social Gatherings.

As you build your confidence you can then continue joining the Social Gatherings whilst doing a Workshop or Course so you get the support you need in the Social Gathering Support Group AND the knowledge to enable you to ‘Do the Doing’ in the workshop between the weekly Social Gathering Support Group.

If you prefer private 1-2-1 help with me, you can book a term of 5 weekly Accountability Calls so we can focus on your specific challenges and issues.

Everyone who’s on a Social Gathering Support Group or on their 7 Step Journey gets access to my Private Facebook Group, my VIP Circle so they can get access to more information and resources, plus share and support each other.

So there’s as much – or as little – support as you want or need.

Don't be too hard on them.

If they haven't had a clutter challenge themselves it's very hard for people to understand how difficult it is to deal with it.

They do care - people only get frustrated with us if they care - and they're probably not supportive because they know you want to clear it and they don't want you to fail again.

You can get support in Clutter College either by joining the Social Gathering Support Group (in person or online), joining a weekly LIVE Clutter Clearing Class, having private 1-2-1 help and support from Clare each week, or getting support from other Clutter College Members via my Private Facebook Group.

There are 3 questions you need to ask yourself.

1. Do YOU want to clear your clutter forever?
2. Are you willing to make some time to learn about your clutter challenge?
3. Do you need your friends and family’s support to get started?

All the Clutter College Courses are online, so your friends and family don’t need to know what you’re doing. If they see you watching online videos then you can just say they’re FREE online videos about clutter clearing.

Once you build up your confidence and – if you’re joining a LIVE Class or you’re on your 7 Step Journey – start to see and feel a difference, I’m sure they will too. They may not tell you they can see a difference – they’re expecting you to give up again – but if you’re persistent and consistent eventually either you will have the confidence to tell them how you’ve been doing it, or they’ll comment positively on the fact you’re clearing your clutter and it’s not growing back.

Your well meaning friends and family can always support you by taking things that YOU decide are going to charity shops, recycling or landfill, or even just by inviting you round for dinner after you've had a Clutter Clearing day so you don't have to cook.

Support doesn't always have to be specific to the actual clutter.

Absolutely.

Remember that I’m a former borderline hoarder myself and I was able to clear my clutter.

I recommend that you start gently by joining the Social Gathering Support Group so you can get to meet other hoarders who are already successfully clearing their clutter on the 7 Step Journey Course.

Once your confidence grows and you start to believe you MIGHT be able to clear your clutter then you can move to start your 7 Step Journey.

I do recommend that hoarders have 2 types of support outside of the Journey:

• A friend, neighbour, social worker - anyone who is supportive of you doing your Journey and can watch the videos and do the exercises with you. All they need to do is arrange to come and watch the online videos with you and help you turn the exercises into action. It means you will also have someone who is learning what you're learning so they understand.
• A Therapist/counsellor. If you are a hoarder you will almost certainly experience anxiety at some point on your journey and this can increase even in Step 1 when we start to look at WHY we have our Clutter Challenge. So I recommend that hoarders start their weekly Counselling/therapy BEFORE they start their Journey so that they can get comfortable with their counsellor/therapist before the challenges begin. You will need to commit to having weekly counselling/therapy for at least 18 months while you are on your journey, therefore you are likely to have to privately fund this as state funded programmes are usually only short term.

Lots of people who have a clutter challenge are in this situation and I’ve worked and supported several clients over the years through this period of change.

Your clutter didn’t appear overnight and it’s not going to clear overnight.

My recommendation is that if you need to sell / move in the next 6 months you DON’T try to clear your clutter until AFTER you’ve moved.

1. Using the floorplan of your new property, plan how you want your new home to be organised.
2. Once you have your selling / moving date, join the Social Gathering Support Group so you have some support while you do your packing and stay motivated to start your 7 Step Journey clutter once you’ve moved otherwise once you’ve moved you will procrastinate (again) and forget about your clutter because then….
3. Move your clutter into a Self Storage Unit so that you can physically sell / move without feeling you have to sort through your clutter first. If you find any ‘obvious’ rubbish / trash as you pack up your clutter to move it into Self Storage then let it go. No need to move and pay to store things that are ‘obvious’ rubbish / trash.
4. Once you’ve moved, continue to join the Social Gathering Support Group until you can join the next intake of members for the 7 Step Journey

Self Storage is ONLY a suitable solution to your clutter challenge IF you have a plan of how you’re going to clear it once it’s in Self Storage.

Then we’ll miss you, and welcome you back (a bit jealous I’m sure!) when you return!

When you’re on the 7 Step Journey Course you’ll learn how important it is to take a break to rest, recharge and reward yourself every 5 or so weeks. Our brain needs some down-time.

It’s also important, as part of learning to clear and control our clutter forever, that we learn how to deal with times when we can’t stick to our normal routine – like holidays and emergencies - and learn how to get back into our routine.

It’s entirely up to you whether you want to join a term of Social Gathering Support Group / LIVE Classes / 7 Step Journey Course knowing that you won’t be able to join a week or two, or whether you’d prefer to wait until you know you can join all 5 weeks of term.

I wouldn't recommend it.

The courses in Clutter College are very different to anything else you'll find and will teach you concepts, principles and methods that you won't get anywhere else.

So to follow more than one programme or course at a time it would be confusing as to what you're learning and doing for which programme and would zap your time and energy.

I’m sure you’ve experienced one of the big challenges that clutterholics and hoarders have – we struggle to focus and finish one thing at a time. Trying to do more than one programme or course at a time is an example of this.

Much better to focus on one programme at a time. Finish the other programme, and if that doesn't work then start a Clutter College Course.

Yes - but let's think about other, cheaper (or free) options.

Firstly let's change the words you're using.

We're not 'getting rid' of clutter. We're letting go and passing it on. That's much kinder words to use. Getting rid of clutter sounds harsh and as if you don't care, and I'm sure you do care about the things in your clutter.

Clutter College Courses don’t involve home visits from me. These are only available to my private clients if they struggle with their 7 Step Journey.

There are, however, lots of ways you can get help to transport clutter to it's new home.

Examples include:

• Asking friends, family or neighbours to help by taking things for you. This is a great way they can help you WITHOUT being involved in the decision making
• Many local charities will collect items for free. You just need to call them and book a collection
• Contacting your local council as they often do a bulk collection service for a small fee
• Freecycling. There are websites where you can list items for people to come and collect them if they want them. NOTE: I do not recommend this if you live alone.
• Local Freecycling. Putting unwanted items on your boundary with a sign that says 'FREE - please give a new home' is often a quick, simple and easy way to let go of things you no longer need.
• Local nurseries, schools, community organisations. Nurseries are often very happy to receive children's toys. Schools are often grateful of books for their library. Community organisations often appreciate excess food, toiletries, kitchen utensils and furniture. And they'll all come and collect from you if they want what you're giving away!

Before Covid-19 I would have said yes, I can help you get away from it with an in-person face-to-face LIVE Workshop.

Sadly, at the moment, I can't.

However, I can help you feel not alone or isolated with the weekly Social Gathering Support Groups, LIVE Classes and Group Tutorials on the 7 Step Journey.

In these LIVE options you can meet, see and share with other Clutterholics who are on their Journey too, so not only can you stay in touch with the outside world, you can also share and support each other.

You'll also get access to my Private VIP Circle on Facebook so you can share and get support from other Journey Members in-between the LIVE sessions.