Summary
This episode is an audio version of our blog, “From Assessment to Action: The OT’s Clinical Map for Hoarding Disorder.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L walks step-by-step through a practical, evidence-informed process for hoarding evaluations so you can move from feeling overwhelmed at the doorway to using a clear clinical map that supports safety, function, and meaningful change.
In this episode, we cover:
This episode is an audio version of our blog, “From Assessment to Action: The OT’s Clinical Map for Hoarding Disorder.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L walks step-by-step through a practical, evidence-informed process for hoarding evaluations so you can move from feeling overwhelmed at the doorway to using a clear clinical map that supports safety, function, and meaningful change.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why regulating yourself and building a non-judgmental therapeutic alliance is the crucial first intervention when you walk into a cluttered home, and how to use an occupational profile to uncover what matters most to the client about their possessions and daily routines.
- How to weave in validated tools like the Hoarding Rating Scale, Clutter Image Rating, and ADL-H as conversational assessments, then translate those findings into concrete, occupation-based goals and graded interventions that target safety, access, and participation.
- Six practical OT steps—from first impressions to maintenance planning—including structuring sessions, collaborating on acquisition and “one in, one out” agreements, engaging families without enabling, and building long-term supports so gains are sustained rather than lost over time.
Read the full blog and see visuals:
- Read the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2026/06/30/from-assessment-to-action-the-ots-clinical-map-for-hoarding-disorder/
- View any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog.
Related trainings and courses:
- Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHAT
- Occupational Therapy for Persons with Hoarding Disorder https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/HoardingCourse
- All Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/courses
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