Saturday, November 28, 2015

Local Organizing Company Featured on Popular TV Show, Hoarders

REDLANDS, Calif. - Nov. 17, 2015 - 
You may have heard of Kathy Bates or seen her on screen in Misery, but this time a different Cathy Bates is stealing the spotlight. Last weekend Cathy Bates, owner of Redlands-based organizing company Practical Solutions, was featured on a taping of Hoarders, a popular A&E original show that helps people who chronically struggle with disorganization. The taping will air in March on Lifetime as the show's season finale.

During the taping Bates, along with Practical Solutions organizer Patii Eickhoff, assisted show host Matt Paxton clear clutter for a family who's struggled with hoarding for years.

This type of work is nothing out of the ordinary for Bates, who has been helping the local community get organized since 2003. Her clients range from slightly disorganized people to hoarders.

“When I first started, there weren't any shows on hoarding, and it wasn't even recognized by the psychological community as a true disorder,” she said.

First defined as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Society in 2013, hoarding is characterized by a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions. This chronic behavior often yields severe emotional, financial, social, and physical consequences for the sufferer and their family.

Although the show was filmed in about three days, Bates said in reality helping hoarders get organized often takes months or even years. Typically, clients are encouraged to work at a comfortable pace, and implement incremental changes into their habits and lifestyle.

Eickhoff, who has been professionally organizing throughout Southern California for seven years, noted that having a bigger support team enabled them to work more quickly than usual.

“This was the easiest hoarding job we have done because of the support of the Service Master crew, and because the client was ready for a life change,” said. “We are used to doing all of the heavy lifting as well as the sorting, but with their team behind us we barely lifted a finger, so we could concentrate on sorting with the client.”

Bates said that her Redlands-based team, albeit smaller than the TV support crew, also takes on challenging projects with aplomb.

“The ladies at Practical Solutions are the hardest working group of ladies you will ever meet,” she said. “Ask anyone who they have organized or moved. One client told me, 'I’ve never seen anyone work harder than this crew, yet they are always looking out for my emotional needs and helping me through the hurdles I face.'”

Ultimately, Bates said the biggest reward to both the Hoarders taping and the everyday organizing jobs she and her team tackle is the same – That is, witnessing the impact that letting go of unneeded possessions has on a client's life.

“Lives are changed when clients finally let go of the clutter, whether it takes three days or three years,” she said, “and make room for important relationships and experiences that last a lifetime.”

Stay tuned for more information on the season finale of Hoarders! In the meantime, learn more about Practical Solutions at www.psorganizing.com. They offer free consultations and always treat clients with care and respect.

Gifts that Keep Giving

I was so blessed to have my two college age kids home for Thanksgiving. We had such a nice time making memories and enjoying time together. On the afternoon of Black Friday, we were getting a little cabin fever so we decided to brave the crowds and hit a couple of stores to look for some some necessaries items like shoes and coats we felt we could get a good deal on. It didn't take long for us to realize that Black Friday was not for us. Waiting in line for a hour to save a couple of bucks wasn't our idea of fun.

When we got home, my 18 year old son said "we really don't need anything and I would rather just spend time together when I come home for Christmas rather than getting presents." My 20 year old daughter decided she would like the family to serve together at the homeless shelter rather than getting stuff. These are the things that will be remembered and make a lasting impact.

This holiday season, I encourage you to spend less time in stores and more time making memories. Here are some ideas of gifts that don't contribute to the clutter problem and will be treasured for a lifetime...

  • Serve together at a local charity together.
  • Donate to the recipient's favorite charity in their honor.
  • Buy tickets to an event like a sporting event or concert and go together.
  • Purchase season tickets or a membership for a year's worth of fun.
  • Learn together by signing up for a class or workshop.
  • Give a restaurant gift card to their favorite dining spot.
  • Buy a subscription to a magazine they would enjoy.
This year give the gift that keeps giving.