Gail Steketee

When things become too much: How to help a hoarder

February 22, 2017

Chicago Tribune Gail Steketee, School of Social Work Wen Bec and Lee Shuer were dating, she thought all of the stuff crammed into Lee’s house belonged to him and his roommates… Expert quote: “Hoarders can benefit by working on skills like sorting and organizing, said Gail Steketee, dean and professor at the Boston University School of […]

View full article

Hoarding helpers

June 24, 2015

Waterloo Chronicle Gail Steketee, School of Social Work After fielding thousands of calls and helping hundreds of hoarders deal with their affliction over the past two years, a local hoarding initiative is looking to expand across the province to help other communities diagnose and treat hoarders… Expert quote: “Because hoarding is a complicated problem and […]

View full article

Tips for Ending Your Shopping Addiction

January 27, 2015

U.S. News & World Report Gail Steketee, School of Social Work If you found yourself shopping more than you’d like over the holidays and are now trying to tamp down spending for the new year, then you might pick up some useful strategies from research into how best to help shopaholics overcome their overspending tendencies... View […]

View full article

Take a look at your house – are you a hoarder?

November 24, 2014

Orlando Sentinel Gail Steketee, School of Social Work But I might need it. But it was expensive. But it was Mom’s. But it still works. But it was a gift. But I might lose weight. But it might be worth something. But it’s irreplaceable. But I don’t have time to deal with it… Expert quote: […]

View full article

Experts speculate Pocheon murder suspect a ‘hoarder’

August 7, 2014

The Korea Herald Gail Steketee, School of Social Work Crime experts raised speculation Thursday that a woman who kept two dead bodies in her house might be a patient of a disorder known as compulsive hoarding… View full article referencing expert Gail Steketee

View full article

When you can’t let go: Treatment can break the grip of hoarding disorder

July 9, 2014

Chicago Tribune Gail Steketee, School of Social Work Many of us have trouble parting with our possessions–even when we no longer need them. I have a collection of greeting cards I’ve been storing since childhood and will probably never look at again. My husband owns a few pieces of clothing older than our 17-year marriage… […]

View full article

When you can’t let go: What to do about hoarding

May 22, 2014

Harvard Health Blog Gail Steketee, School of Social Work Many of us have trouble parting with our possessions—even when we no longer need them… Expert quote: “There is some specific association to an object, or an object is seen to represent a person’s identity in some important way.” View full article

View full article

For the love of lightening up

April 30, 2014

CNN.com Gail Steketee, School of Social Work Your Nana’s collection of figurines. The treadmill from your days as a runner. That unfinished five-year quilting project. As spring-cleaning season kicks in, you’re inspired to chuck anything that isn’t being put to good use. But then you falter, since getting rid of stuff can be an emotionally charged […]

View full article

Szymanski, Frost, Steketee: New Houston ordinance criminalizes hoarders

April 26, 2014

Houston Chronicle Co-written by Gail Steketee, School of Social Work While it seems that the authors of this ordinance set out to be sensitive to the complex issues surrounding hoarding disorder, we believe that calling it the Anti-Hoarding Ordinance needlessly stigmatizes those suffering from a mental illness… View full article by expert Gail Steketee

View full article

How to overcome a shopping addiction

March 27, 2014

U.S. News & World Report Gail Steketee, School of Social Work About 5 percent of Americans suffer from compulsive shopping, and even more struggle with lesser forms of overspending, says Terrence Shulman, founder of The Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft, Spending & Hoarding based in Franklin, Mich… Expert quote: “In some cases, compulsive shopping overlaps […]

View full article