What Community Partners Are Saying

The Center for Hoarding has supported individuals, families, agencies, and community partners through professional training, consultation, resources, and collaborative intervention.

Training & Agency Feedback

“I have worked with Marnie several times to present a training on Hoarding to APS workers. All participants reported that this is a great training. They gave high ratings to Marnie, the training contents and the presentation. The goals and objectives were clearly stated and met; cultural diversity and ethical issues were appropriately addressed and included in the discussion. As a result of the training, participants better understand the multi-layered complexities of Hoarding, such as health, mental health, disability and societal issues. They have learned to be non-judgmental and to use empathy and patience; they feel more confident in their approach to assessing their clients and in developing a solid care plan. All participants commented very positively on the strategies and tools developed by the Center for Hoarding, including the Uniform Inspection Checklist, a strength-based approach, Harm Reduction, and the importance and effectiveness of building a collaborative team with other community agencies. The training is designed to include group discussions that allow participants to also learn from each other and their county policies and regulations. Marnie also generously provides multiple links to supporting information and resources.”

Karin Patterson, LCSW
Adult Protective Services Training Coordinator

“I have known Marnie for many years as a respected colleague, where she was an early and key player in addressing hoarding in Massachusetts. Marnie’s knowledge of all aspects of hoarding disorder is remarkable. Whether at the local or national level, she is a respected professional. Together with her direct experience working with people who hoard, she uses this knowledge to make real improvements in their lives. Marnie has also successfully brought all types of housing and service professionals together to educate them and work on systemic barriers to achieving results.”

“In addition to her many other responsibilities, MassHousing had secured her services as a training professional. She displays mastery of the subject material, understands the learning culture, and practices effective training methods. Marnie has consistently received the highest reviews as rated by training participants.”

Ed Chase
Community Services Manager, MassHousing

“Marnie conducted a presentation for the management staff of the TN Adult Protective Services program on 8/23/17. She is very knowledgeable about hoarding. Marnie presented the material in a way that was both informative and interesting. I received great feedback from several staff that were in attendance.”

Vicki Moorehead
TN Department of Adult Protective Services Program Supervisor

“Minuteman Senior Services was fortunate to work with Marnie Matthews on clutter and hoarding issues. Marnie moderated a successful community forum on hoarding, provided training for our social work staff, and partnered with us as we launched our own support group program. She is very knowledgeable, and an articulate and compassionate advocate for people struggling with clutter.”

Amy Meneely
Grants Manager and Healthy Living Coordinator, Minuteman Senior Services

Professional Collaboration & Community Response

“Marnie is amazing, very knowledgeable, helpful, and quick in her responses to client needs. She follows up with what she says she is going to do in a timely and professional manner. I enjoy the collaborative work that we do together.”

Terina Bainter
Professional Organizer

“The Center for Hoarding has provided our agency with guidance, information and resources to help support our clients with issues involving hoarding behaviors.”

Mary Ann Pierce
Peabody Council on Aging

“I have worked with Marnie on multiple projects. She brings an amazing contribution of professionalism, organization and empathy to each project and its individual circumstances. When working with Marnie, you will have a clear objective and pathway to success presented with attainable steps and time frames.”

Ned Kittredge
V.P. Professional Profiles – Homecare Agency/Heavy Chore, Hoarding Specialist

“My name is David Greenbaum and I am the Director of Public Health for the Town of Saugus, MA. I have been collaborating with Marnie on cases of hoarding and cluttering for about 7 years. Marnie has always been willing to invest her time to assist other agencies with advice on how best to handle cases of hoarding. She is extremely knowledgeable and has always been a great resource to local public health when dealing with cases of hoarding and cluttering.”

David Greenbaum
Saugus Director of Public Health

“Marnie Matthews is a very experienced professional that is very organized while showing a sensitivity to the client. Her work is effective and valuable to the population she works with. I would highly recommend her!”

Doreen Brothers
Amesbury Council on Aging Director

“We have had experience working with Marnie as she planned, directed and conducted a ‘Safety Day’ here in Massachusetts. We found it extremely well organized, and ultimately productive and helpful in providing a safer and more organized environment for the consumer. It was worth the time and effort and the consumer/clutterer was not made to feel overly anxious or upset by the experience.”

Deborah Schwendiman
Senior Care – Adult Protective Services Supervisor

“I have worked with Marnie in various professional capacities over the last few years. She is extremely knowledgeable about clutter and hoarding behaviors and how to help those that are affected directly or indirectly by these behaviors. Marnie is professional and compassionate at the same time and is highly respected by her colleagues. She is a true representation of an amazing social worker. Thank you Marnie for all your hard work and dedication!”

Deana Andrade, MSW, LICSW
Old Colony Elder Services

“I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to observe and assist Marnie during one of her projects. Her passion, energy and compassion were inspiring to everyone involved, including both clients and volunteers. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with her.”

Jim DiBenedetto
BioOne Boston – Hoarding Remediation Specialist

“I was lucky to have the opportunity to work with Marnie and her support to hoarding cases. I not only learned so much from Marnie, but also saw her dedication to the clients she served.”

Elisa Espinal
North Shore Elder Services – Adult Protective Services Supervisor

Clinical Expertise, Support & Resources

“Marnie was my supervisor as I pursued my master’s degree in social work. She was an incredible mentor, and I learned so much from her about issues around hoarding and cluttering, as well as the best approaches to help people who struggle with these issues. Marnie is exceptionally patient, empathic, non-judgmental, and strategic in her approach with all of her clients. She genuinely cares about the people she serves and instills hope in these individuals and their loved ones.”

Julie Parks

“Provides much needed education and support around hoarding issues.”

Rebecca P.

“The Center for Hoarding is a wonderful service and comprises so many qualified and skilled individuals. This group gives greater awareness and attention to hoarding and clutter challenges for individuals and families across the country. I would recommend both professionals and family members connect with this group for questions, service referrals or other ideas.”

Max Zubatsky, Ph.D., LMFT
Assistant Professor, Medical Family Therapy Program, Saint Louis University

“Excellent!”

Eileen Dacey, MSW, LCSW
Program and Clinical Director, North Shore Center for Hoarding and Cluttering

“Marnie Matthews is a fantastic clinician working with those who have clutter issues. Her dedication to this population is remarkable. Marnie is always searching for new ways to enlighten the public about this disorder, provide education to professionals, and reach individuals in need of clinical support. For anyone looking for more information about clutter issues, I suggest contacting her. For anyone seeking relief from this disorder, I suggest getting involved in The Center for Hoarding.”

Karen Sullivan, MSW, LCSW
Amesbury Council on Aging

“This is a marvelous support/resource group that helps people obtain peer support as well as professional guidance regarding issues ranging from challenging disorganization to hoarding disorder.”

Anne B. Pagano, LCSW, ACSW, BCD, C-ASWCM
Executive Director, The Hoarding Disorder Resource & Training Group

“Marnie Matthews is an incredible powerhouse of support and knowledge in the clutter field. Her compassion and enthusiasm are ever present and she is a fantastic project leader. She gets things done and inspires others to continue the work. She makes people feel good, too. I love working with her.”

Bec Belofsky Shuer
Mutual Support Consulting

“Marnie does excellent work! She is compassionate, empathetic, and energetic. She is a wealth of knowledge and a great person to work with!”

Melissa Moore, MSW, LCSW

Client & Individual Support

“We had a very helpful interaction with Marnie and it really helped us begin to formulate a way forward.”

L. H.
Client

“I felt like finally I had someone on my side. My client was being harassed by BOH employees. I had already been working with the client for about a year or two. Marnie listened and worked with all the parties to have the best outcome for this family. No blame, no miscommunication. Everyone was on the same page. She actually sat down with me and listened to how far I had come working with this family. I was appreciated.”

Karen Kenney
Professional Organizer

“Marnie is a true professional in helping people work through their issues of holding on to stuff.”

Susan Walko
Professional Organizer

“Thank you! I’m grateful every day for this group and the comfort and support it provides. Because of it, and working with NSES, I am tackling my cluttering lifestyle. I realize there is no quick fix or easy answer, but I now accept this is ‘the way I am.’ Marnie has helped me realize, ‘I am NOT my stuff.’ She’s helped me determine for myself my core priorities and values and how to use those and ‘who I am’ to overcome a lifetime of habits, thinking, and behaviors. Most of all I felt SEEN — not as an object of pity and revulsion, but as a worthwhile person enmeshed in a net of keeping and acquiring, without organization or limits. I’m still struggling, but it’s on such a higher level of awareness, understanding, and self-acceptance. Marnie Matthews is the greatest therapist I’ve ever met, and I’m blessed to have intersected with her path. I struggle to put into words how profoundly she has helped me change my life for the better. I wouldn’t be anywhere close to as improved as I am without Marnie Matthews and her guidance and wisdom. Thank you!”

A.T.
Client