Making Space for What Matters: Find Freedom from Clutter and Hoarding with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

by Jennifer Krafft PhD, Clarissa W. Ong, Michael E. Levin

A powerful and compassionate guide to help you find lasting freedom from hoarding. If you hoard—or have a loved one who hoards—you may feel helpless, hopeless, or ashamed. The thought of letting go of belongings may fill you with anxiety, dread, or grief. And you may wonder if you’ll ever experience the freedom of living without the weight of this debilitating behavior. It’s important to know you are not alone, and that hoarding isn’t your fault. This book will help you find your way out of the clutter and chaos, and into the life you truly want. Written by a team of mental health professionals and grounded in evidence-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), this book offers a values-based approach to finding lasting freedom from hoarding. Based on cutting-edge research, this book will help you unravel the stories your mind has created about you and your belongings. You’ll also discover how emotions and thoughts play a role in hoarding behaviors, and how you can declutter to live a life more closely aligned with your deepest values. Most importantly, you’ll learn to move beyond feelings of shame and guilt that are associated with hoarding, and cultivate the self-compassion, self-awareness, and self-understanding needed to make real, lasting changes.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2025

Reviews

[Kelly Teen Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book. I had to clean out my dead grandmother's house, the final steps, and a lot of the wisdom from this book was much needed and put into practice. I think having the psychological perspectives from the author made it read less judgmental than some of the other books I've read. Very pragmatic.

[Lori Johnson Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You can choose to do what’s important and meaningful to you, even if your mind doesn’t like it”.

Making Space for What Matters is a fantastic roadmap for people struggling with hoarding or related disorders, even at sub-clinical levels. The authors’ humanity and compassion shine through as they acknowledge barriers while outlining steps to make values-aligned change. Loved ones and caregivers of individuals seeking a flexible, workable relationship with their belongings will also find insights and helpful guidance. This book deftly applies Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory and techniques to problems related to acquiring and keeping items, while remaining accessible and focused. I enjoyed the frequent exercises and periodic “check-ins” to help readers reflect and directly apply the concepts.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gentle and soothing book filled with compassion for those who struggle with clutter in their space. The author was knowledgeable and sensitive while also offering practical and user friendly strategies. I work in mental health and will definitely purchase a copy for my office library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC copy. My opinion is 100% my own.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book, filled with tips & strategies to overcome stuff overload and letting go. I won this ebook from Good Reads & the Authors. Thank you!