Ian Porter's methodology
See the person, not the hoard
Hoarding is a recognised mental health condition — but unlike other conditions, it is continually defined by what people have in their HOMES, instead of what they have in their HEADS. Ian Porter asks us to see the person, not the hoard.
About Ian
Ian Porter is a psychologist and coordinator of the North West Hoarders Helping Hoarders Network — a growing network of psychosocial intervention and peer support groups. He leads the Greater Manchester Hoarding Improvement Partnership and the Wirral Hoarding Improvement Project, and acts as consulting psychologist to hoarding specialists across housing, health and social care. In 2023 alone he designed and delivered training to over 800 colleagues.
Guiding principles
See the person, not the hoard
Personalise, don't pathologise or stigmatise. Begin by seeing the human being, not the pile of things around them.
Compassionate curiosity
Understanding and kindness are powerful levers. Lead with interest, not judgement.
'What happened to you?'
Don't ask 'what's wrong with you?' Try to understand a person's world view and the experiences that shaped them.
Shared goals, not dictated aims
Work on the person's wants, worries and expectations — not on aims dictated by how you think people should live.
Work at the person's pace
Relationship building is crucial and happens quickly if you are patient. Persistence is vital — not all steps will be forward steps.
Small, quick wins
Aim for small wins when the person is ready. Don't negotiate unrealistic goals — you are setting people up to fail.
Proportionality
Don't use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Bear in mind people's practical abilities.
Mind your language
Avoid further stigmatising terms such as 'self-neglect'. Words shape how people see themselves.
People fear you will…
- Judge them
- Punish them
- Ridicule them
- Threaten them
- See them as 'just a hoarder'
- Make them throw away their treasures against their will
People hope you will…
- Listen
- Show respect
- Be consistent
- Show sensitivity and understanding
- Recognise that improvements take time
- See them as a person
Hoarders Helping Hoarders
Peer support, way beyond tea & sympathy
The North West network runs structured psychosocial intervention and peer support groups, built on four foundations.
Universality
The experience of being in the same non-judgemental boat. As Phoebe put it: 'Being in different boats but the same storm!'
Social contact
The development of cooperative relationships — and having a laugh, enjoying the company.
Group cohesion
Positive peer pressure that motivates change, grown from trust and shared experience.
Mutual aid
Reciprocal peer support — taking support way beyond tea, sympathy and symptom swapping.
The group improvement cycle
Challenge → Change → Learn → Sustain
A cycle in four parts that peers move through, again and again — not always forward, but always learning.
Challenge
A challenge arises — from the facilitator or from within the peers. Something is questioned.
Change
The challenge leads to testing something out, or making a planned change.
Learn
Look at the impact — positive or negative — and what can be taken from the experience. Change can be frightening and messy.
Sustain
The most difficult of all — how to maintain progress, often by addressing self-sabotage.
The thing about hoarding… the most important thing about hoarding… is that it is about more than just hoarding.
— Ian Porter