Buried in Treasures Program
Buried in Treasures is a 16-week group program run by experienced mental health workers and lived experienced representatives for adults (minimum age 16) who would like to learn tips on how to de-clutter and stop over-acquiring.
The group program consists of two-hour long workshops to enable gradual but consistent progress.
Each week experienced mental health workers or lived experienced representatives will facilitate a discussion around a specific skill, followed by the completion of challenging and rewarding exercises.
Individual progress, challenges, successes and goals are also monitored throughout the course of the program.
Participants are expected to commit to attending all the sessions in the program as well as to participate actively.
The program is free, with an optional gold-coin donation encouraged to contribute towards a celebratory lunch at the end of the program.
The program helps people who:
- Find it difficult or distressing to discard items that seem to be of no use or of little value.
- Are not able to use the space in their home as desired, due to the accumulation of clutter.
- Are negatively impacted by their hoarding tendencies.
Please note: This group is designed to be attended by persons who are ready to work on their personal clutter challenge, not for family, friends or professionals who want to learn about hoarding disorder.
What is Buried in Treasures?
Buried in Treasures is a self-help book written by Dr David Tolin, Dr Randy O. Frost and Dr Gail Steketee, who are among the world’s leading experts in the study and treatment of hoarding disorder. The book outlines a program of skill-building, lessons to change the way you think about possessions, and progressive challenges to help you to manage clutter.
Put simply, the Buried in Treasures program is a self-help and support group for people who have too much stuff.
Black Swan Health’s Partners in Recovery team was the first organisation in WA to deliver the Buried in Treasures program, and continues to advocate for additional support groups.
Additional Support Services
Ongoing Peer Support
Black Swan Health offers a free, ongoing support group called Finders Keepers for participants who have completed the Buried in Treasures program.
Finders Keepers provides a forum for peers to share their successes, challenges and learnings, and ensure that participants continue to maintain and build upon the progress they have made during the Buried in Treasures program.
Professional Mental Health Support
Black Swan Health employs experienced, non-judgmental psychologists who can help you to better understand and manage hoarding tendencies, using evidence-based techniques.
Find out more about our counselling services here.
Psychosocial Disability Support
If you have ongoing mental health issues that significantly impacts your quality of life, you may be eligible for psychosocial disability support through the NDIS.
Find out more about our NDIS services here.
How to register
If you are interested in taking part in the Buried in Treasures Program we encourage you to discuss with your support worker or health professional. You may require support from your support worker or health professional as you go through the workshops, so we encourage you to keep them updated on your wellbeing.
Alternatively, please contact Ritika Thakur to discuss your suitability to participate in the program.
Programs are limited to a maximum of 12 spaces to ensure high quality support for each participant. If there aren’t enough spaces, you will be put on the waitlist for the next program. To enquire, please fill in the form below or click HERE to download the flyer and form.