Testimonials

Stories of change, shared by the people who found their way through

Julieanne was introduced to me by my colleagues at Age UK Merton when I was seeking support for a patient struggling with hoarding. From our first meeting, I noticed her professionalism and friendly demeanour, which immediately put me at ease. She was eager to help and displayed a genuine passion for improving the lives of her clients.

One of Julieanne’s standout qualities is her dedication. Her work is not just a job; it is something she embraces wholeheartedly, with compassion and care. She takes the time to listen and understand her clients’ needs and approaches every situation with patience and sensitivity.

Her communication skills are exceptional. She engages with her clients in a way that makes them feel heard and valued. I have observed firsthand how effectively she interacts with her clients, ensuring they feel respected and supported throughout the process.

Julieanne has had a profound impact on the clients she has assisted. Decluttering is more than just clearing; it transforms their living environment and enhances their overall quality of life. I have witnessed significant improvements in the wellbeing of clients she has worked with, including one particular case where she completely transformed a client’s flat. This client, who once lived in an overwhelming and cluttered space, now enjoys a clean and organised home, thanks to Julieanne’s efforts.

She continues to assist clients with decluttering, and her work remains invaluable in fostering healthier, more liveable spaces for those in need.

Richard – Case Worker, Central London Community Healthcare NHS

I met Julieanne some years ago through my work and was fascinated by how she supports those with trauma and their connection to their belongings. This led me to book her for myself as I was struggling through a transitional period after many life events, overwhelmed by “things” and an accumulation of clutter at home, mainly my office.

Julieanne’s patience and pace was thoroughly appreciated as I have a tendency to put too much pressure on myself in tasks. Her methodology was a fundamental aspect for me as it gave me a moment to be mindful; what I was keeping, donating, or throwing away? Julieanne’s very nature is nurturing and compassionate, therefore easy to trust in your own home, amongst your “things” while you share your struggles and obstacles that led to that point.

Julieanne left our four-hour session, setting out a plan of action for me to restock and organise my office. Although exhausted after an emotional time, I was driven to continue decluttering small areas around the house that same day. Each task has become less and less overwhelming and more satisfying as I’ve continued decluttering throughout my home with her words still resonating with me. “You’re letting new energy in; good things are going to happen.” And they have!

Nadira – South West London

I had previously made contact with someone offering decluttering services on Facebook. The lady came to my apartment, looked around, made some suggestions then gave me an approximate appointment date. I felt that I had bared my soul to her/felt vulnerable. When the time came, I got back to her to chase on dates. She was quite abrupt; said she was too busy with other jobs and gave me the website of a list of Declutterers. I tried again and another lady came to my apartment. I instantly felt uncomfortable. She disclosed she knew the Close I live in because she had helped a neighbour. This was a neighbour who had recently moved in. I was mortified by her indiscretion. This lady then went on telling me how I could add things into my apartment and stage it for sale!! The reason I am telling you this is because the above almost made me give up.

Several months later and with my “determined hat” on, I searched Google where Julieanne’s ad popped out at me as if by magic and I felt it was meant to be.

I felt so nervous on the day of the appointment as I had not had Julieanne to my apartment to scrutinise it like the others had. Prior to her visit I’d read her instructions and set about making a start to show willingness. The moment I met Julieanne I felt at ease. It was like a weight had been lifted. Instead of telling me what to do, she advised, and we worked together. It felt so empowering seeing everything put into piles for various organisations and also the tip. Throughout her visits (as yes, I called Julieanne back a few times as I wanted to get the whole apartment back to feeling like a home) we chatted about the reasons I had held onto things. This helped me incredibly. A lot behind it was bereavements and not wanting to lose memories.

With Julieanne’s help I kept only the things that made me feel good. The chats made the time pass; we got things done and it motivated me to do more. Julieanne got into my loft for me (something I couldn’t physically manage) and even helped defrost my freezer. I had put all this off for so long! After each visit Julieanne took away the items in the piles. This helped by preventing me from changing my mind. This had been a real stumbling block for me & also the physically loading up and driving to the charity shop or dump.

Julieanne would also send me lots of links for me to be able to go online to purchase useful storage items i.e. to put in the wardrobe to tidy clothes. Julieanne is an incredible person; she is so kind & has bundles of empathy. She also has a great sense of humour. She has helped me make my apartment feel like a home again. I will be forever grateful. Finally, after hearing my thoughts on spirituality, Julieanne put me in contact with someone who could help me clear the apartment of negativity and also break karmic ties! How wonderful is that!

Anonymous – Surrey

My journey with Julieanne started after I lost my husband two years ago. It was unexpected, which is probably the case for many. I had to bring my retirement forward, due to my own medical decline, which meant my bereavement period has been lonely and difficult. I started off in earnest, clearing clothes and non-sentimental items. After several months, I dropped into a depressive, anxious, stressful period, looking at forty years’ worth of hobbies, collectables, and clutter, and the realisation of not being able to get through it all. I could not see the light at the end of my dark tunnel. I eventually held my hands up, and admitted I couldn’t cope on my own. I contacted Age UK. They gave my name to Julieanne, as one of the people who handles their ‘Fresh Start’ programme. Due to arthritis, I can’t manage physical tasks, and with Julieanne’s help, we are clearing and improving my home, so I can make my own fresh start. I need to find myself again, to be happy with my changed life. We have now been sorting and clearing for several months, and are still going. Without support, I would have remained a sad, lonely woman. Julieanne has helped me so much. She listens to how I am feeling, which is counselling. She is supportive, instructive, kind, and generous.

She is willing to take away items for donation and recycling, and I am so glad to have her assistance. I am also happy to recommend her to anyone requiring clearance of hoarding/ clutter after bereavement, or for any reason.

Anonymous – Merton

After seeking support through the Autism Hub via the NHS, following severe burnout which had taken me away from my work and normal life for some months, I was put in touch with Julieanne. I had previously seen therapists and psychiatrists and been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in my early 20s, and though the support I had received provided some relief, I was in a cycle of burnout with frequent bouts of anxiety and depression. Julieanne took my past, upbringing, and aspirations into account in a holistic way, really listening to me and helped me deep dive into areas of my life I never thought were having a negative impact on my mindset and mood.

With her support I have come to embrace my neurodivergence and I have a new profound feeling of peace with who I am and continue to value Julieanne’s guidance.

Sal – Camden

Julieanne has been contracted by Age UK Merton since May 2022. Age UK Merton were introduced to Julieanne and her work, enlisting her skills, under the Living Well Service. The Living Well Service aims to keep people safe and independent in their homes and provides a holistic assessment around their needs. Julieanne has worked with over seventy referrals from our team at Age UK Merton, offering a therapeutic decluttering service, including working with some of our most complex and elderly vulnerable adults who have hoarding behaviours. Her work is exemplary; she receives continual praise and appreciation for the outcomes that she achieves. Her approach involves a combination of psychology and hands-on practical support. This has made a huge difference to our service and we continue to call upon Julieanne for her expertise to support our residents at Age UK Merton.

Age UK – Merton

My practice nurse spotted that I seemed down after my mother’s death. She persuaded me to let her refer me to Hounslow mental health. The assessment identified that my living conditions were having a greater impact.

A series of weekly online appointments helped me to understand the problem, but it was on such a scale, my attempts to deal with it were not having a visible impact. I didn’t feel I could invite people into my flat, including tradesmen needed for essential work. I was also frightened to talk about it to friends and family. The mental health advisor provided me with a list of organisers, a role I’d not heard of. The first didn’t respond, the second was fully booked and Julieanne was the third.

Julieanne’s approach was non-judgemental from the very beginning – on the “state” of my flat, including my mental health and gender diversity. She used methods I hadn’t thought of, was able to concentrate without distraction (unlike me) and involved me in decisions about what to keep, dispose of, and how. Julieanne is very focused, working methodically, while explaining what she is doing. She doesn’t throw things away without checking and makes suggestions on what I can do between her visits. She is always positive, never critical, and is helpful when outside influences, such as transphobic abuse or items in the news, cause me anxiety.

We have made huge progress. The carpet, I can now see, along with my bed which is in need of repair. I previously touched the ceiling! while standing on piles of items; often I lost balance and things would collapse around me. I still haven’t got back into the habit of sitting in my grandmother’s chair yet, but the bookcase my grandfather made for my mother is now accessible and since Julieanne’s last visit, I have created some more space there. When my friend recently sent me some books from a fashion exhibition in Melbourne, I was able to put them straight on the shelf, without creating another pile elsewhere.

I feel I have got my home to a point (almost) where I can start to do essential repairs and perhaps, in time, invite a friend over.

HW – Isleworth

Life had got to the point where I simply couldn’t find things in the various boxes that were stacked around my home. Living alone didn’t help; it was too easy to search online for things that I needed, or thought I did. Amazon was delivering almost daily and I had, quite simply, run out of space. My son insisted that I needed help to address my hoarding; I resisted until he refused to visit me anymore. That’s when I realised that I needed help in turning my life around and was fortunate to find Julieanne. The first, and probably most important, life lesson from Julieanne was understanding that I wasn’t alone, and that there were many factors in my life that had led me to this point. I’d finally swallowed my pride and asked for the help I needed. After our first meeting I knew that I could work with Julieanne; our sessions are like talking to a long-time friend who understands you – no, better than that, as there is never any judgement. She gently teases out information and asks questions that really make you think about actions/habits and how you can change them. I have never left a session feeling that it has not been worthwhile and always feel that I have learned something useful.

Over our time working together, I’ve begun to view my home and life in a very different way. I’ve learned that I deserve to live in a nice home, and I’m getting there. I’ve bought recycling bins and I ensure that they are emptied when it’s recycling and waste collection weeks. My son now helps with items that need to go to the tip or charity shop. I shop with lists and (mostly) stick to them. Yes, I still look around shops and find things I like and put them in my basket. But now, before heading to the tills I really review the items with the mantra “Do I love it and do I need it?” The answer is more often than not “No”, so they go back on the shop rail or shelf; and I must admit to feeling a little proud of myself when that happens.

Housework is not my favourite pastime and sometimes if I’m busy at work it gets overlooked. However, now I’m appreciating that it doesn’t take much effort to restore order and have clean and clear worktops and floors and be able to find things in cupboards without half emptying them first. I’ve still got a way to go before I fully understand why I allowed my life, home, and relationship with my son to get into such a mess, but I’m confident that with Julieanne’s help I will get there and have a comfortable, clean, and clutter-free future.

Jenna – Essex

I came across Julieanne while searching online for an organiser/declutterer who could help me with a project to turn an office/study room into a bedroom for our child in time for his sixth birthday. Having recently been diagnosed with ADHD, I felt that Julieanne’s experience in psychotherapy would be beneficial.

We had three appointments together and these were hugely helpful in terms of putting together a programme. We identified what needed to be gone through, and how to decide what should be kept, what should be thrown out, and what should be put in the cellar or in storage. On my own this could have been overwhelming and taken many months if not years, but with Julieanne to make suggestions, or to bounce ideas off, the process was greatly accelerated. I ended up going through my entire filing system, and throwing out or destroying large quantities of material, and shifting a smaller but significant amount into storage. It was quite a cathartic experience! I feel that in this collaboration, Julieanne acted as catalyst or enabler, while the bulk of the actual work was done between her visits. Knowing that her next appointment was coming provided the necessary accountability to get things done. In the end we managed to complete the project on time and my son was delighted with his new bedroom!

John BH

I initially chose Julieanne from the list I had filtered through. I liked her profile and thought she would be the right person to help me with decluttering and hoarding. My one-bedroom flat is fairly small but over the years I have accumulated far too many items of everything without ever throwing out or giving stuff away and it’s also my daughter’s storage facility too for some of her possessions.

After initial contact I asked Julieanne what Star sign she was, which turned out to be the same as me which was a bonus! I couldn’t wait for Julieanne to come round and for Christmas that year to pass, but on 3 January 2024, we started the process. We usually had a session every three weeks or so. At first, we sat and chatted, which was an important feature of our time together, before, during, and after decluttering.

The talking part was most helpful in the scheme of things as it gave me reasoning and understanding of the dreadful situation I was in. The first day was steady and quite slow in my eyes, which was absolutely fine knowing my aversion for adapting to new ideas. There was no rush to do anything although the underlying narrative was that we had to do something!

In particular, the clearing the bedroom session was incredible, Julieanne took time to get through every item in my barely accessible room, slowly asking me what I wanted to do with each piece of clothing, toiletry, musical equipment, and sundry items, making sure each was either for recycling, reselling, rubbish, or keeping. No pressure was put on me to keep or discard stuff, and although some days were challenging for me, every session was a feeling of great relief and release, hard to put into words sometimes, but definitely a very good high.

Other sessions followed and I remember the hall cupboard, and clearing the bathroom, where the amount of junk we piled up outside the front door was staggering. I was genuinely shocked at the amount of useless stuff I had been storing in my small flat for so long!

The feeling afterwards was immensely gratifying. I was buzzing and I related this to anyone that would listen, which always drew great interest from family, friends, and work colleagues.

We had around four months of sessions. I looked forward to every single one with Julieanne and the feeling I get to this very day is still one of huge pleasure at the amount of space we recreated in my home. I am eternally grateful to Julieanne for her work with me and it was the best money I have ever spent; it changed my outlook on life forever.

James – East London

Anonymous – Surrey

I contacted Julieanne after an internet search initially as I had lost my engagement ring at home, having placed it somewhere so safe, I couldn’t find it. So, contacting Julieanne was out of a moment of despair. My engagement ring is so precious to me, it was an heirloom and belonged to my great grandma. Luckily for me, after an initial phone call, Julieanne was able to book a session quickly, due to a cancellation and a gap in her very busy diary.

When I opened the door immediately, I was struck by a warm, positive energy, a gentleness and calmness. What became clear was how easy the session felt. Julieanne is naturally good at what she does, so methodical and systematic. Little by little we worked through my bedroom, and it felt like a miracle when we found the ring; I actually burst into tears. This was the beginning of meeting Julieanne and getting to know her and I booked her many times after to tackle my loft space and reorganise the spare room.

Each session was always so focused on the way we would approach a room and with kindness and warmth it was more than just bringing order to chaos but enabling me to let go of things that I had been holding onto. She was consistently supportive and understanding as I had felt embarrassed, being in a pickle with my house not how I wanted it to be.

Julieanne validated my feelings but with a genuine acceptance and that made me feel safe and able to be myself. Julieanne didn’t just help me declutter; she helped me put systems in place to maintain the great work we did together.

Sarah – South London

I had counselling with Julieanne for eleven weeks. She has helped to guide me in realising my own inner power and limitations I was unable to see for myself. She has, in such a limited time, helped me to understand what these limitations are and with it helped me to find the tools to liberate myself, which is I believe the purpose of counselling – to find the power to liberate yourself. I found these eleven weeks to be helpful to my personal growth and development. What helped me about organising with executive functioning challenges were two things: journaling and self-study. It is impossible to regulate yourself unless you know who you are and what needs you have. If you study your own intricacies well, you can advocate and accommodate for those needs.

Anonymous – Islington

I contacted Julieanne from the desire to make changes in my home, to create space for myself and my dog. This was in part to support my mental health and to understand why I have this hoarding disorder.

The most helpful part was being made aware that it’s okay for me to feel different to other people. This was made possible by Julieanne’s non-judgemental approach.

Anna – Chiswick

After many years of having a cluttered and disorganised house, suffering depression and isolation due to the embarrassment of my home, I knew I needed a new approach.

I was diagnosed with ADHD and ASD; it is hard enough to live with these – a chaotic house just makes things worse. I tried many companies but always felt a mis-connection, until I found Julieanne. Julieanne has a compassionate, gentle, and non-judgemental approach and a great understanding and insight of ADHD and ASD. We worked at a pace that was comfortable for me, keeping me focused at all times. Throughout our sessions I was reminded about OHIO (only handle it once); this has helped me enormously and I still continue to use this. I can honestly say that working with Julieanne has been life changing for me.

My house is no longer cluttered. I have been taught different strategies by Julieanne to keep on top of things, clearing up and maintaining an organised house. As the saying goes “a tidy house, a tidy mind”.

Anonymous – Potters Bar, Hertfordshire

We just wanted to take a moment to express our deepest thanks for everything you have done for our family over the past seven years.

You have been so much more than just help around the house… you’ve been a calming presence, a trusted support, and someone we’ve been able to rely on completely. You have transformed our home into a space that runs smoothly and feels truly looked after; you’ve brought so much peace and joy to our daily lives. So often I have accepted compliments on how organised the house has been from guests, when all credit is down to you!

We often say how rare it is to find someone who brings both capability and heart into their work, but you’ve done exactly that. You’ve been a true mental health tonic, especially during the more hectic times, and your thoughtfulness and attention have meant more than we can say. Thank you for the care, dedication, and warmth you’ve shared with us; we’re so grateful to have had the privilege of sharing these years with you.

Mr & Mrs K – Amersham

I came across Julieanne initially on a Hoarding website. I had previously encountered a negative experience with “Talking Therapies” through a local organisation, which left me feeling demoralised. I came away feeling ashamed and was perceived as both dirty and stupid and responsible for living in a self-made cluttered home. So I felt anxious at first speaking with Julieanne. However, I found my weekly therapy sessions with Julieanne so helpful and comforting from the beginning. Julieanne gave me back my self-worth, both with kindness and patience, while also suggesting ways to help me to declutter my home. She always speaks in a very calm manner, and understands the problems I have endured, which have led to my hoarding behaviour. I am still trying to address the situation, which is hard, but I know Julieanne is there with her support anytime I should need it.

MB – Windsor

I found Julieanne when I was searching for somebody to help me declutter my home (and my life). I read various websites about declutterers but Julieanne’s stood out for me as she covered a lot more than just organising. I felt particularly drawn to the way she describes her work and her knowledge of autism and ADHD. I liked the sound of her approach.

Having now had several sessions with her; I am extremely happy to have found her. She is both empathic and kind in her approach. She listened carefully to me right from the beginning and explained a lot about how my ADHD symptoms had affected my life, with particular regard to my hoarding tendencies. I can thoroughly recommend Julieanne if you are looking to declutter more than what’s on the surface.

Anonymous – Colchester

My hoarding reached the point of being unable to get into or use any of my living spaces, surfaces and storage. Every room, all the floor spaces were filled with huge mountains of disorganised and random clutter. My hoarding consisted of things I had kept, things I needed to do later, things I had forgotten to do, things I had no idea what to do with or why I even had them, but they seemed too important and I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away.

My hallways were blocked with second-hand furniture I had impulsively bought with no idea how to clear and create space for it because of the overwhelming clutter. There was barely any gaps or floor space to walk through the hallway or into any of the rooms. The rare times anyone visited for a repair they would have to squeeze and zig zag through. I didn’t allow friends or family to visit me at home as I was ashamed of not being able to do basic and seemingly easy tasks of clearing and cleaning my house; the few family members and friends I had let in had been horrified or mocked me for my problems. Until Julieanne first arrived to fully assess my hoarding situation and meet me, I hadn’t even realised that piles of paper, cardboard and books had become fire risks or trip hazards. I couldn’t see it.

My reasons for keeping things were endless and sometimes it was just a feeling of a need to keep things because they were or would become important. My mental health team became involved and recommended specialist charities and organisations who helped long-term hoarders like myself. Julieanne was listed as someone who worked in my area. I read about her experience and testimonials which encouraged me to reach out in the hope that I wouldn’t be judged or made to feel incompetent. It took me over a year to even summon the courage to make that call, to ask for help. I had felt so stuck, overwhelmed, and ashamed of my situation. I kept hoping that I would suddenly develop coping skills for hoarding by myself or by reading decluttering books. But I didn’t and I couldn’t and I didn’t understand why. I was a tearful mess by the time I reached out to Julieanne. I felt like I didn’t deserve help and I was a fraud who was lazy, stupid, and careless. I was completely overwhelmed at the idea of letting someone into my home.

During our sessions, I learned how she would set out an intention and time to allocate to decluttering. I liked the way she categorised big piles of stuff or random items and helped me make an order of them, making sense of the way I would use them.

Through her experience as a psychotherapist and specialist in hoarding behaviour, she was able to notice the way that I was clutter blind, and that I get easily distracted even when doing the simplest of tasks. With her help I was able to learn to advocate for myself more, to get long-term support for my mental health conditions and the challenges that they presented.

Although this has taken months, her encouragement and observations made me realise that I deserved help and support. Thanks to her support I persisted to get this and now have this in place. Her willingness and patience to encourage me to find ways and skills to overcome my hoarding has been key to me being able to understand my own challenges and difficulties so I know when to get help and which tasks I find easier to do myself. Every session she would ask where I would like to start. On the days I wasn’t sure how to answer, she would ask what was going on in my life to get an idea of how organising, tidying and clearing a particular area would help. Her sessions made things better in relation to whatever was going on in my life.

Her approach was holistic and focused on my specific needs. She got to know these through getting to know me by asking questions and observing my abilities to achieve and complete tasks. She was always flexible when I needed to change my mind for tasks and understood how I needed to organise things so that I could sustain those changes and habits myself.

Julieanne’s kindness and patience in recognising and celebrating the smallest changes, efforts, and achievements were always a huge boost in making me feel braver and more confident to continue. Because of this I gradually learned ways to organise and sustain that long term. Julieanne’s approach is disciplined and kind. She is patient, efficient, organised, and flexible in her thinking.

I loved chatting to Julieanne as we worked together. As my sessions progressed, we laughed a lot; this felt less like formal therapy and more like thoughtful conversations. Julieanne’s sessions have been transformative in all parts of my life in building positive and helpful habits, not just in my home. I am a lot more patient and kinder to myself. I’m no longer embarrassed or ashamed of my issues. I’m so much more aware of how my own thought processes and actions create hoarding and clutter and what to do about them. She has taught me how I can overcome them and the time I need to allocate to them that is individual to me. I would urge anyone who finds their hoarding and clutter issues have become a problem, no matter how insurmountable and challenging they seem, to reach out to Julieanne as soon as they can. Her skills, expertise, and kindness are phenomenal. I am incredibly grateful for the positive long-term effects and insights she has facilitated in my life. These positive changes have been far reaching and continue to be.

Hilary – Acton