About
PRACADEMIC
Linda Fay, MSc, is a highly qualified and experienced specialist practitioner recognised in the UK as a leading authority on hoarding disorder – a pioneer in the field of professional practice and scientific research in hoarding behaviours.
With over 13 years frontline experience providing practical help and therapeutic support for people with lived experience of hoarding, Linda is committed to developing innovational solutions based on research, evidence and best practice. Linda does not condone harmful interventions such as enforced clearouts; she advocates instead for person-centred, trauma-informed, harm reduction approaches that are implemented with compassion and without judgement.
TERMINOLOGY.
At Hoarding Academy, we use the term “hoarding behaviours” in the plural to acknowledge that hoarding is not a single act, but a constellation of related behavioural processes involved in both hoarding and chronic disorganisation. These include acquiring, difficulty discarding, and the everyday practices that contribute to sustained clutter and functional impairment.
ADVISOR
As a pracademic, Linda is uniquely placed to offer perspectives on both evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence.
TASKFORCE.
In collaboration with Iriss (Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services), Linda established the Hoarding Taskforce (Scotland). As an active member of the Taskforce in the role of subject matter expert, Linda provides advice and guidance for multi-agency professionals on how best to manage hoarding-related situations.
PARTNERSHIP.
Linda is a steering committee member of the UK Hoarding Partnership – a group of professionals drawn from diverse organisations (local authorities, housing associations, emergency services, NHS, third sector organisations, etc) who have an interest in hoarding disorder and how to support people with lived experience.
AUTHOR
Published internationally by Jessica Kingsley Publishing. Available in paperback and ebook formats.
“A truly groundbreaking journey along the most comprehensive roadmap of hoarding I have come across in my practice. This engrossing read offers relevance and resonance, filling a long-standing gap in the evidence base on compassionate approaches to hoarding. A beautifully crafted portrait of how we relate to our possessions, this will undoubtedly become a crucial literary companion for anyone looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of hoarding behaviours.”
~ Kayley Hyman
“This book is a very comprehensive guide and practical resource for not only hoarding practitioners, but also family and friends. Easy to read, packed with some valuable and meaningful tips and full of useful information in one place. A very insightful read.”
~ Jo Cooke
“I’ve just finished reading your book, which is great. I especially like your chapters on engagement, harm reduction, and strengths-based approaches. It will be a great help to people who work with hoarding clients or are interested in doing so; they will learn a great deal. You take a very positive and yet honest approach to the rewards and challenges in this field. I appreciate your ethics chapter and the one on language; both will give readers a clear picture of how to approach cases.”
~ Randy Frost
“I would recommend to anyone hoping to learn more and wanting to help in a compassionate, harm reductive way. This book not only helps to understand those who live with it, but also gives a strategy to use when unsure how to proceed.”
~ Heather Matuozzo