About.

MY APPROACH

Linda Fay

I created Hoarding Academy to help services and practitioners respond to hoarding in ways that are ethical, effective and sustainable. Based in Edinburgh, I draw together behavioural science and decades of in-home practice to turn complex theory into clear, usable practice for frontline teams.

I work with local authorities, housing providers, health and social care teams, and third-sector organisations to design and deliver training, case consultation and implementation support around hoarding. My approach supports services to move beyond crisis-driven clearances towards collaborative, person-centred interventions that reduce risk, respect rights and support lasting behaviour change.

Grounded in implementation science and real-world constraints, I develop structured learning programmes, tools and frameworks that build confidence and competence across multidisciplinary teams. I focus on what practitioners can actually do differently tomorrow – in someone’s home, in a case discussion, or in a multi-agency meeting – to create safer environments and better outcomes for people with lived experience of hoarding disorder.

Where Theory Meets Practice,
and Vision Drives Creativity.

hoarding academy training is underpinned by the
Hoarding Integrated Intervention Model™,
incorporating the DESIRE Method.

The HIIM provides a structured framework for ethical and proportionate intervention in hoarding disorder. This model integrates two complementary intervention streams - Practical and Therapeutic - both grounded in The DESIRE Method. By addressing both the environmental and psychological dimensions of hoarding simultaneously, HIIM creates a comprehensive approach that supports sustainable behaviour change while respecting individual autonomy and values.

Hoarding Integrated Intervention Model

An Integrated Approach

The Hoarding Integrated Intervention Model (HIIM) brings together two interdependent domains of practice:

Practical intervention

  1. Assessment phase - risk, context, motivation and readiness evaluation

  2. Prioritisation and planning - collaborative goal-setting

  3. Organising and decluttering - hands-on environmental intervention

  4. Relapse prevention - sustainable strategies for maintaining progress

Therapeutic intervention focuses on motivation, engagement and emotional attachment, drawing on motivational interviewing, cognitive and behavioural principles, harm reduction, trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches. These techniques support readiness for change and help reduce distress, avoidance and disengagement.

Neither domain is sufficient in isolation. The model recognises that practical action without therapeutic engagement is rarely sustained, while therapeutic work without practical change often stalls.

The DESIRE Method:
operational pathway

Ethics, Safeguarding and Behavioural Change

HIIM is grounded in contemporary behaviour change theory and informed by safeguarding principles, human rights considerations and reflective practice.

Emphasis is placed on least-restrictive, proportionate intervention, balancing risk management with dignity, autonomy and compassion.

The Hoarding Integrated Intervention Model™ and the DESIRE Method are proprietary practice frameworks developed by hoarding academy and used within its training and practice development programmes.

HOARDING TASKFORCE (SCOTLAND)

In 2024, in collaboration with Iriss (the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services), the Hoarding Taskforce in Scotland was established. I am a founding member and provide advice and guidance for multi-disciplinary professionals on policy, practice and how best to manage hoarding-related situations.

“I have been impressed with Linda’s knowledge on the topic of hoarding, and her generosity and skill in translating and communicating academic knowledge and complex ideas into something that is practical and relatable to practitioners.”
~ Kerry Musselbrook, Iriss

UK HOARDING PARTNERSHIP

In 2025, I was invited to join the steering committee for the UK Hoarding Partnership – a group of professionals drawn from diverse organisations including, local authorities, housing associations, emergency services, NHS, third sector organisations, etc., who have an interest in hoarding and how to help individual’s with lived experience.