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Success Stories

• Conquering a Home Office in the Face of ADHD

Mary is a graphic designer whose ADHD had hindered her repeated attempts to keep her office organized. Mary wanted a space that would be a pleasure to work in. The problem was that she could never seem to remember where she put things or was too distracted to maintain the environment she longed for.

A major problem in Mary’s office was a wall of built-in cubbies that was jam-packed with art supplies and office materials. It was vertical chaos from floor to ceiling. We worked together to tackle that wall one step at a time. Active projects were placed in prominent cubbies and removed from Mary’s desk, which freed up a much-needed workspace while allowing Mary to access projects that required her immediate focus. Meanwhile, office items were sorted, consolidated by type, and stored systematically based on how often Mary used them.

While working together, we addressed ADHD issues such as the visual aspects of an organized system, overcoming boredom, and handling maintenance. And now, Mary has an office that serves her well. She can find what she needs easily and focus on what she does best: wowing her clients with creative graphic design solutions.

• Scrambling for Space

In typical New York City fashion, Jonah and his wife Elana, and their three year old daughter lived in a cozy but cramped railroad-style apartment. With a new baby on the way, they knew they'd have to make some changes or run the risk of having the latest addition to their family get lost in a sea of furniture and belongings.

Of course, the process wasn't exactly a piece of cake. Jonah and Elana occasionaly butted heads, as couples do, about what should stay and what should go. Still, I was able to help them see eye to eye, and once a purpose was designated for each room, we worked together to eliminate clutter and create warm, inviting spaces.

By the time the baby arrived, each room in the apartment functioned well: to welcome tired parents to a night's sleep; to allow a small child to play freely; and to keep a newborn safe and secure in the comfort of a loving home.

• A Closet Full of Memories

Barbara, a beautiful woman with impeccable taste, collected so much clothing that it made the prospect of moving seem close to impossible. A fragile person by nature, Barbara had a hard time letting go of her belongings. Working together was a challenge at first, so we had to take one day at a time. We eventually developed a working relationship based on humor, understanding, and Barbara's desire's to break free from the burden that had overtaken her life.

During the process, I had learned that Barbara's husband had passed away, and she had come to realize that she used shopping as a means to fill that void. Together, we hand-picked the items that Barbara would ultimately keep, her collection of clothing was far more manageable. Barbara says that I helped her realize that it's okay to let go of belongings, and I like to believe that she walked away a stronger person.

• Kitchen Evolution

Ellen had one of those postage stamp size kitchens that are so typical in Manhattan. The drawers and shelves were packed so tightly that she couldn't see what was there. As a result Ellen often shopped for things that she already had.

To make matters even more interesting, Ellen had two children who were in the food industry and another who traveled extensively. They gave her exotic food gifts, was inspired by them and and brought professional kitchen equipment that she rarely used.

We really looked at who Ellen was as a cook. What did she really need? We discovered together that she really is a very simple cook. Ellen gave herself permission to keep only the things that served her well and let go of the rest.

Today everything fits into Ellen's kitchen and cooking is a real pleasure. She has a clear idea of her cooking style, shops accordingly and had even communicated with her family about gift giving.

• The Big Move

Shirley and Phil had a large Brooklyn Victorian in which they raised their five children now scattered across the country. The house was too big to manage, and health issues were becoming more complicated by the minute, including Phil's early Alzheimer's. They decided to move near one of their children.

The first issue was consolidating a beloved library. Shirley found this difficult to take on alone. Together we sorted through the books and she was able to decide which to keep and which to donate. Next was Phil's huge bow tie collection. Even though Shirley and Phil did not have an excessive amount of things, they did have an emotionally rich life that was reflected in their belongings.

In the middle of this busy transition into a new life, Phil had a heart attack and Shirley fell down the stairs. Movers were coming to give estimates. Everything was on a tight schedule due to the quickly approaching closing date. I helped coordinate the details, and worked with their adult children, as they came to help and finished sorting. Shirley and I really partnered in our commitment to get everything done on time and we pulled it off.

• Inundated with Insurance Forms

Jessica is an artistic woman who simply hated working with numbers. It wasn't that she wasn't good at calculations; somehow, financial figures made her feel vulnerable. As a result, she let her family's health insurance paperwork sit for weeks and even months, thereby depriving herself of reimbursements and deductions she could otherwise rightfully claim.

Together, we worked our way through that entangled web of forms and guidelines to get Jessica the monetary refunds she deserved. We also set up a tracking system so Jessica could manage the process herself.

By the time our work was done, Jessica was quite proud of what she had accomplished. Getting her insurance paperwork in order was only part of the battle. For Jessica, mastering a truly frustrating situation showed her true character.

• Renewed Health Renewed Space

Luis, a young cancer survivor, was in a tough situation. His mind knew how to be organized, but his body didn't have the energy to put things away when he was ill. Together, we worked through the piles of clothing and papers strewn about his bedroom and living room floors. Somehow, my being there to help with the physical aspects of organizing gave Luis the motivation to work alongside me. Together, we got his apartment back in order in just a few sessions, and from that point on, Luis’s home went from being a source of stress to a source of peace after a rather difficult time.

Call me today and let’s talk about getting organized. 
718.757.8193


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