We’ll meet over the phone or on a video call for about 20 minutes. You’ll tell me about what you’re looking for help with, ask me any questions you have about the process, and tell me about your timeline and budget needs. I will give you an idea of what I can and can’t help you out with, as well as a rough estimate of how long the project may take. After our consultation, you’re welcome to take some time to decide if/when you want to move forward with me. This service is complimentary, whether you decide to move forward with me or not.

Prior to our first session, I’ll send you an agreement to read through and sign before we start working on your project. The agreement will outline what we discussed in our initial consult, give an estimated timeline, lock in your rate/payment plan/payment terms, and walk you through my policies around cancellations, safety, etc. After reading through the agreement, you can let me know if you’d like to request any changes, and then either sign a digital copy or sign a paper copy at the start of our first session.

During our initial work session, I’ll have you walk me through the area(s) of focus for our project and go into more detail around what you’d like to address during our time together. You do not need to come into our first session with a specific plan of action or goal in mind–after I see what we’re working on, I can work with you or independently to create a strategy for tackling your project. After our walkthrough, the session will look different from project to project, but here are a few examples of what we/I might do:

If we’re physically organizing your space and you would prefer I do the bulk of the work, I’ll start by having you make a few key/overarching decisions about different items or categories of items in your space. (For instance- is it ok for me to throw away old food or trash? What constitutes “trash” to you? Can I place clothing from the floor in a laundry basket? Can I put a certain category of items in a specific storage area?) From there, I’ll work independently and get as far as I can until I finish working in the area or have reached an impasse where I’ll need you to make a decision again. 

If we’re physically organizing a space and working collaboratively, we can find a system that works well for you. Here are a few ways I’ve worked collaboratively with clients in the past:

Client A focused on tackling a stack of papers that would all need their input on keeping/tossing, while I focused on breaking down boxes, moving bulky items into the garage, and putting away items that had a clear home.

Client B stayed in bed while I pulled out items from their storage areas and had them tell me what to keep, donate, and toss.

Client C had me help them with the executive functioning piece by figuring out what areas to tackle in which order, and then worked alongside me as I gently kept them on track with each task.

Client D asked that we work on different tasks in the same area of the house so that I could act as a body double and talk them through decision-making around some items they had emotional attachment to.

Typically (unless your project does not include any initial physical organizing work), our later sessions will start to focus more on systems and spatial planning. During these sessions, we can also play with your space–rearranging items and discovering new ways to utilize your storage areas. For spatial planning, I will likely take some pictures of your space and do some light sketching to help us both envision what will work well for your space. I will also take inventory of your current storage areas, boxes, bins, hangers, etc, and may recommend you make certain purchases to help utilize your space to the fullest.

Once your items have been downsized or put away in their current homes, we’ll do another walkthrough together and talk through the challenges you’re running into in maintaining your space, and some possible solutions we can work together to implement. Some examples of solutions I’ve come to with clients have included:

• Placing baskets or bins in areas where you’re frequently dumping items so that they stay contained and feel less like visual clutter.
• Taking doors off of certain cabinets and closets so that you can see your items and remember that they exist.
• Finding a habit you consistently maintain and using it to stack a habit you’re trying to build. (For example–if you never forget to drink coffee in the morning, storing your planner by your coffee setup so that you remember to check it.)