Declutter Your Mind: How Trauma, Neurodivergence, and Emotions Fuel Clutter – with Helen Sanderson

Hey guys, hey! It’s April—your favorite autistic OT and host of Adulting with Autism, the podcast that believes life skills are sexy and your home should feel like peace, not pressure.

In today’s heart-expanding episode, we’re joined by Helen Sanderson, the UK’s leading clutter therapist and author of The Secret Life of Clutter. Helen brings years of therapeutic insight to explore how our outer environments reflect our inner worlds—especially for those with autism, ADHD, and trauma.

Whether it’s the laundry chair judging you or a garage full of “I’ll-get-to-it-laters,” Helen helps us reframe clutter as a story of emotional protection, grief, and overwhelm. She shares:

🧠 Why clutter is rarely laziness—and often a trauma response🛋️ How to begin decluttering without shame or sensory overload🤝 Tips for managing shared spaces when your partner… just doesn’t get it🌱 Why neurodivergent-friendly homes must support—not stress—the nervous system

✨ Featured Resources📚 The Secret Life of Clutter – https://amzn.to/3GU9TNS🛠️ Explore Helen’s decluttering kits & sanctuary-making tools at helensanderson.com

🧩 Connect With Us & Support the Show!✨ Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adulting_autism✨ Follow April: @adulting_autism💌 Join the newsletter for episode alerts, freebies & behind-the-scenes: Sign Up Here

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So grab your drink of choice (no judgment), and let’s welcome Helen Sanderson to the Adulting with Autism podcast.Let’s clear the clutter—in our homes and our hearts. 💛

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Chapters

• 0:21 Introduction to Clutter and Healing
• 2:28 Clutter's Connection to Emotions
• 3:28 Starting the Decluttering Process
• 7:37 Navigating Shared Spaces
• 13:45 The Impact of Clutter on Life
• 15:14 Helen's Book and Its Purpose
• 20:36 Defining Clutter for the Young
• 25:51 Organized Chaos Explained
• 29:38 Clutter in Shared Environments
• 31:54 The Dangers of Clutter
• 33:03 Finding Helen's Resources
• 35:06 Closing Thoughts on Clutter