Welcome to niah professional organiser uk
With a passion for organisation and a flair for creating calm out of chaos, we will help you find your home again
About Us
Caring support you can trust
Hi! I am Donna, founder of niah professional organisers and niah Counselling. I am a professional organiser and qualified Integrative Counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), which sets standards, and provides an ethical framework to ensure ethical and safe practice. I am also fully DBS cleared, and hold a diploma in professional organising, a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and an MSc in Psychology.
My aim is to help you create a home environment that positively supports your mental wellbeing. Our homes should be our safe spaces, a sanctuary away from the stresses and strains of every-day-life. However, the disorder that results from a lack of time (or energy!) owing to the unrelenting busyness of day-to-day life, often means our homes become anything but a relaxing environment. Instead, we may find them becoming chaotic and cluttered, and often a source of stress not a place to escape it. I can help you implement easy to use, sustainable systems that take minimal effort to maintain, but keep you organised – freeing up precious time to dedicate to the things that really matter.
I also understand that sometimes, you may need more than a ‘quick fix’. I am aware that for some, clutter can become excessive and utterly overwhelming. I know that for those, with hoarding tendencies, a more substantial intervention will be needed. My background in Psychology, and experience at the NHS as part of an adult mental health team, means I understand that chronic disorganisation and hoarding are almost always the result of a complex mixture of life events (including loss and trauma). To this end, I understand that anyone struggling with these behaviours needs support that is gentle and non-judgemental, at the same time as being focussed and effective.
FAQs
Q. What does niah stand for
A. Glad you asked! The name niah came to me as I was driving one day. It stands for ‘needle in a haystack’. I think we have all been there, whether it’s trying to find our car keys in our handbags or an important document in the house, I think we have all experienced that feeling that our search is like trying to find a ‘needle in a haystack’. When I realised the acronym happened to spell out a word that sounds like a name, well, I was sold, and ‘niah’ was born!
Q: What does a professional organiser do?
A: A professional organiser can assist with everything from decluttering and organising a cupboard, wardrobe, whole room or garage, to more specialised services. Specialised services include working with hoarders, the elderly and frail or those with mental health issues. It may be that you have recently experienced a significant life event and need the support of a Professional Organiser to downsize or re-prioritise your belongings, or the type of belongings you need to keep, or the way your belongings are stored. You might be downsizing, or moving to a bigger property, starting a family, going through a divorce or separation, or a bereavement. A professional Organiser can provide compassionate support for any and all of these life changes.
Q: How do I find a professional organiser?
A: In the UK, the Association of Professional Declutters Organisers (APDO) website has a search tool that lets you customise search results based on geography, as well as by the type of service you need. Using this service to search for a Professional Organiser means you can have peace of mind that the individual is fully vetted and insured.
Q: Are niah Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked?
A: Whilst there is currently no mandated obligation for Professional Organisers to be DBS checked. Donna, who founded niah Professional Organisers, understands that when you are letting someone you do not know into your home, a DBS check provides added reassurance, and to this end holds an up-to-date DBS certificate.
Q. How long will the declutter / organising session take?
A: The amount of time that it will take to organise and declutter an area will depend on several factors. As a general rule of thumb, it can take anywhere between 2-6 hours to declutter and organise a closet space (e.g. walk-in wardrobe), and anywhere between 6-25 hours to declutter and organise a garage, or home office. If the clutter is more substantial or there is an issue with hoarding these times will likely be considerably longer.
Q. Will I need to be there?
A: The short answer is, ideally yes. The slightly longer answer is that it depends on what you hope to get out of a session. If you are exceptionally busy and need someone to come in and organise an area for you, but you don’t tend to struggle with chronic disorganisation, things have just become a bit too much and you need to refresh and re-start, I am happy to work alone after an initial session where we talk through your wishes for the space. However, as a general rule, I do encourage clients to be involved in the process, because by working together, we can ensure the systems work best for you, and the chances are you will be better equipped with new skills when I leave – enabling you to sustain the implemented systems for longer.
Q. Will you force me to throw things away?
A: I will never force you to throw away anything that you don’t want to. It is important to remember that the job of a professional organiser is to support and facilitate new ways of thinking about decluttering and organising your space. This will always be approached with respect for you as the client and compassion. I will of course gently and respectfully challenge you (I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t), but you will always have the final say.
Q. I might find it emotionally challenging, how will I be supported?
A: De-cluttering can be an emotionally challenging process, especially if it is linked to a life event (for example a loss). Decluttering is also particularly emotionally challenging for those struggling with a mental health condition, including (but not limited to) hoarding disorder. My approach is gentle and compassionate at the same time as being methodical and focussed. No matter how difficult the process may feel for you I will support you every step of the way and we will take things at a pace that you are comfortable with. If you are struggling with hoarding disorder or another mental health condition is making the task of staying on top of clutter particularly challenging, I can also signpost to mental health professionals who can provide specialised therapy to help you move through your challenging time.
Q. What can I typically expect to pay a Professional Organiser
A: The hourly fee charged by Professional Organisers in the UK tends to range from £30 - £50 per hour, with a 3-hour minimum session time.
Q. What if I start accumulating clutter again after my session is over?
A: niah professional organisers offer a follow-up call to all clients about a month after their session. The intention is to check in and see how you are getting along with the organisation systems established when we met. Clients tend to find that the call (and the anticipation of the call) acts as an accountability checker that tends to keep them on-track. There is some evidence to suggest that it takes 30 days to form a habit, so this month is a critical period of time in getting used to organisational systems and forming new habits with regards to minimising clutter.
Q. What happens to the stuff I agree to throw or donate?
A: Most Professional Organisers will provide the service of taking away a car-load of donations / junk (that can’t go in your usual dustbin and that isn’t hazardous) for a small additional fee. niah professional organisers charge £15 per car-load to take away donations to a charity shop, and any excess recyclables that won’t fit in your recycling bin at home. niah professional organisers cannot remove hazardous waste or perishable waste such as food. It is also important to note that where a hoarding or excessive decluttering situation is being addressed, it is likely that niah professional organisers will need to work with you to contract in specialist waste disposal companies to help remove excess waste.
Memberships
