Joyful Organizing

Get Support, Clear Clutter, Reclaim Joy!

My Story

I have always had a passion for organizing, and first began utilizing these skills as a child, supporting my mother who did not have the same skill set. After a career in health and wellness, I decided to move my focus to more individual, in-person support back in 2015, and began offering professional organizing services in Santa Cruz County. When the pandemic hit, I went back to health coaching and teaching different yoga modalities online. I now combine both practices for total well-being for my clients, and they love it! We can all use a sense of humor and a good laugh while going through piles of stuff. I bring the best of both worlds!

How I Work

In the many years I’ve been helping people to get organized, I have found that the process is multi-layered, according to what a person is managing in their space and their lives (i.e. the quantity of people living in the space and the responsibilities and stressors influencing the people living in the space). It’s also dependent on what their strengths and weaknesses are and what they would like support with.

Some clients just need basic support getting motivated, clearing clutter and creating systems. Other clients are looking to downsize or have had a death in the family and would like help clearing out the house to put it on the market. While others are dealing with more complex issues and looking for emotional and therapeutic support in addition to the hands-on support.

After an initial get-to-know-each-other call (where I talk to clients and ask questions, tuning into what the needs and desires are), we decide whether working together is a fit. Through this discovery process I learn about them and reflect what I’ve heard. I then offer ideas, share about myself and what I believe could support them in getting their needs met.

The obvious piece of that support is the practical process of organizing. This is where we asses the space, what is working and not working, what they would like to see differently and what would best support them. Once a plan is made we can begin to sort and purge the clutter and set up systems that help to create ease and flow. (I am not a professional decorator. I can help to set up systems and recommend organizational tools (containers/hangers/tools for organizing) that integrate with the structure that is already there.)

The not-so-obvious part of what creates clutter is the emotional component, which can just be straightforward stress and busyness in life. Or it can be past trauma, PTSD, or other sensitivities that make it difficult for a client to handle all that is on their plate, in addition to creating organizational systems that support ease and flow.

What I offer, that may be different from other organizers, is the emotional intelligence piece. Essentially, I provide mental/emotional/somatic based tools for supporting my clients to make permanent changes within, by addressing and moving through the fears, blocks and anxiety that may come up during the organizing process. Not all clients need this aspect of the services I provide, though for those that do it can be a game-changer. This level of service is available at a higher rate. (See below)

Rates:

The pricing varies depending on the needs and desires of the client, where the client is located and the scope of the job.

The market rate for organizing in the Bay Area, CA falls within a range of $85-$150 an hour.  I have a 3-hour minimum. Along with practical organizing support, simple emotional support techniques (like integrating self-compassion techniques and reminding client to breathe/take a break/drink water) are included in all sessions.

The mental/emotional resiliency rate is higher, always with a 3-hour minimum. This incorporates mindfulness-based somatic tools for addressing the stress/grief/trauma response and regulating the nervous system.

When a client is interested in a long-term commitment (6 months or more) the rate is negotiable depending on what is desired.

On top of being a Professional Organizer, I am a health and wellness consultant, an Emotional Resiliency Coach, and a Certified GriefYoga® and Laughter Yoga Teacher. I bring all this emotional intelligence and support to every session, which empowers the transformation and helps to create lasting change.

Mileage will be added on to the total cost. (See Policies and Procedures sheet for details)

Please reach out with any questions, an estimate or to schedule your first 3-hour session, carla.h.brown@gmail.com.

And if it felt difficult to reach out and ask for help, I celebrate you for the courage and vulnerability it took to take the first step. Here’s to it getting easier! And it will…I promise!

To Your Joy and Ease,

Carla H Brown

To see my Policies and Procedures, click here.