Having a parent who hoards can be heartbreaking. You might feel helpless because you can’t make them help themselves. They might struggle with accessing parts of their home, have anxiety about parting with objects, or even withdraw from friends and loved ones out of embarrassment. And, as all this happens, you’re watching your childhood home deteriorate.

You might think therapy is for people who just need to be less depressed or anxious. In other words, their lives are fine—they just need to work through their feelings. But what can therapy do when your problem is situational? What if you're depressed or anxious because your life circumstances are genuinely depressing or anxiety-inducing?

Compared to individual therapy, family therapy involves many more elements out of your control, particularly if you’re dealing with other adults. And you might be wondering whether it’s worth it—can you tell how effective family therapy will be before your first session?