Online treatments and resources for trichotillomania

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as trichotillomania are of the most under-diagnosed psychological disorders due to the intense shame and embarrassment people who engage in compulsive hair pulling behavior experiences. Although the efforts of advocacy groups such as the then named Trichotillomania Learning Centre (TLC), now named the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) and the Canadian BFRB Support Network (CBSN) has been instrumental in increasing awareness of the condition, probably the more significant contribution they ahve made is help people feel less alone. Technology has given us the gift of anonymity when seeking answers to our most personal questions and our darkest secrets. But it also gives us a window into a world we might not otherwise have known existed. Vloggers like BeckiJBrown (formerly BeckieO) helps other hair pullers realise that they are not the only ones suffering with this disorder. The advent of the internet has also meant that finding resources and information from the privacy and comfort of your own home is much easier and there are many other resources such as these available online. We have researched some of the well-established trusted sources:

The TLC Foundation for BFRBs

The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors is a donor-supported, nonprofit organization devoted to ending the suffering caused by hair pulling disorder, skin picking disorder, and related body-focused repetitive behaviors. Their programs and services are guided by a Scientific Advisory Board of the foremost clinical and research professionals in the field. The TLC Foundation take a comprehensive approach to supporting BFRBs: creating a community of support for affected individuals; providing referrals to treatment specialists and resources; training professionals to recognize and treat BFRBs; and directing research into their causes, treatment, and prevention.

URL: www.bfrb.org

 

Canadian BFRB Support Network

Run by a group of passionate volunteers and advocates, the Canadian Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviour Support Network (CBSN) aims to reduce the stigma, shame, and isolation associated with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs), and related mental health conditions. They offer:

• Offer Peer Support Groups for those affected by BFRBs across Canada
• Participate in mental health conferences and promote awareness about BFRBs
• Community Engagement
• Advocate for accessible/affordable mental health care for all
• Educate Canadian doctors/ medical professionals and encourage them to learn about BFRBs and how to treat them

URL: www.canadianbfrb.org

 

The Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Center of Los Angeles

The OCDLA specializes in the treatment of OCD and related anxiety based disorders such as trichotillomania. They offer a weekly, low-fee therapy group specifically for adults over the age of 18 with Dermatillomania and Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder). Many people secretly suffer with these conditions, and the goal of this group is to provide an inexpensive format in which individuals can learn to more effectively manage their skin picking and hair pulling within a safe, supportive environment. provides information on trichotillomania.

URL: http://ocdla.com

 

Trichotillomania Relief Specialists

The founders of the Trichotillomania Relief Specialists, Robert and Glei Mantell, are professionally certified by the American Board of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), the International Institute for Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology and the American Board of Hypnotherapy as Master Practitioners and Trainers of NLP and Hypnosis.  Through face-t-face, or skype-based sessions, they help hair pullers to understand their condition and provide them with coaching and unique, drug free approaches to help them stop pulling their hair out.

URL: http://www.trich-free.com.

 

The Stop Pulling Online Programme

StopPulling is an online behavioral program designed to help individuals manage their trichotillomania. It is an interactive behavioral program that will help you to identify situations associated with your pulling behavior, and will recommend strategies to help you to change those behaviors.

URL: http://ww2.stoppulling.com/program/

 

Pull Free At Last

Abby Rohrer struggled with trichotillomania for 27 years. She has since dedicated her life to helping other women overcome compulsive hair pullng through her Trichotillomania Free Women's University, a 15 lesson course based in advanced healing principles. The course is based on the belief that trichotillomania stems from hidden emotional trauma. 

URL: http://www.pullfreeatlast.com

 

Christina Pearson

Christina Pearson struggled with both trichotillomania and skin picking, and helps others to stop pulling out their hair and picking their skin by sharing mindfulness stress based reduction techniques. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an 8-week carefully designed class protocol that teaches people mindfulness meditation, mindful movement, and how to utilize these awareness-enhancing skills for stress reduction. Christina is also happens to be the founder of the TLC, but has since left the organization in the capable hands of its executive commitee as she focuses more on the practical implementation of treatment for BFRBs. 

URL: http://www.christinapearson.com

 

Trichotillomania Support Online

This is a non-profit organization and  their website is maintained by volunteers. Resources are free, they only request that visitors to their site complete a questionnaire and support others by using their forums. They are committed to providing up-to-the-minute research and they campaign for respectful treatment, recognition and understanding of trichotillomania and BFRBs. 

URL: http://www.trichotillomania.co.uk  ​​

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​Treatment for Trichotillomania

Initiated by Rik van Bastelaar, the Treatment for Trichotillomania - Gettinf Better program consists of an international team of loving and highly qualified professionals who offer support, insights and self-help tools for treating compulsive hair pulling.You can also find success stories of other hair pullers on the site.

URL: http://treatmentfortrichotillomania.com