At the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley, we offer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for trichotillomania or chronic hair pulling. Our approach is practical, goal-oriented, compassionate, and scientifically-based while focusing on your individual needs.
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is the repetitive pulling out of your hair to the point where there is significant and noticeable hair loss. If you have trichotillomania, you may be distressed by the behavior or notice that the behavior impacts your functioning, such as causing conflict with family members or embarrassment in public. You may pull out the hair on your head, eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic area, and/or other parts of your body.
Symptoms of Trichotillomania
- Repetitive pulling out of one’s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss
- Problems in functioning related to the pulling
- Tension and difficulty resisting the urge to pull hair
- Feeling relief or satisfaction after pulling hair
Cognitive Behavioral Model of Trichotillomania
While research suggests that some people may have an inherited predisposition to hair pulling, the causes of the behavior are less important than what is maintaining the behavior now. According to the CBT model, hair pulling is maintained by a combination of environmental, emotional, and/or cognitive factors that either trigger or reinforce pulling episodes. Pulling can be triggered by specific settings (e.g. bedroom, bathroom) or activities such as driving or watching television. Certain emotions, such as anxiety, tension, and boredom can also trigger pulling episodes, as well as irrational beliefs about physical appearance. Pulling can then be reinforced by the feeling of the hair once it is pulled, a sense of relief or satisfaction, or the belief that physical appearance is improved. Pulling also may distract you from negative and uncomfortable emotions that you wish to avoid.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Trichotillomania
The goal of CBT for trichotillomania is to educate you about the disorder and teach you to become more aware of pulling and the environmental, emotional, and cognitive factors that trigger pulling. During the assessment phase, you will keep track of your pulling episodes, along with the associated triggers, consequences, emotions and thoughts. You will learn self-management strategies to prevent pulling episodes and to stop the episodes once they begin, as well as learn to tolerate the uncomfortable emotions that lead to pulling.
Click here to see tools your child could use to distract themselves from hair pulling: Hair Pulling Tools for Kids.
Common Goals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Trichotillomania
- Decrease pulling episodes
- Resume daily routine and other levels of functioning
- Build coping skills for tolerating uncomfortable emotions and preventing pulling
Getting Help for Trichotillomania/Hair Pulling
The Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley specializes in therapy and counseling for trichotillomania/hair pulling. Contact us for more information on how we can help you manage your trichotillomania/hair pulling.
Silicon Valley Communities We Serve
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley/San Jose offers evidence-based therapy for Anxiety and OCD near the following Silicon Valley/San Jose communities:
San Jose Therapy and Counseling • Saratoga Counseling and Therapy • Los Gatos Therapy and Counseling • Monte Sereno Therapy and Counseling • Cupertino Therapy and Counseling • Campbell Therapy and Counseling • Mountain View Therapy and Counseling • Los Altos Therapy and Counseling • Sunnyvale Therapy and Counseling • Santa Clara Therapy and Counseling • Palo Alto Therapy and Counseling
CBT Online Video Therapy
CBT Online Video Therapy for anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) offered in all the above locations as well as the following California communities:
San Francisco Therapy Counseling • Sacramento Valley Therapy Counseling • Carmel CA Therapy Counseling • Santa Cruz Therapy Counseling • Monterey Therapy Counseling • Los Angeles Therapy Counseling • San Diego Therapy Counseling • Orange County Therapy Counseling
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