Trichotillomania Support in Australia
Find a therapist in Australia who understands trichotillomania. Whether you pull your own hair or you’re supporting a child or someone you love, search by suburb, town or city for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in Australia.
Find a therapist for trichotillomania in Australia
Most therapists in Australia have never worked with someone who pulls their hair. It gets very little time in training, so people often end up explaining their own condition to a professional who has never heard of it. That’s the reason this directory exists: everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling and already help people who pull.
You’ll find psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and BFRB coaches here. Each listing explains how that person works, whether they see people in person, online or both, and what they charge. Registration for psychologists and other health professionals in Australia is national, not state by state, so someone in Melbourne can work with you online in Broome. Search anywhere from Cairns to Hobart, or work with someone from home.
We’re building the directory for Australia.
Keep updated as we’re a new directory actively seeking new trich-aware therapists to join.
See practitioners who work online →Tell me when a practitioner lists in Australia
Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in Australia
Find a TherapistHow do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in Australia?›
Search above by suburb, town or city. Each listing shows how the person works, whether they offer in-person or online sessions, and what they charge, and you can message them privately. If nobody is listed near you yet, choose Online. New people join regularly.
Can I have sessions online from anywhere in Australia?›
Yes. Many people listed work online. Psychologists and other registered health professionals hold one national registration, so they can see you in any state or territory. Hypnotherapists, counsellors, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t tied to state lines either. This helps most in regional and remote areas.
How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in Australia?›
Usually $100 to $300 a session, with most people paying $150 to $250. Psychologists tend to charge more, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Every listing shows its own prices, many offer a free first call, and some health insurance extras policies pay part of the cost.
What kinds of help are there for hair pulling?›
You can work with psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and BFRB coaches. Different people find different things helpful. Everyone listed here understands hair pulling, so read a few listings and contact whoever feels right for you.
Do I need a GP referral or a diagnosis to get help in Australia?›
No. You can contact anyone listed directly, without a doctor’s note, a GP referral or a diagnosis. Just send a message through their listing.
My child pulls their hair. What do I do first?›
Stay steady and don’t tell them off. Telling a child off reliably makes pulling worse. Start with The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania, then look for someone who works with children and teens. Their listing will say so.
Are there trichotillomania support groups in Australia?›
Yes, mostly online. ARCVic runs a hair-pulling and skin-picking group over Zoom, and the International OCD Foundation lists more online groups, though most run on US hours. In-person groups are still rare. If you run one, tell us.
How common is hair pulling in Australia?›
About 1 in 50 people pull their hair, an estimated 1–2%, which means several hundred thousand Australians. It usually starts around ages 10 to 13. It is not a bad habit, self-harm, attention-seeking or a lack of willpower. Our complete guide explains more.
Can I get help through Medicare?›
Medicare’s Better Access scheme can pay part of the cost of up to 10 sessions a year with some practitioner types, such as psychologists, once your GP writes a mental health plan. You still pay the gap, so many people contact someone in the directory while they sort it out.
How to get in touch with a therapist
You can message anyone listed right now. You don’t need a doctor’s note, a GP referral or a diagnosis. Every listing has a private contact form, and most explain how the person works, what sessions cost and whether they offer a free first call.
Most practitioners work in and around the capitals, especially Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. If you live in a regional town or somewhere remote, online sessions open up the whole country. Registered health professionals can see you wherever you live, and hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, counsellors and coaches aren’t tied to state lines at all.
What therapy costs in Australia
A private session in Australia usually costs between $100 and $300. Most people pay around $150 to $250, and psychologists tend to sit at the top of that range, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Every listing shows its own prices, so there are no surprises. Some private health insurance extras policies pay part of the cost for some practitioner types, so ask your health fund and the person you contact. Many people listed offer a free first call, so you can see if it feels right before you pay anything.
How to check someone is qualified
In Australia, “psychologist”, “occupational therapist” and “medical practitioner” (which covers psychiatrists) are protected titles. Anyone using them must be registered through AHPRA, and you can look them up for free on the AHPRA Register of Practitioners. “Counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are not protected titles, but many belong to the Australian Counselling Association or PACFA, and you can check them on the ARCAP register. These checks are optional reassurance, not a test.
Many good kinds of help aren’t regulated by the government at all. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches belong to their own associations, and many people find their help useful.
Everyone on this site has one thing in common: they’ve told us they understand hair pulling. On a first call, you can ask:
- “Have you helped people who pull their hair before?”
- “How do you work? What happens in the first few sessions?”
- “What if I feel it isn’t right for me?”
Charities and groups in Australia
Australia has no charity just for hair pulling or other BFRBs (body-focused repetitive behaviours, such as hair pulling, skin picking and nail biting). These are the organisations worth knowing.
Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic)
The closest thing Australia has to a hair-pulling organisation. ARCVic set up the country’s first trichotillomania support groups and now runs a hair-pulling and skin-picking group online.
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
The main international home for BFRB support since the TLC Foundation for BFRBs wound down at the end of 2025. It lists online BFRB groups, though most run on US time.
Beyond Blue
Free support any time of day on 1300 22 4636, plus moderated online forums where you can talk to others anonymously.
headspace
Support for young people aged 12 to 25, at centres across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia, and online.
Lifeline — 13 11 14
Crisis support across Australia, 24 hours a day, by phone, text or chat. Children and young people can also call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. In an emergency, call 000.
Support groups in Australia
Most Australians who pull have never knowingly met another person who does. A group can change that.
- ARCVic hair-pulling and skin-picking group: meets over Zoom twice a month on Sundays, on Australian eastern time. Check their site for current dates.
- IOCDF online BFRB groups: a wider choice of groups, mostly on US hours, so check the time zone before you sign up.
- Beyond Blue forums: free, anonymous and moderated, open day and night. Not just for hair pulling, but there is always someone around.
Most groups meet online right now, and in-person groups are still rare. Do you run a group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.
For parents: The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania helps you understand what your child is going through.
Medicare and other options
Medicare’s Better Access scheme can pay part of the cost of up to 10 sessions a year, if your GP writes you a mental health plan. It only covers some practitioner types, such as psychologists, you still pay the gap, and many books are full. Many people contact someone in the directory while they sort it out.
About this page
Sources: Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic); International OCD Foundation; Beyond Blue; headspace; Lifeline Australia and Kids Helpline; AHPRA Register of Practitioners and the Psychology Board of Australia; ARCAP, the Australian Counselling Association and PACFA; Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Better Access initiative); Australian Psychological Society recommended fee schedules; PACFA counselling fee survey; Help Link and Bark Australia session-fee data (2026).
Things change. We check this page often, but always check prices and qualifications with the person you contact. This page is information, not medical advice.
Are you an Australian therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?
Be found by people looking for help with hair pulling across Australia, in person or online.