Trichotillomania Support in New South Wales
Find a therapist in New South Wales who understands trichotillomania. Whether you pull your own hair or you’re supporting a child or someone you love, search by town or city, from Byron Bay to Broken Hill, for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in New South Wales.
Find a therapist for trichotillomania in New South Wales
The University of Sydney opened Australia’s first psychology department in 1929. New South Wales now has more people than any other state. Yet very few of the professionals trained here learned about hair pulling along the way. Many people end up explaining their own condition to someone who has never heard of it. Connecting you with people who already understand it is the reason this directory exists.
Everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling and already help people who pull. You’ll find therapists, counsellors, psychologists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches. Each listing shows how the person works, whether they see people in person, online or both, and what they charge. Every listing also has a private contact form.
If nobody suits you nearby, you can see who works online across New South Wales and have sessions from home.
We’re building the New South Wales directory.
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 New South Wales
Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in New South Wales
Find a TherapistHow do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in New South Wales?›
Search the directory by town or city, from Sydney and Newcastle to Wagga Wagga. Each listing shows how the person works, what they charge and whether they see people in person, online or both. You can message anyone directly.
Can I have sessions online from anywhere in New South Wales?›
Yes. Psychologists register nationally in Australia, so they can work with you online wherever you live. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t bound by that registration, and many already work online across the state and beyond.
How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in New South Wales?›
Most private sessions cost $120 to $300. Psychologists typically charge around $240, and fees run higher in Sydney, where some clinical psychologists charge up to about $360. Every listing shows its own prices, and many people offer a free first call. Some private health insurance extras policies pay part of the cost for some practitioner types.
What kinds of help are there for hair pulling?›
People who pull work with therapists, counsellors, psychologists, occupational therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners, and BFRB coaches. Different people find different things helpful. What they share on this site is that each has told us they understand hair pulling.
Do I need a GP referral or a diagnosis to get help?›
No. You can message anyone listed directly, and you don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help. Many people simply describe what’s happening in their own words on a first call.
My child pulls their hair. What do I do first?›
Stay steady and don’t tell them off, which reliably makes pulling worse. Read The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania, then look for someone in the directory who works with children and families.
Are there support groups in New South Wales?›
Not face to face right now, as far as we can find. ARCVic runs free hair pulling groups on Zoom, and the International OCD Foundation lists online BFRB groups. If you run a local group, tell us and we’ll list it free.
How common is hair pulling in New South Wales?›
About 1 in 50 people pull their hair, an estimated 1–2%. In a state of about 8.6 million people, that’s somewhere between 86,000 and 170,000 people. Most have never knowingly met another person who does. Read our complete guide.
How to get in touch with a therapist
You can message anyone listed right now. You don’t need a doctor’s note or a diagnosis first.
It’s fine to keep the first message short. Something like: “I pull my hair. I’m looking for someone who understands trichotillomania.” That’s enough to start.
Most practitioners in New South Wales work in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast. Across the Riverina, the New England tablelands and the far west, the nearest one can be a long drive away. That’s where online sessions help most.
Psychologists in Australia register once, nationally, with AHPRA. That means a psychologist in any state can work with you online wherever you live. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t registered with AHPRA, so these rules don’t apply to them, and many already work online across Australia.
You can also go through your GP to get Medicare rebates on some sessions with psychologists and a few other professionals. That route exists, and it often takes longer, because it starts with a GP appointment and rebated places fill up.
When you’re ready, search the New South Wales directory and send a message to whoever feels right.
How to choose who to work with
People who pull work with many kinds of practitioners: therapists, counsellors, psychologists, occupational therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners, and BFRB coaches. Different people find different things helpful. The right person is often simply the one you feel able to talk to.
If you’d like extra reassurance, some titles can be checked. “Psychologist” is a protected title in Australia. You can look anyone up by name on the free AHPRA Register of Practitioners. Counsellors and psychotherapists can join voluntary registers kept by PACFA and the Australian Counselling Association. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches belong to their own associations.
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?
There’s more in our guide to how to talk to someone who can help.
Charities and groups in New South Wales
New South Wales has no charity set up specifically for hair pulling or other body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs). These organisations fill the gap.
International OCD Foundation
The main international home for BFRB support since the TLC Foundation for BFRBs wound down at the end of 2025. Its directory lists online BFRB groups, and some are open to people outside North America.
Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic)
A Victorian organisation that runs free support groups for hair pulling and skin picking on Zoom. healthdirect points people across Australia to ARCVic for trichotillomania support.
SANE Australia
Free counselling on 1800 187 263 and moderated online forums, open around the clock. healthdirect lists SANE as a source of information on trichotillomania.
Beyond Blue
A free counselling line on 1300 22 4636, open 24/7, and anonymous peer forums. Not focused on hair pulling, but a place to talk at any hour.
NSW Mental Health Line
NSW Health’s free statewide line on 1800 011 511, open 24/7. Mental health professionals answer and can link you with local services, for any age.
Lifeline — 13 11 14
Crisis support across Australia, 24/7, by phone, text or online chat. In an emergency, call 000.
Support groups in New South Wales
We can’t find a regular face-to-face hair pulling group in New South Wales right now. Most groups meet online, so you can join from Sydney or from a farm outside Bourke.
- ARCVic hair pulling and skin picking groups — free, peer-led and held on Zoom. Check when you register that you can join from New South Wales.
- International OCD Foundation online BFRB groups — a wider choice of groups, though most run on US time.
- SANE and Beyond Blue forums — free, anonymous and moderated, and open at 2am. Not specific to hair pulling.
Do you run a New South Wales 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, and what to say and not say in the first weeks after you find out.
The long silence before the search
Most people who pull keep it to themselves for years before they look for help. Many don’t know it has a name. They think it’s a strange habit only they have, and that they should be able to stop.
So they hide it. Fringes cover thin patches at the front. Eyebrow pencil and false lashes fill the gaps. Hats, ponytails and careful partings do the rest. Hairdressers, swimming pools and windy days turn into things to plan around.
The hiding feeds the silence. Every year it stays secret, telling someone feels harder. Most people who pull have never knowingly met another person who does, so there’s no one to compare notes with.
The first search often comes late at night, after years of this. Finding the word “trichotillomania” can bring real relief. It is a recognised condition, a body-focused repetitive behaviour listed in the DSM-5. It isn’t a bad habit, it isn’t attention-seeking, it isn’t self-harm, and it isn’t a lack of willpower.
Knowing that doesn’t make the pulling stop. It does change the question from “what’s wrong with me?” to “who understands this?”, and that’s a question other people can help answer.
About this page
Sources: University of Sydney School of Psychology; Australian Bureau of Statistics; AHPRA Register of Practitioners and the Psychology Board of Australia; PACFA; Australian Counselling Association; Help Link and Bark Australia 2026 fee data; Australian Psychological Society 2026–27 suggested fee schedule; Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Better Access); healthdirect; International OCD Foundation; ARCVic; SANE Australia; Beyond Blue; NSW Health; Lifeline.
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 a New South Wales therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?
Be found by people looking for help with hair pulling across New South Wales, in person or online.
About New South Wales
New South Wales is Australia’s most populous state, home to about 8.6 million people. Two-thirds of them live in Greater Sydney, the state capital. Beyond the city, the state runs from the subtropical north coast at Byron Bay to the Snowy Mountains in the south. Out west lies the outback mining town of Broken Hill.
Sydney’s neighbourhoods each have their own pull. The Rocks holds some of the oldest colonial streets in the country. Newtown, in the inner west, is known for King Street’s restaurants and live music. Bondi is its most famous beach. Two hours north, Newcastle grew as a coal and steel city, and the Hunter Valley wine region sits just inland. Wollongong lies south of Sydney, squeezed between the Illawarra escarpment and the sea.
Attractions in New South Wales
New South Wales draws people for its harbour city, its World Heritage landscapes and a coastline that runs from Queensland to Victoria.
Sydney Opera House
Danish architect Jørn Utzon won the design competition in 1957. Queen Elizabeth II opened the building on Bennelong Point in 1973. Its shell roofs cover the Concert Hall and the Joan Sutherland Theatre. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 2007.
The Three Sisters, Katoomba
Three sandstone pillars rise from the cliffs of the Jamison Valley, viewed from Echo Point lookout in Katoomba. They stand in the Country of the Gundungurra and Darug peoples. The Greater Blue Mountains, around them, became a World Heritage Area in 2000.
Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay
The lighthouse was built from concrete blocks and first lit in December 1901. It stands on the most easterly point of mainland Australia. It is also the country’s most powerful lighthouse. The headland walk around it is a well-known spot for watching migrating whales.
Mount Kosciuszko, Snowy Mountains
At 2,228 metres, Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest peak. From Thredbo, a chairlift takes walkers to the start of a 13-kilometre return track to the summit. The path passes the headwaters of the Snowy River and Lake Cootapatamba. Much of it runs on a raised steel mesh walkway that protects the alpine plants.
Mungo National Park
Lake Mungo is a dry lake bed in the state’s far south-west. It has been part of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area since 1981. The remains of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man, buried more than 40,000 years ago, were found here. Its eroded dunes are known as the Walls of China.