Trichotillomania Support in British Columbia
Find a therapist in British Columbia who understands trichotillomania. Whether you pull your own hair or you’re supporting a child or someone you love, search by city or town, from Victoria to Prince George, for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in British Columbia.
Find a therapist for trichotillomania in British Columbia
British Columbia has more than 10,000 Registered Clinical Counsellors, plus psychologists, social workers and many other practitioners. Very few of them learned about hair pulling in training. So people who pull often end up explaining their own condition to the person they came to for help. Connecting you with people who already understand it is the reason this directory exists.
Everyone listed has told us they understand trichotillomania and already help people who pull. The directory includes therapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Every listing shows how that person works, whether they see people in person, online or both, and what they charge. Each one has a private contact form. New people join regularly.
Most British Columbians live in the Lower Mainland and on southern Vancouver Island. If you’re in the North, the Kootenays or a coastal town, you can see who works online across British Columbia.
We’re building the British Columbia 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 British Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in British Columbia
Find a TherapistHow do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in British Columbia?›
Search the directory by city or town. In-person options are mostly in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria, with others in Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo and Prince George. Everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling, and each listing shows how they work, what they charge and how to get in touch.
Can I have sessions online from anywhere in British Columbia?›
Yes. Online sessions work anywhere with a steady internet connection. Psychologists generally need to be licensed in BC to work with you. Counsellors, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t bound by those rules. Choose Online in the search to see who works with people in British Columbia.
How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in British Columbia?›
Most private sessions in British Columbia cost $130 to $250. Counsellors usually charge $140 to $175, and psychologists more. Every listing shows its own prices. Many extended health plans pay part of the cost for some types of practitioner, and many people offer a free first call.
What kinds of help are there for hair pulling in British Columbia?›
People work with therapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Different people find different things helpful. What everyone in this directory has in common is that they understand hair pulling.
Do I need a doctor’s note or a diagnosis to get help in British Columbia?›
No. You can contact anyone listed in our directory directly, without a doctor’s note or a diagnosis. Just tell them you pull your hair and you’re looking for someone who understands trichotillomania.
My child pulls their hair. What do I do first?›
Stay steady and don’t tell them off, because pressure and punishment reliably make pulling worse. Start with The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania, then look for someone whose listing says they work with children and teens.
Are there trichotillomania support groups in British Columbia?›
We haven’t found an in-person group in British Columbia yet. British Columbians can join online groups through the International OCD Foundation’s listings and BFRB Changemakers, or the Canadian BFRB Support Network’s Facebook group. If you run a group, tell us and we’ll list it.
How common is hair pulling in British Columbia?›
About 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania, so more than 100,000 British Columbians. It often starts between ages 10 and 13, and most people who pull have never knowingly met someone else who does. Learn more in our complete guide to trichotillomania.
How to get in touch with a therapist
You can contact anyone listed right now. You don’t need a doctor’s note or a diagnosis.
When you write, say what it is: “I pull my hair. I’m looking for someone who understands trichotillomania.” Their reply tells you a lot about whether they’re the right fit.
In person, most options are in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria, with smaller clusters in Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo and Prince George. In the North, the Cariboo and many coastal communities, the nearest practitioner may be a ferry ride or several hours’ drive away. Online sessions save that trip.
Psychologists who work with you online generally need to be licensed in BC, wherever they’re based. Counsellors, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t licensed by the province, so these rules don’t apply to them for now.
You can also start through your family doctor, community mental health services or, for ages 12 to 24, a Foundry centre. That route exists, but it often takes longer.
How to choose who to work with
People who pull find help from many kinds of practitioners: therapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Different people find different things helpful.
If you’d like to check someone’s registration, BC’s public registers are free to search:
- Psychologists: the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC licenses them, and “psychologist” is a protected title.
- Social workers: the BC College of Social Workers registers them, and “Registered Social Worker” is a protected title.
- Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs): the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors keeps a public register.
“Counsellor” and “therapist” aren’t protected titles in BC yet. The province plans to start licensing psychotherapy in late 2027. Many other good kinds of help, like hypnotherapy, EFT and coaching, aren’t regulated by the province. They have their own professional associations instead.
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 British Columbia
British Columbia has no charity just for hair pulling or other body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs). These organizations can still help, and all of them work province-wide or online.
Canadian BFRB Support Network
A volunteer-run Canadian non-profit, founded in 2013, focused on hair pulling, skin picking and related behaviours. It shares information and runs a private Facebook group for Canadians.
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
A US foundation with a large section on BFRBs, including trichotillomania. Its Find Help directory lists hair pulling support groups, many of which meet online.
BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
Based at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. It gives free information and peer support to BC families with a child or young person up to age 24. You can reach it by phone, video or in person.
CMHA British Columbia
The BC division of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Its branches run programs across the province. They aren’t about hair pulling, but they welcome anyone.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
If things ever feel too much to handle on your own, call or text 9-8-8, any time. For mental health support anywhere in BC, you can also call 310-6789, with no area code.
Support groups in British Columbia
We haven’t found an in-person trichotillomania group in British Columbia yet. Most British Columbians who pull connect with others online, and for something this private, many find that easier.
- Canadian BFRB Support Network: a private Facebook group for Canadians who pull or pick.
- IOCDF hair pulling groups: the IOCDF’s Find Help directory lists groups for people who pull, many meeting by video.
- BFRB Changemakers: free monthly online peer groups for adults who pull or pick. US groups often list Eastern times, so check each one against Pacific time.
For parents: The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania helps you understand what your child is going through.
Do you run a British Columbia group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.
Understanding hair pulling: the silence before the search
Many people pull for years before they tell anyone. Some don’t know it has a name. Others know the word trichotillomania but have never said it out loud.
The hiding takes work. People fill in brows with pencil, wear hats, style hair over a thin patch, or keep their lashes out of photos. They may skip the pool, dread a windy ferry deck, or put off a haircut for months. Each of these is a small, private effort. Together they can shape a whole life.
The silence often breaks slowly. A first search late at night. A forum post under a made-up name. A moment of recognition in someone else’s story. Many people only reach out after years of managing alone, and some worry a professional will be puzzled or dismissive.
Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behaviour, recognized in the DSM-5 and the ICD-10 (F63.3). It affects about 1 in 50 people. It usually starts around ages 10 to 13, though it can begin at any age. It isn’t a bad habit, attention-seeking, self-harm or a lack of willpower. Most people who pull have never knowingly met someone else who does, which is part of why the silence lasts so long.
About this page
Sources: BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (RCC register and 2026 fee guide); BC Psychological Association; College of Health and Care Professionals of BC; BC Ministry of Health; Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association; BC College of Social Workers; Canadian BFRB Support Network; International OCD Foundation; BFRB Changemakers; BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre; CMHA British Columbia; Crisis Centre BC; 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline; Foundry BC.
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 British Columbia therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?
Be found by people looking for help with hair pulling across British Columbia, in person or online.
About British Columbia
British Columbia is Canada’s westernmost province. It joined Confederation in 1871 and covers almost 950,000 square kilometres, from the Pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains. The Coast Mountains, the Interior plateau and the islands of Haida Gwaii all lie within it.
Vancouver, the largest city, sits between Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River. Surrey, also in Metro Vancouver, is the second-largest. Victoria, the capital, is at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Kelowna, on Okanagan Lake, is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley’s wine country. Kamloops grew where the North and South Thompson rivers meet. Prince George is the largest city in northern BC.
Attractions in British Columbia
British Columbia’s landmarks run from a city-centre forest on the coast to gold rush streets in the Cariboo and fossil beds in the Rockies.
Stanley Park (Vancouver)
Stanley Park opened in 1888 and was named after Lord Stanley, then Governor General of Canada. Its 400 hectares of forest fill much of Vancouver’s downtown peninsula. An 8.8-kilometre seawall circles the shore, and a collection of totem poles stands at Brockton Point. It became a National Historic Site in 1988.
The Butchart Gardens (Brentwood Bay)
Jennie Butchart began these gardens in 1904 on the Saanich Peninsula, about 21 kilometres north of Victoria. Her family’s cement works had used up a limestone quarry. She turned the pit into the Sunken Garden, bringing in topsoil by horse and cart. Japanese, Italian and rose gardens followed. It became a National Historic Site in 2004.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Tofino and Ucluelet)
Canada’s first national park reserve was set up in 1970 on Vancouver Island’s west coast. It has three parts. The Long Beach unit runs for 16 kilometres of sand and rock. The Broken Group Islands, more than 100 of them, are reached only by boat. The 75-kilometre West Coast Trail began as a route for rescuing shipwrecked sailors.
Barkerville Historic Town (near Wells)
Billy Barker struck gold on Williams Creek in August 1862, and a town grew up around his claim. During the Cariboo Gold Rush it became one of the largest settlements west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. Today it’s a living-history museum with more than 125 heritage buildings. It was named a National Historic Site in 1924.
Yoho National Park (Field)
Yoho was first protected in 1886, on the western slopes of the Rockies. In 1909, Charles Walcott found the Burgess Shale here, a fossil bed of sea creatures more than 500 million years old. Takakkaw Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada. The park is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.