Trichotillomania Support Groups: Online and In Person

Trichotillomania runs on secrecy. Many people pull for years believing nobody else does it. A trichotillomania support group is one of the quickest ways to find out that isn’t true: you sit down, or log in, with people who already understand.

This guide is for adults who pull and for the people who support them: where to find a group, what happens at one, what the research says, and how to choose well.

Where can I find a trichotillomania support group?

Start with the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) online directory, which lets you search for hair-pulling groups in person and online. The IOCDF is a US-based charity for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions, and it now carries on the work of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs, which wound down at the end of 2025. BFRBs (body-focused repetitive behaviours) are the group of conditions that includes hair pulling, skin picking and severe nail biting.

If you’ve been searching for a trich support group near me, three places to look:

• The IOCDF directory, filtered for hair pulling. Enter your location; results include groups that meet online.
• Your therapist or doctor. Clinics that treat BFRBs sometimes run groups or know of local ones.
• Mental health charities where you live (see below).

Older lists online often point to groups that have stopped meeting, so check the listing is current or email the organiser first.

Canadian listings in the IOCDF directory are mostly OCD groups, several of them online. Some welcome related conditions, so ask the organiser whether hair pulling is included. Online BFRB support groups based in the US are another option; check the time zone before you sign up.

Are there online trich communities?

Yes, of two main kinds:

• Video groups meet at a set time, usually on Zoom, and work much like an in-person group.
• Forums let you read and ask questions at any hour. The IOCDF links to an online BFRB community on HealthUnlocked, a health forum site: My BFRB Community.
• Large public forums and social media groups are easy to find, but they vary a lot in how well they’re run.

In a 2026 study of 20 people who used online trich groups, being able to join from home, without anyone seeing their hair, was the biggest advantage. Most felt positive about their groups, though a few said their pulling got worse after joining, because reading about pulling set off their urges.

What happens at a support group?

Most groups start with a welcome and a reminder of the ground rules, then people take turns to say how things have been and what’s helping, if they want to. A facilitator keeps things on track.

The ground rules OCD Ireland publishes for its groups are typical:

• What’s said in the group stays in the group.
• One person speaks at a time. Online, you mute while others talk.
• Nobody names specific therapists or discusses specific medicines, so the focus stays on support.
• If it’s your first time, you can simply listen and see how the group works.

Facilitators are often trained volunteers, some with lived experience. Some online groups ask for cameras on, so check the rules when you book. You don’t have to show anyone your hair or share anything you’re not ready to.

Do support groups help with hair pulling?

They help most with the loneliness and shame that come with trich. There’s much less evidence that a group on its own cuts pulling for the long term.

• A 2005 survey of two online hair-pulling groups found members valued them for support, information and tips, and nearly all said the group helped them realise they weren’t alone. But some had tried diets with no research behind them after reading about them there, and a few said reading about pulling made them want to pull more.
• A 2020 Australian study followed eight women who went on a three-day peer-support retreat. Their pulling dropped straight afterwards but was back where it started by six months. A year on, they still described a sense of belonging and hope.
• The NHS, the UK’s health service, notes that many people who manage their trich say talking to others about it led to less hair pulling.

The IOCDF describes support groups as a step towards therapy, an addition to it, or part of a plan to prevent relapse. Not a replacement, and that fits the research. A group can make it easier to start treatment and to keep going when progress stalls.

Is a support group the same as group therapy?

No. A support group is for sharing experiences and encouragement. Group therapy, sometimes called a treatment group, is treatment: a licensed mental health professional teaches an approach backed by research to several people at once.

For trich, the approach with the most research behind it is Habit Reversal Training (HRT), which teaches you to notice when you’re about to pull and do something else with your hands. It can be taught one-to-one or in a group. Our guide to Habit Reversal Training explains how it works.

How do I choose a good group?

Choose one that focuses on hair pulling, has clear ground rules, and leaves you feeling more hopeful, not more stuck.

Look for:

• A group that names hair pulling or describes itself as a BFRB support group, rather than a general group where trich barely comes up.
• Clear rules about confidentiality and respect, and someone who steps in if things go off track.
• Talk about what’s helping, not only about how hard things are.

Be wary of:

• Groups that sell a product or promise a quick fix. There’s no cure for trich, but there is treatment that helps.
• Advice to try diets or supplements that have no research behind them.
• Photos or detailed descriptions of pulling shared without a warning.

If a group sets off your urges or leaves you feeling worse, it’s fine to take a break or try another.

Are there groups for parents, partners and friends?

Yes. The IOCDF directory lists groups for family members and loved ones, and OCD Ireland runs a family, friends and carers group open to any age. Many groups for people who pull are for adults only, but some online groups are just for teenagers.

If you’re supporting someone else, our guide on how to support someone with trichotillomania covers what helps at home. If you’re a parent, start with The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania: understanding what your child is going through.

When should I get professional help?

Get help from someone trained to treat trich if pulling is causing you distress, taking up a lot of your time, or getting in the way of work, school or relationships. Many people use a group and treatment together.

A doctor can check for other causes of hair loss. Everyone in our directory has told us they understand trichotillomania and already help people who pull, in person or online. You can search the directory for someone near you. Our guide to finding a therapist who understands trichotillomania explains what to ask on a first call. There’s more on community and living with trich in the community section of our complete guide.

In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline — 988 (988.ca)

Questions people ask

Sources

1. International OCD Foundation. Support Groups & Treatment Groups.
2. International OCD Foundation. Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs).
3. OCD Ireland. Welcome to OCD Ireland.
4. OCD Ireland. Support Group parameters.
5. OCD Action. Support Groups.
6. Jenkins, D. & Roomaney, R. (2026). The role of online support groups in the management of trichotillomania symptoms. Journal of Clinical Psychology.
7. Bruwer, B.R. & Stein, D.J. (2005). A survey of participants in two internet support groups for people with hair-pulling. BMC Psychiatry, 5, 37.
8. Slikboer, R., Rehm, I.C., Lam, S., Maloney, A. & Nedeljkovic, M. (2020). A brief, residential peer-support retreat for trichotillomania: A mixed methods evaluation. Australian Psychologist, 55(2), 169–180.
9. NHS. Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder).