Trichotillomania Support in Devon

Find a therapist in Devon 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 Ilfracombe to Plymouth, for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in Devon.

Find a therapist for trichotillomania in Devon

Devon is the only county in England with two separate coastlines, one on the Bristol Channel and one on the English Channel. Dartmoor fills much of the space between them. Few of the therapists and counsellors working across that wide area learned about hair pulling in training. Connecting you with people who already understand it is the reason this directory exists.

Everyone listed here has told us they understand trichotillomania and already help people who pull. The directory includes therapists, counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists, 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.

If you live on the moor or along the north coast, far from the cities, see who works online across Devon.

Open the full directory →

Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in Devon

Find a Therapist

How do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in Devon?›

Search our directory by town or city, such as Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay, Barnstaple, Newton Abbot or Exmouth. Every listing explains 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 Devon?›

Yes. Many people listed work online with clients anywhere in Devon, from Ilfracombe to Salcombe. UK registration isn’t split by county, and hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t tied to one area either.

How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in Devon?›

Private sessions in Devon usually cost £45 to £90, with around £55 to £65 typical. Every listing shows its own prices, and many people offer a free first call. Some private health insurance pays 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, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Different people find different things helpful. Everyone in our directory has told us they understand hair pulling and already help people who pull.

Do I need a GP referral or a diagnosis to get help in Devon?›

No. You can contact anyone listed in our directory directly, without a GP referral 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, and look for someone in the directory whose listing says they work with children and teens.

Are there trichotillomania support groups in Devon?›

We haven’t found an in-person trichotillomania group in Devon yet. BFRB UK & Ireland runs free monthly online groups for adults, for under-18s, and for parents and loved ones. If you run a group in Devon, tell us and we’ll list it for free.

How common is hair pulling in Devon?›

About 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania, so roughly 25,000 people across Devon. It’s a recognised condition, not a bad habit, and it often starts between ages 10 and 13. Learn more in our complete guide to trichotillomania.

How to get in touch with a therapist

You can message anyone listed here directly, today. You don’t need a GP referral or a diagnosis first.

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.

Most practitioners in Devon work in Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay. Barnstaple is the main base in the north, and Newton Abbot, Totnes and Tavistock have smaller groups. Dartmoor, Torridge and the Exmoor edge have very few. Online sessions close that gap. UK registration isn’t split by county, so anyone listed can work with you online.

You can also refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies: TALKWORKS covers most of Devon, and NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies covers Plymouth. That route exists, and it often takes longer, usually without a choice of someone who understands hair pulling.

How to choose who to work with

People who pull find help from all kinds of practitioners: therapists, counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches. Different people find different things helpful. What matters is that you feel understood.

You can also check a clinician’s registration. Titles such as “clinical psychologist” and “counselling psychologist” are protected by law in the UK. The Health and Care Professions Council keeps a free register lookup for them. Many counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists belong to registers approved by the Professional Standards Authority, which runs its own practitioner check. Other good kinds of help aren’t regulated at all and belong to their own 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 Devon

Devon has no charity just for hair pulling or other body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs). The UK’s BFRB charity runs its groups online, and Devon Mind works across the county. These are the organisations most useful to people in Devon who pull.

BFRB UK & Ireland

A peer-led charitable organisation for hair pulling, skin picking and related behaviours. Its volunteers have BFRBs themselves. It runs free online groups for adults, for under-18s, and for parents and loved ones.

OCD Action

A national charity for OCD and related conditions, including BFRBs. Its website has plain-language information on hair pulling, and it runs a helpline and free online support groups.

Devon Mind

The county’s local Mind. It began in 1984 as the Plymouth & District Mind Association and became Devon Mind in 2019 to cover the whole county. It offers one-to-one support, courses and peer groups, with its main base in Plymouth.

Samaritans

Call 116 123 free, any time of day or night, if things ever feel too much to handle on your own.

Support groups in Devon

We haven’t found an in-person trichotillomania group in Devon yet. In a county this spread out, most people who pull connect with others online, and for something this private, many find that easier.

BFRB UK & Ireland adults group: a free peer-led group on Zoom, once a month, for anyone 18 or over who pulls or picks.
BFRB UK & Ireland under-18s group: a monthly Zoom group for children and teens aged 7 to 18.
BFRB UK & Ireland parents and loved ones group: a monthly Zoom group for anyone supporting someone who pulls.

For parents: our guide The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania helps you understand what your child is going through.

Do you run a Devon group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.

The Silence Before the Search

Most people who pull wait a long time before they tell anyone. Many wait years. Some never do.

Part of the reason is not knowing it has a name. Most people who pull have never knowingly met another person who does, so many grow up thinking they’re the only one. About 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania, yet it rarely comes up at school, at work or at the GP.

Shame keeps the silence going. People hide gaps with hats, fringes, make-up, false lashes or careful partings. They avoid swimming, windy days or the hairdresser. Every hidden gap makes it harder to say anything out loud.

When someone does speak up, the first reaction matters. A partner, parent or professional who has never heard of it may look shocked or say “just stop”. That reply can close the door for years.

Trichotillomania is not a bad habit, not attention-seeking, not self-harm and not a lack of willpower. It’s a recognised condition, listed in the DSM-5 and ICD-10. Searching for it, reading about it and finding out it has a name are all ways of breaking that silence.

About this page

Sources: Counselling Exeter, Sarah Lucas Counselling, Jane Meares Counselling, Restoration Counselling, Inertia Counselling Services and Psychology Today (session cost data); Health and Care Professions Council; Professional Standards Authority; BFRB UK & Ireland; OCD Action; Devon Mind; Samaritans; TALKWORKS (Devon Partnership NHS Trust); Devon Wildlife Trust; Wikipedia (Devon).

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 Devon therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?

Be found by people looking for help with hair pulling across Devon, in person or online.

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About Devon

Devon is England’s fourth-largest county by area, running from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. Exeter is its county town and Plymouth its largest city. Dartmoor National Park lies wholly within Devon, and Exmoor crosses over from Somerset. The county also gave its name to the Devonian period of geology.

Plymouth is a historic port on Plymouth Sound. Exeter grew from a Roman legionary fortress and is home to the University of Exeter. Torquay, Paignton and Brixham make up Torbay, the English Riviera. East Devon’s cliffs form the western end of the Jurassic Coast. In the north, Barnstaple is the main town, and the beaches at Woolacombe, Saunton and Croyde are among Britain’s main surfing spots.

Attractions in Devon

Devon pairs a medieval cathedral and the last castle built in England with a relocated lighthouse, a prehistoric cave and a railway that runs on river water.

Exeter Cathedral, Exeter

The present cathedral was completed around 1400, keeping the two massive Norman towers of the earlier church. With no central tower, it has the longest unbroken medieval stone vault in the world, about 96 metres. Inside are a minstrels’ gallery from around 1360 and an astronomical clock whose main dial dates from 1484.

Smeaton’s Tower, Plymouth Hoe

John Smeaton’s lighthouse warned ships off the Eddystone Rocks from 1759 until 1877, when the ledge beneath it began to erode. Its upper part was taken down and rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, opening to the public in 1884. Visitors can climb 93 steps to the lantern room for views over Plymouth Sound.

Kents Cavern, Torquay

A cave system in Devonian limestone on the edge of Torquay. A fragment of human upper jawbone found here in 1927 may be one of the oldest modern human fossils in north-west Europe. William Pengelly’s digs in the 1800s helped show how old humanity is. It has been a Scheduled Ancient Monument since 1957.

Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton

Edwin Lutyens designed this granite castle on the edge of Dartmoor for Julius Drewe, founder of the Home and Colonial Stores. Built between 1911 and 1930, it is the last castle built in England. It had electricity and lifts from the start, powered by turbines on the river below. The National Trust has owned it since 1974.

Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Lynton

This funicular links Lynmouth on the shore with Lynton, 500 feet up the cliff. It opened on Easter Monday 1890 and has run ever since. Water fills a tank under the top car until it outweighs the car below, so it needs no engine. It is the world’s highest and steepest working water-powered cliff railway.