Trichotillomania Support in Surrey

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. Feeling understood matters more than any label.

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.

There’s more in our guide to how to talk to someone who can help.

Surrey has no charity just for hair pulling or other body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs). The UK’s BFRB charity runs its groups online. Locally, Surrey charities run free wellbeing support, and the county has its own 24-hour crisis line.

We haven’t found an in-person trichotillomania group in Surrey yet. Most people here 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 Surrey group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.

For many people, hair pulling is closely tied to touch. The pull often starts with a feeling, not a thought.

Some people describe an itch, a prickle or a tingle on the scalp that only eases when a hair comes out. Others hunt for hairs that feel different under the fingertips: coarse, kinked, wiry or thicker than the rest. Eyebrows and lashes can draw the same attention, often at night or in front of a mirror.

The moment of pulling can matter too. Some people notice a small, sharp sensation at the root, or the texture of the hair as it slides between their fingers. Many then roll it, stroke it or look closely at the root. These are common parts of the pattern, even though most people assume they’re alone in doing them.

The setting plays a part. Pulling often shows up when the senses are under-occupied, such as reading, studying or lying in bed. It can also show up when they’re overloaded, after a noisy, crowded or stressful day.

Trichotillomania is not a bad habit, not attention-seeking, not self-harm and not a lack of willpower. It’s a recognised condition, and the sensory pull is part of how it works. Being able to describe it, such as “I look for hairs that feel rough”, gives the person you contact a clearer picture.