Colleen McCormick

Hair pulling is not a bad habit, a lack of willpower, or something you should feel ashamed of. I approach trichotillomania with curiosity and compassion, helping you understand your unique pulling patterns without criticism or blame. We begin by looking closely at when, where, and how pulling occurs. Together, we identify the sensory experiences, thoughts, emotions, urges, environments, and consequences that may contribute to focused or automatic pulling. Treatment is individualized and may incorporate Habit Reversal Training (HRT), functional assessment, strategies informed by the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Depending on your needs, we may work on increasing awareness, developing competing responses, changing environmental triggers, meeting sensory needs in safer ways, and responding differently to urges. We will also address the shame, frustration, avoidance, or loss of confidence that can accompany trichotillomania. Progress is not defined by perfection. The goal is to increase your awareness and choices, reduce the distress and disruption caused by pulling, and help you participate more fully in the life you want. When working with children or adolescents, I can involve parents in ways that are supportive rather than punitive. Parents learn how to encourage skill use, reduce shame and conflict, and respond to pulling without increasing pressure.

I’m Colleen McCormick and the founder of Therapeutic & Behavioral Services. As a Behavior Analyst, I provide individualized online behavioral therapy to children, adolescents, and adults throughout Connecticut. I specialize in helping people understand and change patterns that feel difficult to control, including trichotillomania and other body-focused repetitive behaviors, OCD, anxiety, ADHD, and tics. My style is warm, collaborative, practical, and free of judgment. Therapy with me is active and personalized. We will do more than talk about the problem—we will develop concrete strategies that fit your needs, routines, and real-life situations. My goal is to help you build a toolbox of skills you can confidently use on your own.

• Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis & Special Education
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
• Licensed Behavior Analyst in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia
• Ongoing professional education in evidence-based treatment for BFRBs, OCD-related conditions, anxiety, and tics

I provide secure telehealth appointments for clients located in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia, making treatment accessible from the comfort and privacy of home. Sessions are interactive, practical, and tailored to the individual—there is no one-size-fits-all plan. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can discuss your concerns, answer questions, and determine whether my services are a good fit. I welcome clients who are seeking help for the first time as well as those who have tried general therapy but have not yet received treatment specifically tailored to hair pulling or other BFRBs.