Trichotillomania Support in New Zealand
Find a therapist in New Zealand who understands trichotillomania. Whether you pull your own hair or you’re supporting a child or someone you love, search by town or city for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in New Zealand.
Find a therapist for trichotillomania in New Zealand
Most therapists have never knowingly worked with someone who pulls their hair. It isn’t something they learn about in training, so many people end up explaining their own condition to a professional who has never heard of it. That’s the reason this directory exists: everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling and already help people who pull.
You’ll find therapists, counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches here. Each listing explains how that person works, whether they see people in person, online or both, and what they charge. You can search anywhere from Northland to Southland, or work with someone online from home.
We’re building the directory for New Zealand.
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 New Zealand
Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in New Zealand
Find a TherapistHow do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in New Zealand?›
Type your town or city into the search at the top of this page, or choose Online. Everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling and already help people who pull. You can message them directly through their listing.
Can I have sessions online from anywhere in New Zealand?›
Yes. Registered psychologists and psychotherapists can work with you online wherever you live in New Zealand, and so can hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches. Each listing says whether that person works in person, online or both.
How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in New Zealand?›
Most private sessions cost between NZ$120 and NZ$250, and many sit around NZ$160 to NZ$200. Prices tend to be higher in Auckland. Every listing shows its own prices, and many people offer a free first call.
What kinds of help are there for hair pulling?›
People listed here include therapists, counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners, and BFRB coaches. Different people find different things helpful. What they share is that they understand hair pulling.
Do I need a GP referral or a diagnosis?›
No. You can contact anyone listed directly, without a doctor’s note or a diagnosis. Just send a message through their listing to start.
My child pulls their hair. What do I do first?›
Stay steady and don’t tell them off, because that reliably makes 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 New Zealand?›
We haven’t found an in-person group just for hair pulling in New Zealand yet. You can join online groups through the International OCD Foundation or post in the BFRB Community on HealthUnlocked. If you run a group, tell us and we’ll list it for free.
How common is hair pulling in New Zealand?›
About 1 in 50 people pull their hair, which could mean 50,000 to 100,000 New Zealanders. It’s a body-focused repetitive behaviour recognised in the DSM-5 and ICD-10, and it usually starts around ages 10 to 13. It isn’t a bad habit, attention-seeking, self-harm or a lack of willpower. There’s more in our complete guide to trichotillomania.
Can I get help through the public health system in New Zealand?›
Many general practices offer short, free sessions with a health improvement practitioner if you’re enrolled there. Waits for longer-term public support are often long, and you usually can’t choose someone who understands hair pulling.
How to get in touch with a therapist
You can message anyone listed right now. You don’t need a doctor’s note or a diagnosis. Every listing has a private contact form, and most explain how the person works, what sessions cost and whether they offer a free first call.
New Zealand has one national register for each regulated profession, so a registered psychologist or psychotherapist can see you online wherever you live, from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t registered by the state, so they can work with people online anywhere in the country too. That matters when so much of New Zealand is a long drive from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
What therapy costs in New Zealand
Most private sessions in New Zealand cost between NZ$120 and NZ$250, and many sit around NZ$160 to NZ$200. Prices tend to run higher in Auckland. Every listing shows its own prices, so there are no surprises.
Some health insurance policies pay part of the cost for some practitioner types, so it’s worth asking your insurer and the person you contact. Many people listed also offer a free first call, so you can see whether it feels right before you pay anything.
How to check someone is qualified
Some titles are protected by law in New Zealand. Only people registered with the Psychologists Board can call themselves a psychologist, and only people registered with the Psychotherapists Board can call themselves a psychotherapist, which isn’t the case in Australia or the UK. For extra reassurance, you can check the free public registers of the Psychologists Board, the Psychotherapists Board and, for psychiatrists, the Medical Council.
Many good kinds of help aren’t regulated by the state at all. “Counsellor” isn’t a protected title, and many counsellors choose to join the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches belong to their own associations too.
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?”
Charities and groups in New Zealand
New Zealand has no charity just for hair pulling or other body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs). These are the organisations most useful to people who pull and their whānau.
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
The main international home for hair pulling and skin picking support since the TLC Foundation for BFRBs closed at the end of 2025. It has plain guides, online talks and a list of support groups you can join from New Zealand.
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
A national charity with clear information on finding support in Aotearoa, plus a list of free community support groups.
Anxiety New Zealand Trust
Support for anxiety, OCD and related experiences, for you and your family. Its 0800 ANXIETY helpline (0800 269 4389) is free and open day and night.
Youthline
Free support for young people aged 12 to 24, any time. Call 0800 376 633, text 234 or use webchat.
1737 — Need to talk?
Free call or text 1737, 24 hours a day, to reach a trained counsellor. If someone is in immediate danger, call 111.
Support groups in New Zealand
Talking to other people who pull can make a big difference. Right now, most groups meet online, and we haven’t found an in-person group just for hair pulling in New Zealand yet.
- IOCDF support groups: a searchable list of hair pulling groups. Many meet online, mostly on US time, so check what the start time is here.
- BFRB Community on HealthUnlocked: an online forum run with the IOCDF, where you can read and post at any hour.
Do you run a group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.
For parents: The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania helps you understand what your child is going through.
Health NZ and other free options
Many general practices now have a free health improvement practitioner or health coach you can see, often the same day, if you’re enrolled there. Sessions are short, waits for longer-term public support are often long, and you usually can’t choose someone who understands hair pulling. Many people contact someone in the directory while they wait.
About this page
Sources: International OCD Foundation; Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand; Anxiety New Zealand Trust; Youthline; 1737 (Whakarongorau Aotearoa); New Zealand Psychologists Board; Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand; Medical Council of New Zealand; New Zealand Association of Counsellors; Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Access and Choice); TherapyRoute New Zealand cost guides (2025–2026) and published fees from New Zealand private practices.
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 New Zealand therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?
Be found by people looking for help with hair pulling across New Zealand, in person or online.