Trichotillomania Support in Northland
Find a therapist in Northland 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 Kaitaia to Mangawhai, for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in Northland.
Find a therapist for trichotillomania in Northland
Northland stretches about 265 km, from Cape Reinga to the edge of Auckland. Whangārei is its only city, and Kaitaia is more than two hours’ drive north of it. Few therapists anywhere learn about hair pulling in training, so finding one nearby is harder still. Connecting you with people who already understand it is the reason this directory exists.
Everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling and already help people who pull. Each listing shows how the person works, whether they see people in person, online or both, and what they charge. Each one has a private contact form.
The directory includes psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, CBT therapists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners, and BFRB coaches. BFRB stands for body-focused repetitive behaviour, the group that includes hair pulling and skin picking. If you live up the Aupōuri Peninsula or around the Hokianga, see who works online across Northland.
We’re building the Northland directory.
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 Northland
Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in Northland
Find a TherapistHow do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in Northland?›
Search the directory by city or town, such as Whangārei, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Dargaville, Kaikohe or Paihia. Every listing shows 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 Northland?›
Yes. Many people listed work online with clients anywhere in Northland, from Houhora to Mangawhai. Psychologists and psychotherapists hold national registration, so they can work with you from any part of New Zealand. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t tied to a region.
How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in Northland?›
Private sessions in Northland usually cost NZ$120 to $220, and around $180 to $200 is typical with a psychologist. Clinical psychologists charge the most, and counsellors often charge less. Every listing shows its own prices, and many offer a free first call. Some private health insurance policies pay part of the cost for some practitioner types.
What kinds of help are there for hair pulling in Northland?›
People who pull work with psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, CBT therapists, hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners, occupational therapists 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 Northland?›
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, then look for someone in the directory whose listing says they work with children and teens.
Are there trichotillomania support groups in Northland?›
Not in person that we know of. The IOCDF lists online BFRB groups for people who pull or pick, and the Mental Health Foundation keeps a directory of community groups. If you run a group in Northland, tell us and we’ll list it for free.
How common is hair pulling in Northland?›
About 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania, so nearly 4,000 people across Northland. It’s a recognised condition, not a bad habit, and it usually 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 today. You don’t need a GP referral or a diagnosis.
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 Northland work in Whangārei, with smaller numbers in Kerikeri and around the Bay of Islands. Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Dargaville and the Hokianga have far fewer. Online sessions close that gap.
Psychologists and psychotherapists in New Zealand hold national registration. That means you can also work online with someone based in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t registered by the state, so where they live doesn’t limit who they see. You can search the directory for Northland by town or online.
Many Northland GP practices also offer free short sessions through Te Tumu Waiora, and GPs can refer you on to public mental health services. That route exists, but longer-term public help often means a wait, usually without a choice of someone who understands hair pulling.
How to choose who to work with
People who pull find help from many directions: psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners, occupational therapists and coaches. Different people find different things helpful.
If you’d like to check a registered professional, New Zealand has free public registers. Only people registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board can call themselves a psychologist. You can look them up on the Psychologists Board register. “Psychotherapist” is protected in the same way, through the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand. Counselling isn’t regulated by the government, and many counsellors join the New Zealand Association of Counsellors instead. Hypnotherapists, EFT and NLP practitioners and coaches belong to their own associations.
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 Northland
Northland has no charity just for hair pulling, and neither does New Zealand as a whole. These organisations can help.
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
The main international home for BFRB support since the TLC Foundation for BFRBs wound down. Its directory lists online support groups for hair pulling and skin picking.
Anxiety New Zealand Trust
A charity for people living with anxiety, OCD and related experiences, and their whānau. Its free 0800 ANXIETY helpline (0800 269 4389) is open day and night.
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
A national charity with plain-language information, a list of free helplines and a directory of community groups around the country.
Youthline
Free, private support for young people and anyone supporting them, day or night. Call 0800 376 633 or text 234.
1737 Need to talk?
Free call or text 1737 at any time to talk with a trained counsellor if things ever feel too much to handle on your own.
Support groups in Northland
We don’t know of any in-person trich groups in Northland right now, and they’re rare across New Zealand. Online groups fill that gap, and for something this private, many people find them easier.
- IOCDF online BFRB groups: peer groups on Zoom for anyone who pulls or picks, listed on the IOCDF support group directory. Many run from overseas, so check the start time in New Zealand.
- Community groups: the Mental Health Foundation lists mental health groups around New Zealand in its groups directory.
For parents: watching your child pull is hard. The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania helps you understand what your child is going through.
Do you run a Northland group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.
The Sensory Side of Pulling
For many people, pulling is as much about touch and feel as it is about stress. Knowing that can make the urge feel less baffling.
It often starts with searching. Fingers move through the hair looking for one that feels different: coarser, kinked, shorter or out of place. Finding it can bring a sharp sense of “that one”.
The pull itself matters too. Some people notice the small tug at the root, or the moment the hair comes free. Afterwards, many look closely at the hair, roll it between their fingers, run it across their lips or check the root.
This can happen with full attention, or almost without noticing. It often shows up in still moments when the hands are free: reading, driving, watching TV or scrolling on a phone.
None of this is strange, and none of it says anything bad about you. Trichotillomania is a recognised body-focused repetitive behaviour. It isn’t a bad habit, attention-seeking, self-harm or a lack of willpower. Many people feel less alone simply learning that others search for the same kind of hair.
About this page
Sources: Stats NZ (2023 Census population and Māori descent); New Zealand Psychologists Board; Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand; New Zealand Association of Counsellors; TherapyRoute, Lifetimes NZ and Whangārei practice fee listings (session cost data); Health NZ (Te Tumu Waiora in Northland); Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand; International OCD Foundation (including its BFRB support group listings); Anxiety New Zealand Trust; Youthline; 1737 Need to talk?.
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 Northland therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?
Be found by people looking for help with hair pulling across Northland, in person or online.
About Northland
Northland, or Te Tai Tokerau, is New Zealand’s northernmost region, home to about 194,000 people at the 2023 Census. Nearly 40 per cent of Northlanders are of Māori descent. The region is known for its warm climate, and runs up a narrow peninsula to Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island.
Whangārei is the only city and the seat of the regional council. Its Town Basin sits at the head of the Whangārei Harbour. Kerikeri, the largest town, grew around a mission station founded in 1819. Paihia and Russell face each other across the Bay of Islands, with its 144 islands. Kaitaia is the main town of the Far North, near Ninety Mile Beach. Dargaville sits on the Northern Wairoa River on the Kauri Coast. Off the Tutukākā Coast, the Poor Knights Islands have been a marine reserve since 1981.
Attractions in Northland
Northland’s sights run from the place New Zealand’s founding treaty was signed to the country’s oldest buildings, its largest kauri and the lighthouse at the top of the North Island.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed here on 6 February 1840, in the grounds of British Resident James Busby’s house. The Treaty House was pre-cut in Sydney and put up in 1834. Te Whare Rūnanga, the carved meeting house, and the 35-metre waka taua Ngātokimatawhaorua were both made for the 1940 centenary.
Cape Reinga Lighthouse, Te Rerenga Wairua
The lighthouse stands at the tip of the Aupōuri Peninsula, above the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. First lit in May 1941, it was the last watched lighthouse built in New Zealand. For Māori, Te Rerenga Wairua is where spirits leave the land on their journey to Hawaiki.
Kerikeri Mission Station, Kerikeri
Two of New Zealand’s oldest buildings stand side by side on the Kerikeri River. Kemp House, finished in 1822, is the country’s oldest surviving building. The Stone Store beside it was built between 1832 and 1836 to a design by John Hobbs, and is New Zealand’s oldest stone building.
Tāne Mahuta, Waipoua Forest
New Zealand’s largest known living kauri stands in Waipoua Forest, north of Dargaville on the Kauri Coast. It is named after Tāne, the Māori god of the forest, and its age is estimated at 1,250 to 2,500 years. Te Matua Ngahere, a shorter kauri with a girth of more than 16 metres, grows nearby.
Hundertwasser Art Centre, Whangārei
Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the Austrian artist who lived near Kawakawa, drew the design in 1993 for a site on the Town Basin. It opened on 20 February 2022, with a forested roof and his trademark tiles and columns. Inside is a gallery of his work and the Wairau Māori Art Gallery, New Zealand’s first public gallery for contemporary Māori art.