EFT, NLP and Coaching for Trichotillomania: What to Expect

If you’ve been searching for help with hair pulling, you’ve probably come across EFT (tapping), NLP and trich coaches as well as therapists. They sound quite different from each other, and it can be hard to tell what you’d actually be signing up for.

This guide explains what each approach is, what a session is usually like, what the research says about EFT for trichotillomania and the others, and how to choose someone you can trust. Trichotillomania (trich) is a condition where people repeatedly pull out their own hair. It affects about 1 in 50 people, and it isn’t a bad habit or a lack of willpower.

What are EFT, NLP and BFRB coaching?

They are three different kinds of support, not three versions of one therapy. None is a talking therapy in the medical sense, and practitioners come from many backgrounds.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), often called tapping. You tap lightly with your fingertips on a set of points on your face, upper body and hands while you focus on a problem or feeling. It combines ideas from talking therapies with the idea of energy points from traditional Chinese medicine.

NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). A set of techniques about how the words you use and the pictures in your mind affect how you feel and act. An NLP practitioner helps you notice those patterns and practise new ones, often through guided imagination.

BFRB coaching. BFRB stands for body-focused repetitive behaviour: a group of conditions, including trich, skin picking and nail biting, where people repeatedly pull, pick or bite at their own body. A BFRB coach (sometimes called a trich or recovery coach) helps you set goals, try strategies and keep going week to week. Coaches may have had trich themselves, training in behavioural methods, or both.

Tapping, changing how you picture things, and working towards goals with a coach: three different kinds of session.

What happens in a session?

Sessions are usually one to one, in person or by video call, and there’s no single standard format for any of these approaches. Here is what you can often expect.

In an EFT session, you talk about what’s going on, for example the tension before you pull or the shame afterwards. You say a short phrase that names the problem and accepts yourself anyway while tapping the side of your hand, then tap through the other points in turn. You may rate how strong the feeling is before and after, and repeat the round until it eases.

In an NLP session, you talk through when and how you pull. The practitioner may guide you to picture a situation differently or rehearse a new response in your mind.

In a coaching session, you review the past week, look at what triggered pulling and what helped, and agree small steps for the week ahead. Many coaches use practical tools such as tracking, barriers and things to keep your hands busy.

You don’t have to show anyone your hair loss if you’d rather not.

What does the research say about EFT for trichotillomania?

No controlled trials have tested EFT, NLP or coaching for trichotillomania, as far as we could find in September 2026. That means there is no research evidence either way for trich specifically. Some people find these approaches helpful, and their experiences are real, but we can’t say how well they work for pulling or for whom.

Here’s what the wider research shows:

Approach	Research in trich	Research in other areas
EFT (tapping)	No controlled trials found	Studies mostly in stress, anxiety and PTSD. Researchers disagree about their quality
NLP	No controlled trials found	A 2012 review of 10 studies found little evidence of health benefits
BFRB coaching	No controlled trials found	Coaching often uses methods from therapies that have been studied
Habit Reversal Training	Many trials	The approach with the most research for trich

EFT. A 2023 review pooled six small trials of EFT for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder, which can follow a frightening event). It reported large improvements compared with no treatment and results similar to established therapies, while noting the trials were small and relied on people rating their own symptoms. In a 2024 commentary, three psychologists argued the review had serious weaknesses and questioned the scientific basis of tapping. So there is some research on EFT for stress-related problems, it is debated, and none of it is about hair pulling.

NLP. A 2012 systematic review (a study that gathers and weighs all the research on a question) found 10 studies of NLP for health problems and little evidence of benefit. The authors said this was mainly because the studies were few and weak, not proof that NLP doesn’t work.

Coaching. Coaching isn’t one method, so what matters is what your coach teaches. Many of the tools coaches use come from Habit Reversal Training (HRT), a behavioural therapy that teaches you to notice when you’re about to pull and do something else with your hands instead. HRT has more research behind it than any other approach for trich, and the UK’s NHS (National Health Service) recommends it.

Our guide to Habit Reversal Training explains the steps. For an overview of every option and the evidence behind each, see our guide to trichotillomania treatment.

Why might these approaches help some people?

Many people with trich pull more when they’re stressed or feeling bad about themselves, and shame often keeps the cycle going. An approach that helps you feel calmer, kinder towards yourself or more motivated may make urges easier to manage. Support itself matters too: the NHS notes that talking to others about trich helped some people pull less.

If you like tapping, you can combine it with Habit Reversal Training skills. Tapping points on your hands or collarbone can double as something to do with your hands when an urge builds; avoid points near your hairline and brows. Our guide on how to stop pulling hair has more practical strategies.

How do I choose someone?

Choose someone who understands trich, is clear about what they can and can’t offer, and is happy to answer your questions before you book. Whatever their approach, a good practitioner will welcome these questions:

How many people with trich or other BFRBs have you worked with?
What training do you have, and are you a member of a professional body? Ask which one, and check it yourself.
What does a typical session look like, and how many sessions do people usually have?
How will we know if it’s helping? Tracking your pulling gives you both something to go on.
Do you know about Habit Reversal Training, and are you happy for me to use it alongside your work?
What does it cost, and can I stop at any time? Clear pricing and no pressure to buy a long package up front are good signs.

Ask the same questions of anyone you’re thinking of working with, whatever their approach.

Be cautious if anyone promises your pulling will go away for good, guarantees results in a set number of sessions, tells you to stop medication or other treatment, or makes you feel ashamed. There’s no cure for trich, and a good practitioner will say so.

Our guide to questions to ask before you book has more detail. If you’re also weighing up hypnosis, our guide to hypnotherapy for trichotillomania covers it in the same way.

When should I get help?

Get support if pulling is upsetting you, taking up a lot of your time, or affecting your work, school, relationships or how you feel about yourself. You don’t need to wait until it’s “bad enough”, and you can choose whichever kind of support feels right to start with.

Everyone in our directory has told us they understand trichotillomania and already help people who pull, in person or online. You can search the directory. Our guide to finding someone who understands trich explains what to look for.

If you’re a parent looking for support for your child, start with The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania: understanding what your child is going through.

If you’re feeling very low or hopeless, please talk to someone today.

In an emergency, call 995 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) — 1767 (24h)
IMH Mental Health Helpline — 6389 2222

Questions people ask

Is EFT tapping the same as acupuncture?

No. EFT borrows the idea of points on the body from Chinese medicine, but there are no needles. You tap lightly on a few points on your face, upper body and hands with your fingertips while you talk or think about a problem. It shouldn’t hurt at all.

Can I do EFT tapping on my own?

Yes. EFT is often taught so people can use it between sessions or on their own. If you tap to calm down when an urge builds, choose points away from your hairline and brows, so your hands don’t end up near the hair you pull.

Can I see an EFT practitioner or coach alongside therapy?

Usually, yes. Many people use coaching or EFT for motivation or stress alongside therapy based on Habit Reversal Training. Tell each person what else you’re doing, so they can work with it rather than against it.

Can children see a trich coach or EFT practitioner?

Some practitioners work with children and teenagers, and others only work with adults. Ask what experience they have with young people, how they involve parents, and how they keep children safe. A child’s doctor should know about any support they’re getting.

Is NLP the same as hypnotherapy?

No, though they overlap. Some NLP practitioners use relaxation or trance-like techniques, and some hypnotherapists use NLP methods. NLP itself focuses on how the language and pictures in your mind shape how you feel and act.

How many sessions of EFT, NLP or coaching will I need?

There’s no standard number. Some practitioners offer single sessions and others sell packages over weeks or months. Ask before you start how long they usually work with someone, how you’ll both judge progress, and whether you can stop at any time.