Trichotillomania Support in North Dakota

Find a therapist in North Dakota who understands trichotillomania. Whether you pull your own hair or you’re supporting a child or someone you love, search by city or town, from Fargo to Bismarck, for someone near you, or choose Online to see who works with people anywhere in North Dakota.

Find a therapist for trichotillomania in North Dakota

Forty-six of North Dakota’s 53 counties are short of mental health professionals, and most practitioners work in Fargo, Bismarck or Grand Forks. Connecting you with people who already understand hair pulling, in person or online, is the reason this directory exists.

The directory includes therapists, counselors, psychologists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Every listing explains how that person works, whether they see people in person, online or both, and what they charge. Each one has a private contact form. New people join regularly.

If you live in a small town or out west, you can see who works online across North Dakota.

Open the full directory →

Frequently Asked Questions about Trichotillomania in North Dakota

Find a Therapist

How do I find a trichotillomania therapist near me in North Dakota?›

Search the directory by town or city. In-person options are mostly in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot. Everyone listed has told us they understand hair pulling, and each listing shows how they work, what they charge and how to get in touch.

Can I have sessions online from anywhere in North Dakota?›

Yes. Online sessions work anywhere with a steady internet connection. Psychologists in other member states can work with you online. Most counselors still need a North Dakota license. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches don’t. Choose Online in the search to see who works with people in North Dakota.

How much does trichotillomania therapy cost in North Dakota?›

Most private sessions in North Dakota cost $145 to $230. Every listing shows its own prices. Some insurance plans pay part of the cost for some types of practitioner, and many people offer a free first call.

What kinds of help are there for hair pulling in North Dakota?›

People work with therapists, counselors, psychologists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Different people find different things helpful. What everyone in this directory has in common is that they understand hair pulling.

Do I need a doctor’s note or a diagnosis to get help in North Dakota?›

No. You can contact anyone listed in our directory directly, without a doctor’s note 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 whose listing says they work with children and teens.

Are there trichotillomania support groups in North Dakota?›

We haven’t found an in-person group in North Dakota yet. North Dakotans can join online groups through the International OCD Foundation’s listings and BFRB Changemakers. NAMI North Dakota runs broader groups around the state. If you run a group, tell us and we’ll list it.

How common is hair pulling in North Dakota?›

About 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania, so around 16,000 North Dakotans. It often starts between ages 10 and 13, and most people who pull have never knowingly met someone else who does. Learn more in our complete guide to trichotillomania.

How to get in touch with a therapist

You can contact anyone listed right now. You don’t need a doctor’s note 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.

In person, most options are in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot. In the oil country around Williston, on the reservations and in farm towns across the state, the nearest practitioner may be a long drive away. Online sessions save that drive, and they don’t get canceled when a blizzard closes the interstate.

North Dakota has joined an agreement that lets licensed psychologists from other member states work with you online. It has also signed a matching agreement for counselors, but that isn’t up and running here yet. Hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners and coaches aren’t bound by these licensing rules.

You can also start through your insurance, Medicaid or one of the state’s regional human service centers. That route exists, but it often takes longer.

How to choose who to work with

People who pull find help from many kinds of practitioners: therapists, counselors, psychologists, hypnotherapists, EFT practitioners, NLP practitioners and coaches. Different people find different things helpful. What matters most to many people is feeling understood.

If you’d like to check a licensed clinician, North Dakota’s boards make it free. The State Board of Psychologist Examiners has a licensee search for psychologists. The Board of Counselor Examiners publishes a list of licensed counselors (LAPC, LPC and LPCC). “Psychologist” is a protected title in North Dakota. Many other good kinds of help, like hypnotherapy, EFT and coaching, aren’t licensed by the state. They have their own professional associations instead.

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 North Dakota

North Dakota has no charity just for hair pulling or other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). These organizations can still help, and all of them work statewide or online.

International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)

The main US home for BFRB support, including trichotillomania. Its Find Help directory lists hair pulling support groups, many of which meet online.

BFRB Changemakers

A US nonprofit focused on hair pulling, skin picking and related behaviors. It runs free online peer groups for adults.

NAMI North Dakota

The state branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It has local affiliates in cities including Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Dickinson and Williston. Its free groups aren’t about hair pulling, but they welcome anyone.

Mental Health America of North Dakota

A Bismarck-based nonprofit run by people with lived experience. It has supported North Dakotans with mental health questions since 1952, and its help line can point you to services near you.

FirstLink

A Fargo nonprofit that answers 211 for the whole state. Dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 to find local services, or just to talk.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If things ever feel too much to handle on your own, call or text 988, any time. In North Dakota, FirstLink answers these calls.

Support groups in North Dakota

We haven’t found an in-person trichotillomania group in North Dakota yet. Most North Dakotans who pull connect with others online, and for something this private, many find that easier.

IOCDF hair pulling groups: the IOCDF’s Find Help directory lists groups for people who pull, many meeting by video. Southwest North Dakota runs on Mountain time, so check each group’s start time against yours.
BFRB Changemakers: free online peer groups for adults who pull or pick.
NAMI North Dakota: free peer groups for general mental health support, in person in several cities and online.

For parents: The Parent’s Guide to Trichotillomania helps you understand what your child is going through.

Do you run a North Dakota group? Tell us and we’ll list it for free.

Understanding hair pulling: the hidden weight of hiding it

Most people who pull spend a lot of energy hiding it. They style their hair to cover thin patches. They wear hats, draw in eyebrows or skip swimming. Some avoid the hairdresser for years. Many have never told a single person.

In a small town, where people know your family and see you at church, school and the grocery store, hiding can feel even more necessary. The fear isn’t only being seen. It’s being talked about.

Hiding takes a toll of its own. It means checking mirrors, planning around wind and rain, and turning down things you’d enjoy. Over time, the secrecy can weigh more than the pulling itself. It can also keep people from asking for help, sometimes for decades.

None of this means the person has done something wrong. Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behavior, recognized in the DSM-5 and the ICD-10 (F63.3). It usually starts around ages 10 to 13, though it can begin at any age. It isn’t a bad habit, attention-seeking, self-harm or a lack of willpower. Shame and hiding are part of how the condition works, not a sign of weakness. Talking to one person who understands can make the load lighter.

About this page

Sources: PSYPACT Commission; Counseling Compact Commission; North Dakota Legislative Assembly (SB 2187); North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners; North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners; North Dakota KIDS COUNT and North Dakota Health and Human Services (shortage area data); SimplePractice and TherapyExplained therapy cost data; International OCD Foundation; BFRB Changemakers; NAMI North Dakota; Mental Health America of North Dakota; FirstLink; 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; U.S. Census Bureau.

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 North Dakota therapist or practitioner who works with trichotillomania?

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About North Dakota

North Dakota became the 39th state in 1889 and has about 800,000 people. The Red River of the North forms its eastern border with Minnesota. Its valley was once the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz, and its farmland is famously flat. In the west, the Little Missouri River cuts through the badlands. The Missouri River crosses the middle of the state and widens into Lake Sakakawea behind Garrison Dam.

Fargo, the largest city, is home to North Dakota State University. Bismarck, the capital, faces Mandan across the Missouri. Grand Forks has the University of North Dakota. Minot is home to Minot Air Force Base. Williston sits at the center of the Bakken oil region.

Attractions in North Dakota

North Dakota’s landmarks tell its story: ranching in the badlands, Nordic settlers on the prairie and a border shared in peace.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Medora)

This park protects badlands along the Little Missouri River. Theodore Roosevelt first came here in 1883 to hunt bison and went on to run two cattle ranches in the area. His Maltese Cross Cabin stands by the South Unit visitor center. Bison and wild horses roam the park, which became a national park in 1978.

International Peace Garden (near Dunseith)

This garden straddles the border with Manitoba in the Turtle Mountains. About 50,000 people came to its dedication on July 14, 1932. It covers more than 2,300 acres. A memorial holds steel girders from the World Trade Center, and a large floral clock is replanted with flowers every year.

North Dakota State Capitol (Bismarck)

The first capitol burned on December 28, 1930. Its replacement, a 19-story Art Deco tower, was finished in 1934 during the Great Depression. It is still the tallest building in the state, earning it the nickname “Skyscraper on the Prairie.” An observation deck sits on the 18th floor.

Scandinavian Heritage Park (Minot)

This 14-acre park honors all five Nordic countries. Its centerpiece is a full-size replica of Norway’s Gol Stave Church, dedicated in 2000. The Sigdal House, a log home built in Norway in 1771, was taken apart and rebuilt here in 1991. A giant Swedish Dala horse stands nearby.

Fargo Theatre (Fargo)

This downtown cinema opened on March 15, 1926, as a movie and vaudeville house. It got an Art Deco makeover in 1937 and was restored to that look in 1999. Its Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ is still played for silent films. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.