Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Austin (BFRB)
Support for Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, and Nail Biting
What Are BFRBs?
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) are more than just habits—they’re patterns like hair pulling, skin picking, or nail biting that can feel impossible to control. In a vibrant, busy city like Austin, where stress, stimulation, and pressure to “keep up” are everywhere, these behaviors can take a serious toll.
Whether you’re working in tech downtown, balancing school at UT, performing in Austin’s creative scene, or raising a family in the suburbs, BFRBs can creep into daily life—often in moments of stress, boredom, or overwhelm.
Why BFRBs Hurt More Than Just the Body
Living with a BFRB in Austin might mean:
Avoiding concerts at Zilker Park or swimming at Barton Springs because you’re self-conscious about bald spots, scars, or scabs.
Feeling embarrassed during team meetings in Austin’s fast-paced work culture when you catch yourself biting nails or picking skin.
Hiding behaviors from friends when you’re out at coffee shops on South Congress or brunch in East Austin.
These struggles don’t make you weak—they mean your nervous system is looking for a way to cope. Therapy can help you understand why it’s happening and find healthier, more compassionate ways forward.
Types of BFRBs We Work With
Hair pulling (Trichotillomania)
Skin picking (Excoriation disorder / dermatillomania)
Nail biting or chewing
Cheek, tongue, or lip biting
Other repetitive behaviors
How Therapy Helps With BFRBs
Our work together focuses on more than stopping the behavior. In BFRB therapy, we explore:
What triggers your BFRB (stress at work on Congress Ave, sensory overload at ACL, boredom during long commutes).
How your body and brain are using the behavior as self-soothing.
Practical tools like Habit Reversal Training (HRT), CBT, and mindfulness.
Self-compassion practices so you stop beating yourself up.
Systems that work for your lifestyle—whether that’s high-energy city life or quiet routines at home.
BFRB Therapy in Austin: Our Approach
Austin is a city that celebrates individuality, creativity, and authenticity. My approach to BFRB therapy reflects that spirit. You won’t be asked to hide who you are—you’ll be encouraged to explore your behaviors with curiosity instead of shame.
Sessions are available virtually across Texas.
What to Expect in Sessions
A safe, non-judgmental space where you can talk openly.
Gentle exploration of what your BFRB provides—focus, relief, distraction.
Tools you can begin practicing right away.
An approach rooted in Austin’s values: authenticity, compassion, and growth.
Start BFRB Counseling in Austin Today
If you’re tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of pulling, picking, or biting, you don’t have to go through it alone. Austin is a city full of support and possibility—and your mental health deserves the same attention and care that this community puts into its music, food, and creativity.
Ready to take the first step? Reach out today to schedule BFRB therapy in Austin and begin your path toward freedom and self-acceptance.
Schedule a Counseling Session or Ask a Question
All sessions are held virtually and are available to adults and couples living anywhere in Texas. Not located in Texas? Feel free to reach out — I’m happy to connect you with referrals in your area.