Trichotillomania Hypnotherapy in London & Online

Trichotillomania is a condition involving repeated hair pulling that can cause hair loss and distress. It can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard or other body hair. Some people feel a strong urge to pull; others notice only after their hand has already reached their hair.

Compulsive hair pulling is more than a habit you should simply be able to stop. It can involve strong urges, automatic movements and temporary relief that makes the behaviour difficult to change. Understanding when and how it happens is more useful than blaming yourself for a lack of willpower.

Hair pulling can happen automatically while you read, watch television, use your phone or concentrate on work. Your hand can reach your hair before you become aware of it. Treatment can focus on noticing that movement earlier and practising another response.

Pulling can bring a brief feeling of relief or a particular sensation you find satisfying. That immediate reward can make the urge return, even when you feel upset afterwards. We can explore the sensation or relief you are seeking and find ways to respond without pulling.

Yes, stress and anxiety can increase pulling for some people. Others pull more when bored, tired or absorbed in an activity. We look at your own triggers rather than assuming that every episode is caused by anxiety.

Trichotillomania is classified among obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, but it is a distinct condition. Hair pulling often involves urges and sensory rewards rather than a ritual performed to prevent a feared event. The distinction matters because treatment should address the pulling itself.

Yes. Hair pulling can affect these areas as well as the scalp and other body hair. Tell me which areas you pull from, when it happens and whether you use your fingers or tools, so we can discuss the specific behaviour you want to change.

You can enquire without a formal diagnosis. If you have unexplained hair loss, scalp changes or uncertainty about the cause, a GP can assess it. A medical assessment can also help distinguish hair pulling from other causes of hair loss.

Hypnotherapy can be used to address the urges, automatic hand movements and emotional triggers involved in hair pulling. In sessions, we can rehearse noticing the urge and responding differently, while working on stress or self-criticism that adds to the difficulty. Treatment is focused on reducing pulling and helping you feel more able to manage the urge.

The subconscious refers here to reactions and habits that happen automatically. In hypnosis, focused attention and therapeutic suggestions can be used to rehearse interrupting the movement towards your hair and choosing a different action. This is more specific than simply telling yourself to stop pulling.

Techniques can include therapeutic suggestions, mental rehearsal, relaxation and noticing the early signs of an urge. For example, you might rehearse keeping your hands resting together while watching television, or using a suitable object instead of searching through your hair. We choose approaches around what actually happens for you.

Habit reversal training teaches you to notice pulling and its warning signs, then use a competing action that makes pulling harder, such as gently closing your hands. It also looks at situations that encourage pulling. The NHS describes CBT with habit reversal training as a usual treatment for trichotillomania.

Research specifically on hypnosis for hair pulling is limited; it does not establish a reliable success rate. The stronger evidence is for behavioural treatment involving habit reversal. A meta-analysis of randomised treatment trials found substantial benefits from behavioural therapy. Hypnosis can be discussed as additional support for urges, stress and practising different responses.

Yes, it can be considered alongside CBT or specialist treatment for body-focused repetitive behaviours. Tell me what support you already receive. We can discuss how hypnosis would fit with that work, rather than giving you conflicting instructions.

No. We can start with when you pull now, what you notice before it happens and what the pulling does for you. There does not have to be one hidden event behind it. Current triggers and responses give us practical things to address.

No. Wanting to stop is important, but repeatedly telling yourself to try harder can leave you frustrated. The work focuses on earlier awareness, a different response to the urge and repeated practice, rather than expecting determination alone to override an automatic behaviour.

Yes, this is a useful situation to address specifically. We can rehearse settling down with your hands occupied or resting away from your hair, and noticing the first movement towards pulling. Small changes to where you sit and what is within reach can support that practice.

We can focus on the moments when concentration and pulling happen together. In hypnosis, you can rehearse working with your hands away from your hair and responding to an urge without losing your place. We can also look at breaks and practical reminders that suit your routine.

This can be part of treatment. Some people search for a hair that feels coarse, uneven or different, and find it difficult to leave it alone. We can address the urge to keep checking and rehearse leaving the sensation unfinished without pulling the hair out.

Hypnosis can be used to practise allowing the urge to rise and pass without acting on it. Relaxation and a competing action can help you respond earlier, rather than waiting until the tension feels unbearable. We explore what helps you personally, including when pulling is driven by sensation rather than tension.

Yes. We can address harsh self-criticism, embarrassment and the fear of someone noticing hair loss. Reducing shame makes it easier to talk honestly about pulling and seek support. You do not need to hide the extent of the problem from me.

Hypnotherapy does not directly stimulate hair growth. Reducing pulling gives the affected area a chance to recover, but regrowth depends on the condition of the follicles and other factors. A GP or dermatologist can assess persistent bald patches or skin damage.

An episode does not erase the progress you have made. We look at what happened before it, whether you noticed the urge earlier and what needs adjusting. Learning how to respond after a difficult day is part of maintaining improvement.

If you swallow hair, tell your GP because it can collect in the digestive system and cause serious problems. Seek prompt medical advice for abdominal pain, vomiting or other concerning symptoms. Sore, bleeding or infected skin also needs medical attention alongside help with the pulling. The NHS hair pulling guidance explains these risks.

We talk about when you pull, the areas affected, urges or sensations you notice, and what you have already tried. We agree what to focus on first. The appointment includes hypnosis as well as this discussion, so treatment begins in the first session.

This depends on how often you pull, how automatic it is and how you respond to treatment. We agree an initial plan and review it together. We can track changes in the frequency of pulling, time spent pulling and your ability to notice and respond to urges.

Look for recognised hypnotherapy qualifications, professional registration and experience with hair pulling. Ask how treatment is tailored to your symptoms and how progress is reviewed. I hold the HPD and Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice, and have worked in hypnotherapy since 2003. You can read more about my training and approach on my About page.

Yes. I offer one-to-one appointments at City Hypnotherapy Centre, Longcroft House, 2–8 Victoria Avenue, London EC2M 4NS, near Liverpool Street. Contact me to discuss an appointment.

Yes. I offer appointments by Zoom as well as in London. You need a quiet, private space, a reliable internet connection and a comfortable seat. We can discuss the pulling and use hypnosis remotely.

You can find current session fees on my prices and appointments page. Contact me if you would like to discuss the approach before booking.

We can agree a simple way to notice pulling, identify high-risk situations and practise an alternative hand movement or activity. The aim is useful information and repetition, rather than criticising yourself for every urge. Any self-hypnosis practice should support those specific goals.

Use my contact form or call 07973 896907. Tell me a little about the pulling and whether you prefer London or online appointments. If you are enquiring for a child or teenager, include their age so we can discuss suitability.