Dermatillomania Therapy in NYC (skin picking)

I am sure you have heard it before: “why can’t you just stop picking your skin?”

The experience of dermatillomania is often misunderstood, which typically leads to feeling shame and embarrassment

If you’re searching for dermatillomania treatment in NYC or support for skin picking disorder, you may already know how isolating and misunderstood this struggle can feel. Skin picking, also known as dermatillomania or excoriation disorder, often happens outside of awareness — and even when you notice the urge, stopping can feel nearly impossible.

I know you have you been there before…

You are sitting in a meeting and all of a sudden your thumb is starting to bleed… before that moment if felt so unconscious

You are watching a TV show with your friend and suddenly they ask why you are picking the skin on your feet… you feel a bit violated and embarrassed

Your mom notices you picking and reaches over to move your hand… it made you angry for your autonomy to be taken away

Your family is making comments why can’t you just “stop” doing it… it is starting to impact your self-esteem

Even the moments where you notice the urges, it feels nearly impossible to stop

As a therapist based in NYC who has been bald since age 6 due to Alopecia — and who has also experienced skin picking from a young age — my approach to BFRB (Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior) treatment is different from what you may have tried before. While behavioral approaches like the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB) can be effective, I believe that true healing requires more than just stopping the behavior.

When I work with clients seeking skin picking treatment, we collaborate to create goals that feel meaningful and empowering. Some of the goals we may create together could include…

• Decrease shame about engaging in a BFRB

• Increase self-compassion and self-acceptance

• Learn alternative coping strategies to decrease engagement in the BFRB

• Gain deeper understanding of your individual BFRB triggers

• How to communicate or set boundaries with friends/family relating to your BFRB (ex: how to ask them to stop commenting about it, ways to explain to family that BFRBs are not something you can just ‘stop’)

• or anything else you desire!

I don’t view dermatillomania as something that should only be “eliminated.” That mindset often creates more shame. Instead, we’ll work together to help you decide what you truly want your relationship with your BFRB to look like. Using a combination of ComB strategies, self-compassion practices, and personalized tools, we’ll create a treatment plan tailored to you — not just a textbook version of recovery.

Many of my clients seeking dermatillomania treatment also navigate challenges like:

• Anxiety / OCD

• ADHD / neurodivergence

• Patterns of overthinking

• Low self-esteem

Dermatillomania can feel extremely isolating. Just know, you are not alone and you can live a life that doesn’t feel defined by your BFRB.

And I can help you get there.