Skin Picking, Hair Pulling & Nail Biting Therapist in Upper West Side, NY

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If you’ve tried to “just stop” picking, pulling or biting and it hasn’t worked, you’re not alone. Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are common and treatable—and they’re not a willpower problem.

Our therapy track on the Upper West Side focuses on concrete skills that make urges more manageable and healing more likely. Care is calm, non-judgmental, and paced to real life. Meet in person near Central Park or online anywhere in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.

For a concise overview of our brief, skills-based care, start with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Therapist and teen smiling during counseling session discussion.

Who We Help for Skin Picking, Hair Pulling & Nail Biting Therapy

A short course of therapy can help if these patterns feel familiar.

Skin picking (excoriation) can leave scabs or marks and delay healing. Nail biting (onychophagia) causes pain, bleeding, or embarrassment.  Hair pulling (trichotillomania) can result in hair loss and scarring. These behaviors can often contribute to feelings of shame, social anxiety and a desire to isolate from others.

Urges often spike with anxiety, boredom, fatigue, stress, or long stretches of screen time. Many people fall into a loop of “I’ll stop tomorrow,” then feel shame and start hiding their hands, hair or skin. 

We’ll work gently and systematically to reduce injury, build control, and make day-to-day life easier.

Our Therapy Approach

We reduce shame and build skills with a structured, kind process you can stick with.

  • Awareness training. Learn your patterns—triggers, places, times of day—and track urges without judgment.
  • Competing responses. Practice hands, mouth, and posture alternatives that make urges easier to ride out. For example, using a sensory fidget with your hands when noticing the urge to pull hair. 
  • Stimulus control. Tweak environments—covers, barriers, lighting, care routines—so picking, pulling  and biting are less likely.
  • CBT tools. Work with perfectionism, rumination, and “all-or-nothing” thoughts that keep cycles going.
  • Relapse-prevention. Plan for slips, travel, exams, or stressful seasons so gains hold.
  • Care coordination. With consent, we can coordinate with dermatology or your PCP when helpful.

Tools & Kits We Often Use in Therapy

In skin-picking, hair pulling and nail-biting therapy, we organize your tools and skills using ComB (Comprehensive Behavioral Treatment)—a newer, individualized framework that builds on Habit Reversal Training (HRT). 

ComB maps triggers across five domains (often referred to as SCAMP): Sensory, Cognitive, Affective (emotions), Motor (habits/posture), and Place (environment). Your kit—and the way you use it—is tailored to the domains that matter most for you.

Sensory

We reduce triggers that spark urges and replace them with safer sensations. Typical items include finger covers/silicone cots, discreet fidgets (putty, textured rings, worry stone), hats or headband for hair pulling, and cuticle/skin care basics (gentle clippers, file, fragrance-free cream, cuticle balm).

We also add sensory substitution/distraction (e.g., a textured ring or cooling lotion) so your hands and nervous system get what they’re seeking without injury.

Cognitive & Affective

Brief thought reframes (“smooth doesn’t have to mean picking”), coping statements, and a simple urge-surf timer make urges more tolerable. 

We layer emotion-regulation skills (paced breathing, short movement breaks, or grounding exercises) so that stress, boredom, or tension aren’t funneled into picking/biting.

Motor & Place

We keep core HRT skills—awareness training and competing responses (e.g., fist clench, hand sit, steering-wheel grip, fidget use)—and pair them with ComB-guided stimulus control: move mirrors, soften lighting, relocate grooming tools, use sleeves, hat or gloves during peak-risk times, and change seating or study locations to reduce automatic pulling, biting or picking.

You’ll leave with a clear, if-then plan for hotspots that trigger BFRBs (late-night scrolling, study sessions, and long meetings), plus a travel version for commutes. 

When appropriate, we can discuss temporary deterrents (e.g., bitter-tasting nail coating) and coordinate with dermatology for skin healing. 

The goal is practical, evidence-informed support that reduces injury, promotes healing, and helps new habits stick wherever your day takes you.

Access & Scheduling

We offer in-person sessions on the Upper West Side, near Central Park, with discreet and flexible scheduling. For residents of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, telehealth services are available via HIPAA-secure video, with evening options available when applicable.

Many clients use a hybrid plan, switching between in-person and video meetings to maintain steady momentum when life shifts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is skin picking, hair pulling or nail biting an anxiety disorder or an OCD-related condition?

These behaviors are often grouped as body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs)—related to, but distinct from, anxiety and OCD. We’ll map your pattern and treat the identified drivers.

No. Shame fuels the cycle. We take a skills-first, non-judgmental approach, making it possible and sustainable to stop.

Many people notice early shifts within a few weeks when they practice between sessions. Focused courses typically run 8–12 sessions and are tailored to your specific goals.

We’ll tailor tools to those windows—lighting or mirror edits, hand-busy alternatives, timed holds, and planned breaks—so urges are easier to ride out.

Yes—with your consent. Coordination can accelerate healing and facilitate the management of skin care alongside behavioral change.

That’s common. We blend HRT with CBT tools. If broader care would help, you can also explore our Psychologist or Anxiety Therapy pages.

Take Your First Steps Now

You can build calmer, more workable habits. Call (917) 972-5671 or request an appointment to get started.

Location

241 Central Park W # 1D, New York, NY 10024

Phone: (917) 972-5671

Email: info@gordontherapygroup.com

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed