New Website for People with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
bfrb.org provides expert information, referrals to treatment providers, and a network of support groups
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., March 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors announces the launch of bfrb.org, the world's most comprehensive online resource for people affected by the mental health condition known as body-focused repetitive behavior or BFRB.
Body-focused repetitive behavior is an umbrella term for a group of related disorders including compulsive hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting and cheek biting that affect 3% or more of the population – that's over 10 million people in North America alone. These behaviors are not habits or tics; rather, they are complex disorders that cause people to repeatedly touch their hair and body in ways that result in physical damage. The causes are not fully understood, but evidence shows that these disorders are at least partly hereditary.
Clinical psychologist Marla W. Deibler, Psy.D., MSCP, says, "The new website produced by The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, bfrb.org, offers authoritative, comprehensive information that is guided by prominent scientific and clinical leaders in the field. It provides visitors with invaluable education, support, advocacy, and research opportunities in order to increase access to effective treatments and improve the lives of everyone touched by these disorders." Dr. Deibler is the founder and executive director of the Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia and serves on the Board of Directors of The TLC Foundation for BFRBs.
The website bfrb.org provides:
- Expert information for patients and their families to help them recognize and cope with a BFRB diagnosis
- Professional guidance for educators, health care providers, and cosmetologists, who may be among the first to notice a problem
- Referrals to qualified treatment providers specializing in the most effective psychological interventions
- A searchable network of in-person support groups in cities around the world
- Members-only benefits like expert-led webinars and an e-newsletter with personal stories of individuals who are living with and overcoming BFRBs
"When I was a child pulling out my hair, my family had no way to find a knowledgeable therapist or even to learn that the term for my condition is trichotillomania," says Jennifer Raikes, Executive Director, The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. "Now we know that body-focused repetitive behaviors are common problems, and we have therapies that help. Yet most children with BFRBs still struggle alone. I am proud that bfrb.org is helping to change their lives by making information, support and referrals easily accessible."
About The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors is the world's leading authority on hair pulling, skin picking, and related disorders that affect at least three percent of the population. Guided by a Scientific Advisory Board of the foremost clinical and research professionals in the field, we take a comprehensive approach to helping people overcome their disorder and heal.
Our approach includes: creating a community of support for affected individuals, providing referrals to treatment specialists and resources, training professionals to recognize and treat BFRBs, and directing research into their causes, treatment, and prevention. The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors is a donor-supported, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1991 as the Trichotillomania Learning Center. Learn more about us at bfrb.org.
SOURCE The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
Share this article