Your First Specialist BFRB Coaching Session
What To Expect and What To Ask
Making the decision to seek professional help for BFRBs can truly kick-start your journey to recovery. We recognise it can also be quite daunting and it is natural to wonder what’s going to happen next, whether you need to prepare anything, and how to get the most out of your session.
It is perfectly normal to feel nervous and your coach will be aware of this and prepared to put you at ease. Our coaches have all overcome BFRBs and understand anxiety, so they meet you with a level of empathy that can only come from personal experience.
Many people are nervous to discuss their BFRB with a specialist, so you can have your appointment via email, text message or video call. Video call gives us a better picture of how we can help, but this is about what works for YOU.
Here are some tips and information to help you know more about what to expect through your first appointment.
A Typical First Session
Before you can book your session, you will need to complete the payment via our booking website as we are unable to reserve slots. When the payment has been received, a member of the Coaching Care team will e-mail you to arrange a date and time for your appointment. If this is your first appointment with us we may send you a link to a questionnaire and request that you complete this as soon as possible. The questionnaire allows your coach to get to know a bit about you and how BFRBs affect you without using up time from your session.
The questionnaire asks about your current symptoms, family and medical history, and your overall functioning. These questions are asked to gather information to make an accurate diagnosis and to better understand your circumstances.
In the session, your coach will want to build on this information and learn further how the condition affects you as an individual. They may also explain how we use certain therapeutic orientations and techniques, and what is entailed in the treatment courses. Therapy techniques used include cognitive behavioural therapy, urge reduction techniques, habit reversal therapy and setback management.
Frequently Asked Questions – Answered
Please ask your coach any questions you may have prepared. Here we have provided some answers to the most commonly asked questions, but you are welcome to discuss these or any concerns you may have. Coaching is about YOU, and we want you to be happy and confident in your decision to choose BFRB therapy with us.
Do you have experience treating people with BFRBs?
As an organisation, we have over 20 years’ experience of treating people with Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) such as trichotillomania (hair-pulling), dermatillomania (skinpicking), nail biting and cheek biting.
Our coaching program has a tremendous success rate and hundreds of graduated clients who are now in recovery and living BFRB-free, with some having become coaches themselves after training with us.
What do I need to do before my session?
There is nothing that you NEED to do once you have completed the questionnaire (if requested), but it may help you to think of things you would like to ask or talk about and write these down. Your session is 50 minutes long and you might want to have a pen and paper handy.
What can I expect in the next BFRB therapy sessions?
This will most likely be discussed with your coach at the end of your first session. Your initial session is an opportunity for our coach to assess you and the most appropriate way forward for your treatment. Next steps can include a recommendation for self-help activities if your condition is mild, booking hypnotherapy sessions, or entering a course of treatment.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
Not a problem. Please give us as much notice as you can, and contact us.
Updated January 12, 2024 and 17 July 2024, review on 18 July 2026