Therapy for Dermatillomania
(Skin Picking)

Skin picking, also known as dermatillomania, is something that many people experience from time to time, often without even realising they are doing it. It can begin as a small, seemingly harmless habit—perhaps picking at a blemish, dry skin, or a rough patch—and over time, this behaviour can develop into a more persistent and frequent way of coping with feelings of stress, tension, or a general sense of restlessness. For some individuals, skin picking can feel like a private and difficult struggle to manage, but in reality, it is far more common than many people might initially believe.

TESTIMONIALS

Testimonial for help with skin picking (dermatillomania) and over-thinking using CBT (metacognitive therapy) and DBR (deep brain reorienting)

I knew I had to get some kind of control. I had reached the point where I didn’t want to go on anymore.

During my work with Sarah, I learned how to control my overthinking.  It appears my skin-picking was a coping mechanism and a stress release. As I am coping better with life’s stressors and not getting as overwhelmed by them, I am able to control the urge to pick my skin. We did some therapy on dermatillomania, which specifically targeted this condition with a positive outcome.

I now feel more content, centred, and experience more moments of peace. Life will always have its challenges but I am more equipped to deal with them, as and when they happen, rather than worrying about future events. Thoughts will obviously arise about the past but I have learned how to accept that these events are in the past and leave them alone. 

I feel I would not have been able to achieve all of this without Sarah’s support and caring approach. I found her to be extremely gifted and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her. 

(Female age 45, mixture of online and in person therapy, May 2025)