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An Introduction to Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors: Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, Nail Biting, and Other BFRBs with Drs Deibler and Reinardy

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Course Description

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including trichotillomania (hair pulling), excoriation (skin picking) disorder, and related conditions, affect millions of individuals across the lifespan, yet remain widely misunderstood, under-diagnosed, and under-treated. Too often, these conditions are quickly dismissed, leaving those affected without the understanding or support they need.

This course provides an accessible overview of BFRBs, dispelling myths about the behaviors, exploring how they develop, why they persist, and how they impact daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life. Grounded in current research, attendees will gain a deeper appreciation of the neurobehavioral complexity of these conditions and a clearer picture of what effective, evidence-based care looks like.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

  1. Define body-focused repetitive behaviors.
  2. Describe the factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of BFRBs.
  3. Identify the functional and psychosocial impact of BFRBs on daily life, relationships, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
  4. Summarize current evidence-based treatment approaches for BFRBs.

CE Credits

None

Date & duration

Recorded: 5/28/2026

Registration date

100 minutes

Contributor

Marla Deibler, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP

Marla Deibler, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Board-Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology, and CEO of The Center for Emotional Health (CEH), a multi-site behavioral healthcare center specializing in the assessment and evidence-based treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan. Dr. Deibler currently serves on the faculty of Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). She serves on the Board of Directors of OCD New Jersey, the NJ affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), on the Scientific Advisory Committee of the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS), and as Visiting Clinical Supervisor at the Rutgers University Psychological Services Clinic, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP). She is an author of The BFRB Recovery Workbook: Effective Recovery from Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, Nail Biting, and Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors as well as Free to Be Me with a BFRB: The Ultimate Kid’s Guide to Living Well with Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, Nail Biting and Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.

Presenter

Renae Reinardy, PsyD

Renae Reinardy, PsyD is a Licensed Psychologist and Director of the Lakeside Center for Behavioral Change. Dr. Reinardy specializes in the treatment of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, OCD and related conditions. She is the co-author of The BFRB Recover Workbook: Effective Recovery from Hair pulling, Skin Picking, Nail Biting and Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, and Free to Be Me with a BFRB: The Ultimate Kids’ Guide to Living Well with Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, Nail Biting, and Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. For over 25 years, she has presented extensively both nationally and internationally at conferences, media outlets and professional trainings. She is an advocate for childhood mental health, the former National Mother of the Year™ and a Delegate to the United Nations CSW.

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