Sometimes people just want to be able to stop better – they want their brakes to work like everyone else’s do!

In this service, we provide evidence-based treatment for Trichotillomania (hair pulling) or Excoriation Disorder (skin picking) called, “Body Focused Repetitive Behaviour” Management or “BFRB” Management.

Who is this service for?

  1. Children and adolescents diagnosed with a BFRB (trichotillomania or excoriation disorder) feeling distressed by their body focused repetitive behaviours
  2. For caregivers of children and youth with BFRB’s to help them to better effectively support their child or adolescent

How this service can help to, “empty your beaker”:

  1. “Full beakers” are how we describe feelings of being overloaded with too many pressures, demands or stresses unique to having leaky brakes. When a beaker overflows this can take the form of unmanageable anxiety, tearful “meltdowns”, or rage.
  2. Body focused repetitive behaviours that are embarrassing, inconvenient, disruptive, worrisome and time-consuming are beaker-fillers. Fighting to ‘hide’ these atypical thoughts and actions, dealing with the reactions of others to these behaviours, or the inability to ‘shift’ when expected also contributes to a full beaker.
  3. Learning to manage, decrease, and eliminate bothersome repetitive body focused behaviours can decrease beaker levels.

What happens in this service?

  1. BFRB Management (a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy) empowers our clients by giving them very effective tools to take charge of their thoughts and behaviours. It thereby helps them to ‘turn the tables’ on BFRB’s, and to begin living life more flexibly and freely’. Clients who use this treatment are no longer compelled to give in to the repetitive behaviours they have targeted.
  2. Symptoms Targeted for Treatment: Hair pulling or skin picking (body focused repetitive behaviours (what we call, “leaky brakes over impulses”)

Where is the service held?

  1. CPRI campus (Crombie Building; check in at switchboard and go to waiting room)
  2. For families unable to participate in person, ‘virtual’ options (e.g. participating via videoconferencing) can be available

Who will participate in this service?

  1. Brake Shop Club Members & Caregivers

What if I decline this service?

  1. There are currently no approved medications found to be universally effective at managing BFRB’s; however, medications may be beneficial in addressing symptoms of anxiety or depression
  2. BFRB’s tend to be chronic problems; left untreated BFRBs may wax and wane (fluctuate) over time; they may worsen during periods of stress

What are the requirements to be in this service?

  1. Significant problems with body focused repetitive behaviours (hair pulling, skin picking)
  2. These problem behaviours are distressing to the client, and there is an awareness/acknowledgement that these symptoms exist
  3. A motivation to engage in treatment
  4. Client can commit to practicing assignments each week
  5. A reasonably stable life situation
  6. Overall cognitive functioning within the broad range of Average (IQ score > 80)
  7. A mental age of at least 8 years (wait times will be extended until this criterion is met)
  8. Caregivers can commit to attend all sessions, to support the client in treatment, and to read/watch various educational materials provided
  9. Client & caregivers are prepared for a possible brief, initial increase in symptoms, and to discuss symptoms in a confidential format
  10. Any ADHD symptomatology already treated

*Medications  are to  remain stable  for  the  duration  of  treatment.  If this creates a problem, please notify the BFRB Clinician to discuss.

Referrals to all Brake Shop treatment services are requested & arranged through your Brake Shop Case Management Coordinator.

Important Telephone Number: