Habit reversal training (HRT) and stimulus control are the primary evidence-based treatments for body-focused repetitive behaviors (i.e., hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting), as well as tic disorders. These treatments involve assisting individuals in identifying and implementing behaviors and strategies that make it more difficult to do the target behaviors (i.e., pulling hair, picking skin, motor/vocal tic), as well as make changes to the environment to reduce the likelihood that these behaviors will occur. Clients are often surprised to learn how many types of situations and factors (i.e., emotions, thoughts, physical sensations) can trigger these behaviors and how much control they can gain over these behaviors. Other coping skills (i.e., relaxation skills, strategies for managing strong emotions, cognitive therapy skills) are also often a part of these treatments when they address the needs of specific clients.
