Treating Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors: Utilizing Awareness, Compassion and Evidence-Based Practices

This workshop is a 6-hr interactive training introducing treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs; e.g., hair pulling, skin picking, nail and cheek biting). This workshop will include a review of diagnostic criteria for BFRBs, an overview of their clinical presentation and related assessment, and a visual framework for conceptualizing BFRBs. We will also discuss evidence-based approaches for working with BFRBs, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB), Habit Reversal Training (HRT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). We will fur...Read morether discuss modifications for special populations (e.g., children and adolescents, cultural orientation factors to consider) and managing treatment setbacks. Experiential activities, small group discussions, role-plays, and sharing lived experience will be used to further application and synthesis of the information provided. Following the training, there will be the opportunity to enroll in a 4-session consult group to receive further support around working with BFRB clients. Less...

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Learning Objectives

  • Describe the diagnostic criteria for, and assessment of, BFRBs.
  • State the importance of functional assessment in BFRBs and how this assessment informs treatment.
  • Apply treatment interventions for individuals with BFRBs, including ACT, ComB, HRT, and MI.
  • Assess for, and address special population considerations (e.g., age, cultural orientation) when working with BFRBs.
  • Assess for, and address, roadblocks in BFRB treatment and foster relapse awareness and prevention.

Learning Levels

  • Intermediate

Friday, June 12, 2026

Live Interactive Webinar

07:30 AM PDT - 02:30 PM PDT

Register for this Webinar
EARN 6 CE Credit Hours

About the speakers

Lisa A. Conway, PhD ABPP

Lisa A. Conway, PhD ABPP

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Lisa Conway graduated with her PhD from the University of Wyoming in 2010 and then completed a two-year NIMH postdoctoral fellowship in Traumatic Stress at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center in Charleston, SC. She worked as an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at Northern Illinois University before entering full-time clinical work at Rosalind Franklin University's Behavioral Health Clinic and EDGE Counseling Solutions, and then opening Exposure Therapy Chicago. She specializes in treating BFRBs, OCD, anxiety and trauma in adults using ACT and exposure-based therapies. Lisa is Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is involved with educational and outreach efforts with OCD Midwest, and is a member of the International OCD Foundation and Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science.
Jason Yu

Jason Yu

Jason Yu is a counselling student with Island Clinical Counselling. His two main focuses are BFRBs (Body focused repetitive behaviours such as hair-pulling, skin-picking, nail-biting) and cultural identity. He has found his way into counselling after leaving a career in civil engineering and overcoming his shame with his own compulsive skin-picking and growing up in white spaces. He also hosts Fidget, a podcast for your BFRB toolbox. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Pam Katz, LCSW

Pam Katz, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Pam Katz graduated with her MSW from the University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social work in 1997, and earned her LCSW in 1999. She worked as a school social worker for 15 years before transitioning to her suburban private practice full time in 2014. Pam discovered ACT and began treating individuals with BFRBs in 2013. She specializes in treating anxiety, BFRBs, depression, ADHD, and school related issues using ACT. Pam currently serves on the boards of ACBS Social Work SIG and ACBS Chicago.
Kathryn Atkinson, MA RCC-ACS

Kathryn Atkinson, MA RCC-ACS

Owner of Island Clinical Counselling
Kathryn Atkinson graduated with her MA in Counselling Psychology in 2011 from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Kathryn has worked with Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours with children, youth, individual adults, couples, families, and groups since beginning her internship in 2010. Kathryn also specializes in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Tourette’s Disorder using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy methods. Kathryn has training to work in an affirming way with neurodiverse populations. Kathryn is the clinic owner of Island Clinical Counselling Ltd. in Nanaimo, BC. She also works as a university instructor at the bachelor and graduate level. Kathryn is designated as an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and holds a Clinical Supervision Certificate from the University of Ottawa.

Agenda

7:30-9:15 Introductions and BFRB Overview
9:15-9:30 Break
9:30-10:45 BFRB Assessment and Orientation to Treatment
10:45-11:15 Lunch
11:15-12:45 Overview of Treatment Approaches for BFRBs
12:45-1:00 Break
1:00-2:30 Treatment Modifications, Relapse Prevention and Next Steps

CE Information - Earn 6 CE Credit Hours

CE Approvals

Joint Accreditation
Joint Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
American Psychological Association
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
National Board for Certified Counselors
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Make An Impact is a service division of CE Learning Systems.
New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work
CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #0060.
New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors
CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology
CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #PSY-0016.
New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy
CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MFT-0045.

CE Process Info

Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

  • Complete evaluation forms for the event
  • Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ceactivities.com".

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Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer:


PLANNERS AND REVIEWER
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

FACULTY
The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.