Do you feel as if you've tried everything to stop pulling or picking, or to help your child, and nothing works?

Take advantage of this special opportunity to learn real tools for recovery with the authors of The Hair Pulling Habit and You, and BFRB treatment experts, Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, MEd and Sherrie Mansfield Vavrichek, LCSW-C, when they join TLC Founder and recovered puller/picker Christina Pearson to help you end the cycle of shame and isolation.

Presentations for adults, teens and parents will cover important new research findings to experiential hands-on exercises that can help shift perspectives. This one-day session offers a powerful educational experience for sufferers, family members, and interested professionals. Develop new insight into WHY it can be so difficult to alter these behaviors, and also learn about emerging understanding of more effective ways to both live with, and heal from, these problems. 

LUNCH is on your own. Several dining options are offered in, and adjacent to, the hotel.

"Christina is phenomenal! She has a unique gift for relating complex information in a fun, inspirational manner. I feel empowered and the burden of my shame has been vastly diminished. This experience was invaluable." -TLC Workshop Attendee

"(Ms. Golomb) is clear, concise and incredibly knowledgeable. Her strategies are practical and useful. Excellent presenter!" -TLC Conference Attendee

"(Sherrie Vavrichek) creates a safe place where we feel free to share openly. It's obvious her heart is into it, and she really knows the material! - TLC Conference Workshop Attendee

 
This event is for adults and teens age 14 and older who are affected by hair pulling, skin picking and related problems, as well as parents, spouses, partners and support persons. Limited partial scholarships and payment plans are available. Scroll to the bottom for information.

CALL 831-457-1004 with questions or phone registration!

Workshop Schedule (concurrent sessions are held in a neighboring meeting room)

10:00am - 10:30am:

Opening welcome / introductions / orientation exercise(for everyone)
            Christina Pearson

10:30am - 11:45am:

Brief Overview of Current Treatment Trends & Recent Research Findings (adults/parents)     
Christina Pearson
This session will provide an up-to-date overview of the epidemiology, possible causes, functional impact, and      most effective emerging treatment approaches currently available for hair pulling and skin picking. Exciting new findings in recent neuroimaging research will be reviewed, along with advances in both neurochemistry and cognitive behavioral therapy. Future directions for research will be identified.

Teen Talk: Exploring Ways to Understand and Manage your BFRB    
Sherrie Vavrichek, LCSW-C
For TEENS Only!  Come together to discuss the ups and downs of navigating the teen years while also having to deal with a Body Focused Repetitive Behavior BFRB). Meet other teens that really understand how you feel, share support, ideas for maintaining motivation, and learn about resources, strategies, and new tools that can help.

11:45am - 1:00pm:  LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 

1:00pm -   2:15pm: 

What Good Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) looks like & how to find it (adults/teens)
Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC
Current scientific research points to CBT as the most effective approach to treating BFRBs. Yes, better than any medication! Thus, a frequently asked question by those seeking help for picking and pulling is: “How can I find a behavior therapist, and how will I know if they can help me?”  In truth, there really aren’t many behavior therapists in the U.S., and of these, many are not very familiar with BFRBs. This session will review some functional highlights of effective CBT, suggest ways to locate a therapist of the behavioral persuasion; show how to question them about their qualifications and services and help you evaluate what they have to offer.

Caring for Yourself while Caring for Your Child (parents)
Sherrie Vavrichek, LCSW-C
Meet with other parents and share questions, concerns, and ideas in a safe setting. We will do some activities that will touch your heart and your mind as you prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

2:15pm – 2:45pm:   ½ hour BREAK     

2:45pm – 4:00pm:

Mindfulness, Motivation, & Maintaining Success in Recovery (adults/teens)
Christina Pearson
This session will focus on the realities of living with the ebb & flow of a chronic behavioral condition. How do we avoid the dangers of forgetfulness and denial that trip us up when we are doing well? How do we extricate ourselves from the pitfalls of relapse and get back on track? Christina will share and discuss practical exercises and useful self-evaluation strategies that helped her on her own path to sustainable recovery. Hand-outs will be available

Parents Roundtable Discussion Group (parents) 
Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC
Join Ruth fora moderated discussion of the issues facing parents whose children suffer from a Body-focused Repetitive Behavior.  Topics will include – what to do about children who are reluctant to get treatment; helping children with special needs and limitations; helping your child to take responsibility for their own recovery; dealing with siblings; what to do about medication; helping a child with a noticeable BFRB to face others; getting proper help, etc. 

 
4:00pm – 5:00pm:

Closing Q & A & Wrap-up (for everyone)
Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC, Christina Pearson, & Sherrie Vavrichek. LCSW-C
The last session will start with a brief Q & A with today’s presenters.  After the Q & A, highlights of the day will be discussed, followed by networking and how one can get more involved with TLC.

About the Presenters

Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, LCPC, is a senior clinician, supervisor, and a director of the doctoral training program at the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington, where she has worked since the mid 1980's.  Ms. Golomb specializes in treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adults.  She has conducted numerous workshops and seminars, and participated as an expert in panel discussions covering many topics including Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Trichotillomania, and managing anxiety disorders in the classroom. In addition to publishing articles for professional journals and newsletters, Ms Golomb  is an author of "The Hair Pulling 'Habit' and You:  How to Solve the Trichotillomania Puzzle" a book describing  the comprehensive treatment of trichotillomania in children and “Stay Out of My Hair”, a book designed to educate, guide, and support parents of children with trichotillomania.   Ms. Golomb is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for The Trichotillomania Learning Center.

Christina Pearson is the Founding Director of the Trichotillomania Learning Center, a national nonprofit organization she founded in 1991. Christina grew up with both trichotillomania and skin picking, and is no longer controlled by these compulsions, which she attributes to the recovery work she has done over the past 20 years. Christina is a dynamic advocate for effective treatment, and consults with practitioners nationwide. She was involved in organizing the TLC Genetics Consortium and Field Study, consulted on 5 NIMH trich-related grants, and brought together the world’s leading researchers and clinicians to develop a deeper understanding of these behaviors. In pursuit of her goal to develop resources, she has designed a series of workshops for those who seek recovery. She recently published her first book, Pearls: Meditations on Recovery from Hair Pulling and Skin Picking, and is hard at work on her next writing project. Christina presents regularly at conferences, workshops and retreats around the country, and has worked with thousands struggling with compulsive hair pulling and skin picking.

Sherrie Mansfield Vavrichek, LCSW-C, is a clinical social worker who has been a therapist at the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington since 1990. She has extensive experience working with adults, teens, and children with a variety of difficulties, including anxiety disorders and body focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Over the years Ms. Vavrichek has lectured and conducted workshops at the national level for individuals, families, and professionals on topics related to BRFBs. She has also written numerous articles and is the co-author of The Hair Pulling “Habit” and You: How to Solve the Trichotillomania Puzzle, a treatment guide for young people with BFRBs, their parents, and their therapists.

Limited partial scholarships and payment plans are available.

To apply, email leslie@trich.org with the following information:

1. What do you hope to gain from attending the workshop?

2. Why are you requesting financial assistance?

3. Names and ages of all applying for assistance.

4. Location from where you are traveling (if applicable)

Applications will be accepted until January 20. Applicants will be notified of the award amount on Jan. 27. Due to the overwhelming number of applications we receive, and the limited number of scholarships available, payment plans may be offered in lieu of scholarships. Scholarships average approx. $30/person and are subject to change.

For more information, contact the TLC office.

Event Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations must be received in writing via email, mail or fax. Voice-mail messages are not valid or accepted. Cancellation deadline dates are as follows:

Up to 30 days prior to the event: TLC will cancel your registration and issue a refund of paid registration fees, minus a $25.00 processing fee.

29-10 days prior to the event: TLC will cancel your registration and issue a refund of paid registration fees, minus a $60.00 late cancellation-processing fee, regardless of the reason for the cancellation (including medical emergencies).

10 days prior up through event date: No refunds will be issued, regardless of the reason for the cancellation (including medical emergencies). TLC cannot make exceptions to this policy, as we must prepay most meeting expenses.