Stacy K. Nakell is a licensed clinical social worker, certified group psychotherapist, certified clinical trauma practitioner, and author. She has spent the past fifteen years in private practice in Austin, TX, providing individual and group psychotherapy to clients struggling with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). 

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Stacy advocates for recognizing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) as distinct from OCD due to their unique characteristics. Frustrated with the sole focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by the Trichotillomania Learning Center, she turned to psychodynamic therapy to explore the root causes of her own behaviors, leading her to write "Treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors." Her book promotes an integrative psychodynamic approach that combines body awareness and cognitive and behavioral elements and emphasizes the therapeutic relationship. Through a case study, Stacy illustrates how therapy can help patients process trauma and develop self-compassion. She suggests BFRBs often arise in individuals with physiological sensitivity and nervous system dysregulation, worsened by family stress and internalized emotions. Stacy calls for a trauma-informed approach to uncover and address underlying emotions for more effective and lasting treatment.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode: 

• Read the full show notes here
• The Practice of Therapy Collaborative
• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
• Stacy’s Website
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Instagram Mental Health Templates
• Mental Health Wear