Trich Talks!

Laura Hope (@hopeandhealingcoach), psych PA-C & BFRB coach, combines clinical expertise with lived trichotillomania experience to empower the BFRB community through habit coaching, support groups, and a BFRB Salon & Spa Directory.

Learn more by visiting hopeandhealingcoach.com

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

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Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

In this episode, Barbara reads from The Trichster Diaries, offering more glimpses into her life with trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder she’s learned to navigate with honesty and humor. She reflects on the layered emotions of reconnecting with someone from her past and what it meant to open up about her experience in a way she never had before. Barbara also talks about the surprising feelings that arose as her hair began to grow back with new textures and patterns. And she shares an unintentionally awkward but mostly funny moment involving a casual request for a haircut—one that revealed far more about her trichotillomania journey than she anticipated. It’s a gentle, thoughtful exploration of vulnerability, change, and the small moments that linger.

Purchase a signed copy of The Trichster Diaries on barbaralally.com or unsigned from Amazon

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

—

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

In this heartfelt episode, Barbara reads from her memoir The Trichster Diaries, sharing an intimate look into her college years. Barbara reflects on a time filled with growth, new independence, lasting friendships, and the joy of discovering who she was becoming as a young adult.

Alongside these defining experiences, she also opens up about navigating life with trichotillomania during this transformative chapter. With honesty, warmth, and her signature storytelling style, Barbara describes how college offered both challenges and unexpected moments of empowerment.

This episode offers listeners a thoughtful blend of nostalgia, vulnerability, and hope as Barbara revisits one of the most meaningful periods of her life. Whether you live with a BFRB, know someone who does, or simply love a powerful coming-of-age story, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.

Purchase a signed copy of The Trichster Diaries on barbaralally.com or unsigned from Amazon

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

—

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

Charlene’s @helpme2stop mission to transform TTM care comes from her blend of artistry, holistic understanding, and belief that hair can recover. After studying nursing and beginning her career as a hair extension specialist in 1991, she shifted to advanced hair replacement—but quickly rejected traditional methods that required shaving natural hair. Her philosophy became simple: preserve, don’t destroy.

A turning point came when she saw the trauma a client experienced after an aggressive salon treatment. This confirmed her conviction that healing requires gentle, restorative care. Charlene went on to create a groundbreaking, non-destructive method combining advanced extension techniques with hair replacement knowledge. The results were undeniable—her first Trichotillomania client experienced significant regrowth, earning Charlene the nickname “Hair Health Regrowth Expert.” One former client has now maintained remission for over 15 years.

Inspired by her success and volunteer work with LookGoodFeelBetter.org, Charlene asked why medical insurance covered cranial prostheses for chemotherapy patients but not for those with BFRBs. With no existing path, she founded HelpMe2Stop in 2007. Today, through the S.T.R.A.N.D. Network, she continues leading the movement to secure a crucial medical insurance (CPT) code and create lasting institutional change for client-centered, specialized care.

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

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Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

Sonja @the_curiousquill25 is a young adult and mental health advocate who openly shares her experiences living with symptoms of trichotillomania, even without a formal diagnosis. Through her journey, she has learned the power of self-awareness, compassion, and resilience, and now uses her platform to help others do the same. On her Instagram page, she explores topics like growth mindset and mental health through a writer’s lens, offering thoughtful reflections and honest conversations about healing and self-discovery.

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

—

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

In today’s episode, Barbara returns to The Trichster Diaries. She talks about wearing synthetic hair extensions to cover her thinning hair, swimming in the ocean with sunglasses on to hide her eyelashless eyelids, and the constant effort to appear “normal.” As she prepares to enter college, Barbara reflects on the strange sense of peace that comes with letting go of old pressures and stepping into a new chapter of her life.

Tune in for an honest and deeply relatable story about change, relief, and the quiet moments that follow years of hiding.

Purchase a signed copy of The Trichster Diaries on barbaralally.com or unsigned from Amazon

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

—

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

In this episode of Trich Talks, Barbara dives into your most thoughtful and relatable questions. From finding ways to feel lovable and beautiful even when pulling starts to get tough again, to sharing her most “necessary” (and yes, sometimes expensive!) Trich Tax, Barbara opens up with honesty, humor, and heart. Tune in for real talk, gentle encouragement, and the reminder that you’re never alone on your trichotillomania journey.

Want to have your question answered? Be on the look out for Barbara’s Instagram story (@itsbarbaralally) to submit or send over a DM!

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

—

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

In today’s episode, Barbara returns to The Trichster Diaries, revisiting some of the hardest moments from her high school years. She shares what it was like when pulling in public became more frequent, and when she realized her trichotillomania was no longer something she could quietly manage.

From quitting the swim team to switching classes (a big deal at her school), this episode captures the moment everything shifted. She began to see that her trichotillomania really was as serious as it felt, and she couldn't shake the fear that it might only get worse.

Purchase a signed copy of The Trichster Diaries on barbaralally.com or unsigned from Amazon

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

—

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

Ashley (@bfrb_ashley) lives with six different body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including trichotillomania. This made it especially challenging for her to come forward as a BFRB and mental health advocate. However, through her journey, Ashley discovered a deep sense of passion and purpose in BFRB advocacy, which eventually led her to become one of the hosts of The BFRB Podcast. As Ashley navigates her own recovery journey and explores various therapies, she hopes to contribute more to the BFRB and mental health community by sharing her experiences. The best is yet to come!

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.

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Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Trich Talks.

Begin your journey to self-acceptance with trichotillomania by enrolling in my course, Sharing Our Stories. Sharing Our Stories does a deep dive into your relationship with trichotillomania by using my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, as our workbook. You can learn more at barbaralally.com

Saharra @saharradixon is a Health Education Specialist, digital and performance-based storyteller, health equity researcher, and nonprofit leader dedicated to demechanize public health. With a passion for mental health, chronic illness, and reproductive justice in minoritized communities, she weaves creativity and narrative into her work—unearthing the fundamental causes of health inequity and imagining healthful futures. A PhD Candidate in Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Saharra also holds an MA in Educational Theatre from New York University and a BS in Health Behavior Science from the University of Delaware. As a health coach, she is trained in psychodrama, sociodrama, Theatre of the Oppressed, and death doula care, as well as mixed-methods and arts-based research, using these to explore mental health, chronic illness, grief, identity, and liberation.

Saharra is the director of Club Imani, a non-profit that bridges research, art, and radical care to cultivate healthful futures for multicultural communities with BFRBs, OCD, and related disorders.

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This episode is brought to you by HabitAware. My Keen2 brings awareness to my trichotillomania by giving my wrist a gentle hug or vibration when I’m doing the scanning behavior. Bring awareness into your life by visiting barbaralally.com/habitaware and use code LALLYLOVE for 10% off sitewide!

Did you know HabitAware also offers virtual peer coaching? This one-to-one peer-based program will coach you through shifting mindset, practicing healthy strategies and creating your personal roadmap to recovery. To work with me, Ellen or Aneela, head over to habitaware.com/coaching today.