Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB) for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BRFBs)

Woman looking into a mirror, symbolizing self-reflection during treatment for BFRBs like hair pulling and skin picking.
Building self-awareness is the first step toward change.

At Anxiety Wellness Center of Chicagoland (AWCC), Dr. Bauer uses the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB) treatment to provide personalized, evidence-based treatment for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including skin picking (excoriation disorder) and hair pulling (trichotillomania). ComB provides an understanding of the unique patterns, triggers, and maintaining factors behind these behaviors, allowing treatment to be tailored to your specific needs.

What Are BFRBs?

Body-focused repetitive behaviors are compulsive habits like hair pulling and skin picking. They can cause physical discomfort, emotional distress, and frustration – but effective treatment is available. At AWCC, Dr. Bauer approaches BFRBs with compassion, expertise, and evidence-based strategies.

Understanding Your BFRBs Through ComB

Puzzle pieces coming together, symbolizing how ComB treatment helps identify triggers and patterns in body-focused repetitive behaviors.
ComB helps piece together the unique factors driving body-focused repetitive behaviors.

Treatment using the Comprehensive Behavior Model (ComB) identifies the multiple interacting factors that maintain BFRBs, including:

  • Triggers – Emotions, situations, or sensations that prompt hair pulling or skin picking.
  • Maintaining factors – Sensory, cognitive, or emotional patterns that keep the behavior going.
  • Consequences and coping strategies – How your body and mind respond to the behavior, including temporary relief or shame.

By mapping these elements, together we create a personalized treatment plan that targets the root of your BFRBs, rather than only the surface behaviors.

How ComB Guides Treatment

Using ComB, Dr. Bauer can:

  • Pinpoint the specific triggers and sensations driving your BFRBs.
  • Understand the interaction of thoughts, emotions, and environment that maintains the behavior.
  • Develop individualized strategies to reduce urges and prevent relapse.
  • Integrate ComB insights with habit reversal training (HRT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based interventions for a comprehensive approach.

Taking Steps Toward Control and Self-Compassion

The Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB) empowers you to understand your behaviors in a structured, personalized way. With this insight, you’ll be able to:

  • Reduce urges and repetitive behaviors
  • Improve self-care and daily functioning
  • Approach yourself with compassion rather than criticism
Woman practicing calming yoga outdoors, representing mindfulness and self-care in therapy for BFRBs like trichotillomania and skin picking
Calming practices support recovery and self-compassion.

Ready to take a personalized approach to your BFRBs? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bauer today and start your journey toward understanding and managing your behaviors.