What is a Body Focused Process Addiction™?
A Body Focused Process Addiction (BFPA™) is a behavioral addiction which includes behaviors currently also know as Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs). BFPAs™ include hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking, nail biting, lip and cheek biting, cuticle picking, eating hair bits or bulbs, scab picking, hair twirling, and tongue biting. Other BFPAs™ not related to skin or hair include urge-driven talking, eating, drinking, swallowing and others related to any body part.
Other non-body focused process addictions include shopping, gambling, sexual activity, pornography, social media, exercise and work. Process addictions harm the individual's physical and emotional health, damage intra- and inter-personal relationships, and may cause legal or financial problems.
Why BFPA™?
Chaille DeFaria and Karen Pickett developed this new classification to incorporate the latest research on these conditions which indicate a non-substance addiction that, like all addictions, produce dopamine and other "feel good" neurotransmitters.
Chaille and Karen's goal is to use, teach and practice their treatment model to provide better treatment outcomes for sufferers of these conditions. As former members of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs Board of Directors, Chaille and Karen have pioneered a new path forward for treating individuals with BFPAs™ who are not served by current treatment modalities for BFRBs. Based on both their lived experiences and their ground theory research, they have designed an exciting treatment plan for recovery that many in the community are longing for.
They have also created a safe and supportive online community. For more information, click here.
How do I know if i have A BFPA™?
The following is a screening tool you can use to self-assess for a Body Focused Process Addiction (BFPA™). Please note this assessment is not meant to take the place of medical, psychological or therapeutic assessment, but is a way for you to get an idea for yourself about your situation:
1. Do you spend an excessive amount of time thinking about or partaking/engaging in a body focused addictive behavior?
2. Do you continue to engage in the addictive behavior despite negative consequences?
3. Do you struggle with managing the addictive behavior including unsuccessful attempts to stop it?
4. Do you ignore occupational, academic and/or family/personal responsibilities in favor of engaging in the addictive behavior?
5. Do you use a body focused addictive behavior to cope with difficult emotions, feelings and situations?
6. Do you diminish or downplay the magnitude of the problem of the addictive behavior to yourself or others?
7. Have you developed a tolerance for the addictive behavior so that you feel the need to increase the frequency or intensity to continue to achieve rewards or fulfillment from it?
8. Do you experience emotional withdrawal when the addictive behavior is stopped or avoided?
9. Are you afraid that you might experience other mental health concerns such as anxiety, irritability, depression or substance use or abuse after avoiding or stopping the body focused addictive behavior?
Everyone is different, and you likely know yourself best, so your score (number of "yes" answers) will give you an idea of whether or not you are dealing with a BFPA™. Generally, though, answering "yes" to 2 or more of these questions indicates the presence of a BFPA™.
about chaille and Karen
Chaille DeFaria MCC, CDWF
Chaille DeFaria is a Mental Health Consultant and ICF Master Certified Credentialed Coach (MCC) who specializes in helping people heal from BFPAs™ (Body Focused Process Addictions), anxiety and shame. Chaille is the co-founder of the BFPA™ Resource Center and is a former member of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs Board of Directors. Also certified as a Daring Way™ Facilitator of Dr. Brene Brown's research, Chaille runs workshops and works individually with young adults and parents. Chaille also presents at conferences, including NAMI, and writes a column that is published monthly in the Culver City Neighbors magazine called "Cultivating Courage with Chaille."
Karen Pickett LMFT
Karen Pickett LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and co-founder of the BFPA™ Resource Center. She is an expert in treating anxiety disorders and Body Focused Process Addictions (BFPAs™) including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Skin Picking Disorder and Trichotillomania. Karen is a Certified Trauma and Addiction therapist and a former member of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs Board of Directors. Karen was a featured psychotherapist on A&E's acclaimed TV series Obsessed, former faculty in counseling psychology at USM, and was previously he Clinical Director at the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Karen has co-produced three performances of This Is My Brave™, a live show dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness.