Substitution therapy
Substitution therapy is a kind of treatment where a certain compulsion is replaced with a different, harmless habit. This type of treatment is widely used in treating substance abuse addictions. It can also be applied to skin picking disorder, where the patient is taught to gradually replace the skin picking habit with a different kind of activity, such as physical exercise or creative activities as painting or writing. This might prove efficient in cases where the underlying psychological energy is accumulated and expressed in form of picking. Redirecting this energy towards positive activities can not only free the person from the disorder, but even create positive results in other fields of life.
