STOP PICKING - START LIVINGSTOP PICKING - START LIVINGSkinpick is an online resource and community, for people who suffer from the excoriation disorder (aka Dermatillomania or Compulsive Skin Picking). We offer online treatment and information services for skin pickers worldwide.
Our aim is to make excoriation disorder treatment, information and support available for people worldwide, via the internet. In addition we strive to increase awareness about this disorder.
Tasneem graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. She is also a graduate of the TLC foundation Professional Training Institute (BFRB.org). Her experience in mental health includes working at Lentegeur Psychiatric hospital forensic unit (South Africa), Kingston Community Adult Learning Disability team (UK), Clinical Specialist for the Oasis Project Spelthorne Community Mental Health team (UK), and currently she is a guest lecturer and clinical supervisor at Tara Psychiatric Hospital to 3rd year occupational therapy students from Wits University in Johannesburg. In addition to her Honours degree, Tasneem has also extended her knowledge in mental health through completion of Masters modules and other short courses, such the Christine Padesky’s Cognitive Behavioural Workshop “Building Strengths and Resilience”. It was in her role as Clinical Specialist at the Oasis project that her interest and skill in CBT flourished as this was the key framework employed to address the intense difficulties faced by a client base of people with predominantly Borderline Personality Disorder. Tasneem is passionate about mental health and the rights of people with disabilities in general. Tasneem is part of our counseling team. She also writes for our blog.
Michaela is a Clinical Psychologist, trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy during her Masters at Leiden University, in the Netherlands. She is also a graduate of the TLC foundation Professional Training Institute (BFRB.org). Her work interest and experience is placed on Attachment Disorders, Psychosomatic Complaints and research, while treating addiction, Eating Disorders, Depression and anxiety-stress related complaints. Her keen interest in psychotic episodes and schizophrenia led to a collaboration with the Hearing Voices Network, for the sensitization of mental health professionals, patients and their families. Michaela is also working as a Life Coach, providing seminars on acculturation and life skills to expatriates in The Netherlands, as well as training Psychology students Personality Theories and communication skills in Leiden University. Trichotillomania and skin picking is a recent focus of hers, on consideration of body focused repetitive behaviours throughout years of experience. Michaela is part of our counseling team.
Claudia is a Marriage and Family Therapist who devotes more than half her practice to working with clients who suffer from Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, mainly skin picking and hair pulling. She also specializes in working with depression and anxiety, addictions, body image, gay and lesbian issues, grief and loss, mid-life issues (including career changes and dating after 40), starting over after divorce, teens, job burnout and relationship issues of all kinds. Claudia is an advisor to SkinPick, in addition she provides consulting services to mental health professionals who wish to broaden their expertise to be able to treat patients with BFRBs.
Dr. Arthur S. Trotzky (Ph.D.), is an internationally known treatment specialist, well known for his work in addictions. Dr. Trotzky transitioned exclusively to Internet therapy after a successful and prestigious career. Dr. Trotzky was therapist and case manager in the Recovering Professionals Program at Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna, Georgia. Prior to his work at Ridgeview Institute, Dr. Trotzky was a senior staff therapist for a Child and Family Clinic for 27 years and Clinical Director of a first of a kind twelve-step rehabilitation center. Dr. Trotzky is an advisor to SkinPick, and a provider in our online counseling service.
Dr. Grossbart (Ph.D.) is a senior clinical supervisor at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. Compulsive skin picking and trichotillomania have recently become a major focus of his work with patients. He has been a pioneer in the use of relaxation, imaging, hypnosis, and psychotherapy in these areas. His writings, workshops, seminars, and presentations center on this work. Dr. Grossbart is a past provider of SkinPick’s online counseling service. He also established the “Ask The Expert” section, where he published questions he frequently encountered from clients.
Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor putting her clinical knowledge, experience, and passion for research to write about mental health. She earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Addictions and Mental Health from Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI), and is a double graduate of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay with Bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Psychology.
Dr. Vinod is a medical doctor and a psychotherapist. She’s a past member of our counseling team. Dr. Vinod was the first counselor to lead our online counseling services for clients seeking help to stop skin picking behaviors.