Julia Bickerstaff, LPC, NCC

12/09/2025

Do you pick your skin, bite your nails, or pull your hair? Do these behaviors cause you a lot of stress, and you wish you could stop doing them?

These behaviors are known as body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs.

Let’s talk about them!! 💫

Body focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are repetitive grooming behaviors done to one’s body that often result in unintentional damage. This can include skin picking (excoriation disorder), hair pulling (trichotillomania), nail biting, etc. BFRBs are an OCD-related disorder due to the compulsive nature of the picking, pulling, biting, etc.

They are often thought of as “nervous habits” or written off as “just being anxiety,” when they are actually a lot more complex.

As a specialist with lived experience of a BFRB, I’m very passionate about challenging stigma, spreading awareness of what BFRBs are, and creating hope that treatment is available, and I hope I accomplish that in this month’s blog post:

✨ Deep Dive into Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) ✨

Check it out below! ⤵️

https://www.jbcounselingwellness.com/post/deep-dive-into-body-focused-repetitive-behaviors-bfrbs

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❀ Instagram ≠ Therapy
❀ Disclaimer in Posts & Story Highlights
❀ .therapy_
 
 

11/27/2025

sending y’all love 🧡 grateful for each and everyone one of you

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❀ Instagram ≠ Therapy
❀ Disclaimer in Posts & Story Highlights
❀ .therapy_

11/11/2025

Let’s talk about cognitive distortions, fall edition :)

🍁 Cognitive distortions are patterns in our thinking that generate feelings of distress or discomfort, which can lead to maladaptive behaviors such as avoidance or overthinking.

🍁 Cognitive distortions don’t always accurately reflect the present moment, and they may include irrational perspectives that can make us even more upset.

🍁 Knowledge is power. By knowing what to look for, we can call them out and make the choice not to further engage with that thought and redirect our attention back to what’s actually important to us in the here-and-now. This way, the thoughts lose their “shock factor” and the power that they have.

🍁 My most recent blog post explores different kinds of cognitive distortions and provides examples of how they can manifest ⤵️

Be sure to check it out below ☺️

https://www.jbcounselingwellness.com/post/understanding-cognitive-distortions-how-your-thoughts-fuel-anxiety

Happy Tuesday 🧡
_______________________________________

❀ Instagram ≠ Therapy
❀ Disclaimer in Posts & Story Highlights
❀ .therapy_

11/11/2025

Let's talk about cognitive distortions:

🍁 Cognitive distortions are patterns in our thinking that generate feelings of distress or discomfort, which can lead to maladaptive behaviors such as avoidance or overthinking.

🍁 Cognitive distortions don't always accurately reflect the present moment, and they may include irrational perspectives that can make us even more upset.

🍁 Knowledge is power. By knowing what to look for, we can call them out and make the choice not to further engage with that thought and redirect our attention back to what's actually important to us in the here-and-now. This way, the thoughts lose their "shock factor" and the power that they have.

🍁 My most recent blog post explores different kinds of cognitive distortions and provides examples of how they can manifest.

Be sure to check it out below!

"I'm going to utterly fail my exam tomorrow.""That was so embarrassing, she totally thinks I'm a huge weirdo.""I haven't heard from my sister in a couple hours, I must have done something to upset her."Do any of these thoughts sound familiar? Everyone experiences thoughts like these from time to tim...

10/16/2025

Y’all asked, Im answering! Based on my recent story poll, my second OCD Awareness Week post explores examples of how OCD can manifest.

It’s common to think about cleaning and organizing when we picture OCD, but OCD can be about *anything*

It’s so important to normalize this, as shame and guilt often accompany intrusive thoughts, and knowing what OCD can look like can encourage people to seek treatment.

This post is by no means exhaustive, but it gives you a look into common OCD experiences outside the stereotypical cleaning/organizing manifestations. If these slides make you feel uncomfortable, imagine what it’s like for the people who experience these symptoms on a daily basis.

Spread some love and kindness, we never know what people are going through 💘

Join me this week in learning more about OCD and working to end the stigma behind it and its treatment 🩵

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❀ Instagram ≠ Therapy
❀ Disclaimer in Posts & Story Highlights
❀ .therapy_

10/13/2025

Happy OCD Awareness Week 🤍

Psychoeducation and advocacy are some of my favorite parts about my job, so it felt right to start off OCD Awareness Week debunking common myths about the diagnosis.

Misinformation is so harmful, as it prevents people from reaching out and seeking the treatment they deserve. The first step in ending mental health stigma is by spreading awareness and addressing harmful narratives.

This post can also be found on my blog ☺️
https://www.jbcounselingwellness.com/post/debunking-myths-ocd-edition

Join me this week in learning more about OCD and working to end the stigma behind it and its treatment 🩵

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❀ Instagram ≠ Therapy
❀ Disclaimer in Posts & Story Highlights
❀ .therapy_

10/13/2025

In honor of OCD Awareness Week, I wanted to share a link to my first blog post that debunks common myths about OCD.

🌟 OCD is not a choice, or a “personality quirk that everyone has.”

🌟 OCD is not limited to cleaning and organizing. A person can have OCD symptoms about anything.

🌟 A person’s intrusive thoughts do not define them. They are actually the opposite of one’s goals and values, hence why they are so distressing.

I encourage you to take a few minutes and read more below!

Happy OCD Awareness Week 🤍

Well hi there!This is my first official blog post, and I appreciate you being here and taking the time to read my work. My goal with this blog is to provide psychoeducation, challenge stigma, and foster a place of acceptance and understanding.OCD is a very misunderstood diagnosis. When someone menti...

10/02/2025

The best team! Thank you for a great two years!

09/03/2025

lil motivation for your wednesday 🤗

change is so hard. it can be so tempting to quit or give up when we don’t see results right away. however, the only thing we guarantee when we quit is robbing ourselves of the opportunity to see our true potential and what we are capable of accomplishing. after all, there is no change without change!

this week I encourage you to give yourself the support and encouragement that you give others and see what happens. I’m rooting for you!! 💝

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❀ Instagram ≠ Therapy
❀ Disclaimer in Posts & Story Highlights
❀ .therapy_

08/13/2025

Social media has allowed me to create so many connections with other professionals, including Dr. Tia Konzer! Loved the opportunity to collaborate on this post about perfectionism, check it out! ⤵️