If you or your child has recently been diagnosed with a tic disorder or Tourette syndrome, you have probably heard a lot of conflicting advice, including, often, that there is nothing much to be done except wait it out. One of the most common questions I hear in my Calgary practice is whether tics can actually be treated. The short answer is yes, and CBIT is usually where we start.
What CBIT is
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people reduce the frequency and impact of tics. Rather than trying to suppress tics through willpower, CBIT teaches practical skills to increase awareness of tics, identify the situations that make them worse, and respond to them differently. It is recommended as a first-line treatment for many people with chronic tic disorders and Tourette syndrome.
In practice, CBIT has three main parts:
- Awareness training: learning to notice a tic, and the urge that comes just before it, early enough to do something about it.
- Competing response training: developing a specific, comfortable movement that is incompatible with the tic and can be used when the urge arrives.
- Function-based interventions: looking honestly at the situations, routines and reactions that make tics worse, and adjusting them.
Who CBIT can help
CBIT may help children, adolescents and adults with:
- Tourette syndrome
- Persistent (chronic) motor or vocal tic disorder
- Provisional tic disorder, when appropriate
- Tics that interfere with daily life, school, work or relationships
CBIT does not require medication, and it can be used alongside medication if that is already part of your care.
What a session actually looks like
Sessions are collaborative and practical. We start by mapping your tics: what they are, when they show up, and what tends to surround them. From there we work through them one at a time, usually beginning with the tic that bothers you most, building a competing response and practising it until it becomes second nature.
Between sessions there is some home practice. This is where a lot of the progress happens, and it is why family involvement can matter so much, particularly for younger clients, where a supportive environment makes the skills far easier to use.
How long does it take?
Typically about 8–10 weekly sessions, although the number varies depending on individual needs and treatment goals. Some people need fewer; some prefer to space sessions out once the core skills are in place.
A realistic word on expectations
CBIT is not a cure, and it is not about eliminating every tic. Tics naturally wax and wane, and they can flare during stress or change. What CBIT offers is a set of tools that put you back in the driver’s seat, reducing how often tics happen, how intense they are, and how much space they take up in your life.
Thinking about whether it is right for you
If tics are getting in the way of school, work, sleep or relationships, or if you are simply tired of being told to relax, it may be worth a conversation. I am a CBIT-certified clinician and Registered Psychologist based in Calgary, working with both children and adults.
Book a session if you would like to talk it through.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for individual assessment or clinical advice. If you have concerns about tics, please speak with a qualified health professional.