Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome Treatments in Brighton and Plymouth, MI.
Experiencing tics is an extremely frustrating thing that can make you feel embarrassed and helpless.
Tourette’s syndrome, a type of tic disorder, leaves people involuntarily repeating certain movements or sounds. Tic patients cannot control these behaviors, leaving sufferers feeling trapped in their body. At McCaskill Family Services, we have worked with many tic and Tourette’s patients and have been able to provide treatments that offer relief. Our staff of psychologists and therapists are able to help patients through Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, or CBIT.
We are out-of-network with insurance companies; however we are a recognized out-of-network provider with BCBS of Michigan. Patients are expected to pay at the time of service. Receipts are provided so patients can submit them to their insurance company for possible reimbursement.
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What is Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)?
CBIT is a psychological treatment for tics and an alternative to medication. CBIT teaches clients to manage tics but does not prevent tics entirely. In CBIT, clients learn to improve their awareness of when the tics are happening, learn to identify and change aspects of their environment that may be affecting tic severity and learn to engage in a competing behavior when they feel the urge to tic.
What is the process of CBIT?
The experienced therapist first assesses all tics, including frequency, severity, and longevity, and helps the client choose which tic to focus on first. For example, in some situations, choosing to focus first on the tic that causes the most problems for the client makes the most sense. In other situations, it may make more sense to focus first on tics with large muscle movements, as they tend to be easier to target than smaller movements and vocal tics.
Next, the therapist teaches the client strategies to help improve awareness and helps the client identify as well as problem-solve through any obstacles. Then the therapist helps the client analyze situations or times of day in which the tics seem more frequent or severe, also helping the client identify changes that could be made to address the function of these situations. For example, if a client notes that tics are more severe when he feels anxious or worried, the therapist may teach the client strategies for coping with stress, such as relaxation training techniques.
Finally, the experienced therapist will help the client find an appropriate competing behavior to engage in when the client feels the urge to tic. The therapist may help the client come up with a variety of responses for the same tic until they find one that works. The therapist also teaches this process to the client and family, so that they will be able to apply this intervention to future tics without the need to return to therapy.
Coordinate an online counseling session with our Michigan based team today.
Why seek tic and Tourette's treatment with McCaskill Family Services?
Our practice has many experienced clinicians who share a passion for treating tic disorders. We understand that local families often have difficulty finding professionals with knowledge and skill in treating Tourette’s syndrome and tics, and we are dedicated to providing this service in our community. We know that tics and Tourette’s syndrome can be frustrating, but we are here to help and give you relief.
