TICS & TOURETTE’S SYNDROME
Managing Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome: Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Support
Discovering that you or your child is dealing with sudden, uncontrollable physical movements or vocal sounds can feel confusing, alarming, and isolating. Whether it is an unexpected eye blink, a repetitive throat clear, or a complex physical gesture, these involuntary actions are known as tics. When multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic persist for more than a year, it is medically classified as Tourette’s Syndrome.
If you are looking for a highly trained Tourette’s specialist in Plymouth, MI, our professional practice offers an empathetic, scientifically grounded environment. We provide leading neurologically informed tic disorder therapy in the Southeast Michigan area, helping children, teenagers, and adults gain predictability, mastery, and confidence over their bodies.
Recognizing the Signs: Tics & Tourette’s Symptoms
Tics are broadly divided into two categories: motor tics (physical movements) and vocal tics (sounds). Both can be simple (isolated, brief actions) or complex (distinct patterns or combined movements). While the physiological mechanism remains the same, the social and emotional impact of tics can vary significantly between developmental stages. If you are seeking a clear Tourette’s syndrome diagnosis near Brighton, MI, look for these common manifestations across age groups:
Childhood Tic Checklist (Ages 5 to 12)
Rapid Facial Movements: Frequent, involuntary eye blinking, nose twitching, mouth grimacing, or head jerking.
Simple Vocalizations: Repeated throat clearing, sniffing, grunting, humming, or coughing that cannot be attributed to allergies or a cold.
Compulsive Touching: Involuntary urges to touch objects, other people, or repeatedly step in a specific pattern.
Worsening Under Stress or Excitement: Tics that spike noticeably during school exams, high-energy video games, or moments of fatigue.
Teen & Adult Tic Checklist
- Complex Motor Sequences: Sustained or coordinated movements, such as shoulder shrugging combined with a head twist, mimicking others’ movements (echopraxia), or involuntary gestures.
- Complex Vocalizations: Suddenly repeating one’s own words (palilalia), repeating phrases heard from others (echolalia), or, in rarer cases, the involuntary utterance of socially inappropriate words (coprolalia).
- The “Premonitory Urge”: Older adolescents and adults uniquely report experiencing a distinct physical sensation—like a buildup of tension, an itch, or pressure in a muscle—right before a tic occurs, which is temporarily relieved by executing the tic.
- Camouflaging and Suppression: Deliberately trying to suppress or modify tics during public moments, work meetings, or social gatherings, which often results in physical exhaustion or a rebound surge of tics later at home.
TELETHERAPY
Online Counseling Services Available For Patients Throughout Michigan
We use safe, secure, and private technology that is HIPAA compliant to communicate with you in a manner similar to our in-office interactions. The benefits of telemental health are apparent in today’s environment, where access to mental health professionals is critical.
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.
Benefits of Teletherapy:
- Meet with a licensed psychologist by phone or video
- Teletherapy is safe and private & follows all HIPPA guidelines
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.
Meet FotaWP,
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.
Areas We Serve
Ann Arbor
Northville
Farmington Hills
Livonia
Canton
Novi
Plymouth
Whitmore Lake
Royal Oak
Southfield
Walled Lake
West Bloomfield
Westland
Brighton
Westland
Whitmore Lake
Ypsilanti
Howell
South Lyon
Royal Oak
Detroit