I'm emily
Hi,
I am a trained occupational therapist who stumbled upon Tics and Tourette Syndrome along my journey in graduate school. I get asked a lot if I started working with the tic and anxiety population because I have tics and anxiety. I used to say “no” and then share my story of learning about tics and Tourette Syndrome at the University of Florida, but over the years, I’ve found myself recognizing little movements and twitches here and there, and then coming to learn about my own anxiety patterns. Part of what I teach is how normal these conditions are. Everyone has a tic and everyone experiences anxiety - it becomes a problem when it impacts our ability to live life freely and fully. I am here to help you reach that goal - living life to it's fullest
I work alongside children and families across the country and even across the borders to help them effectively manage and control their tic symptoms and anxiety. I am a Tic expert, trained in Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics and a Child Anxiety specialist. My background in Occupational Therapy has given me the tools and knowledge to see clients through a lens that looks at them as a whole person. I ask myself the question: “How does this person’s daily life (sleep, diet, school, work, family function, sensory system, learning abilities, developmental abilities, cognition, executive function, preferred hobbies and extracurricular activities) impact the symptoms they are experiencing?” There’s strengths and weaknesses in all areas of our life. My job is to identify the strengths and figure out how the weaknesses can be transformed into skills and strategies that reduce symptoms and increase confidence. We are playing the long-game here. Therapy is meant to give you tools that you can implement independently throughout your life - no matter the age. That’s my goal - work myself out of a job and make you the expert in handling the challenges of tics and anxiety.
the journey
While studying for Occupational Therapy in graduate school at the University of Florida (go Gators!), I was introduced to Tic disorders and Tourette Syndrome. I was stunned by the lack of awareness of Tourette’s within the medical community and was immediately drawn to the neurological process, treatment, and effectiveness of CBIT therapy! In 2018, I became certified in the “Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics” program and was mentored by some of the most amazing psychologists and occupational therapists in this field. When I moved back to my kind-of small hometown (Stuart, FL), I realized how limited the access to this treatment was for both children and adults. After working with MANY clients with tics and Tourette Syndrome, I started to recognize the strong presence and pattern of anxiety and OCD within this population. I became a Child Anxiety Specialist in 2020 and have been able to impact so many more families through therapeutic interventions. Three23 Therapy, LLC was created in 2019 to transform the lives of children, families, and adults within this population through virtual therapy. This has been such an amazing resource to so many clients throughout the country (and across the pond). Limited access to good and effective therapy is a problem and part of my mission is to help close that gap, so families can live and vacation as they please, while still receiving excellent therapy!
my treatment approach
fun facts
THE NAME "THREE23" CAME FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES – “WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD…” COLOSSIANS 3:23
MY LITTLE DOG, HAZEL JOINS IN ON OUR THERAPY SESSIONS FROM TIME TO TIME!
I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WITH MY HUSBAND, SON, AND HAZEL. WE SPEND MOST DAYS OUTSIDE BOATING OR BY THE WATER
CBIT therapy
Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics (CBIT) includes weekly 1-1 video chat sessions for individuals wanting to significantly reduce their tics and associated symptoms in a short amount of time
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Child anxiety program
This family approach program is designed to teach anxious and worried children what goes on in their brain and body when worry shows up and how to take action steps to boss their worry around and decrease anxiety.