gold-standard treatment for tics and Tourette's. Proven to reduce tics by 50%
tools for tics
Tic Tamer Lab is a live, therapist-led telehealth program built around Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) — the most well-researched, evidence-based treatment for tics and Tourette Syndrome. Over 8 weeks, kids and teens log on weekly to learn exactly how tics work, develop personalized strategies to reduce tics, and build a toolkit of skills they can use anywhere — at school, at home, and beyond.
Think of it like a classroom-style lab: each session is live and taught by Emily Reid, Occupational Therapist and CBIT specialist, but there's no pressure to be on camera or interact with other participants. Everyone follows the same curriculum and works at their own pace between sessions — applying what they learn to their own unique tic patterns and daily life. It's an accessible, affordable way for families to get real, effective CBIT guidance from home, without the intensity of one-on-one therapy.
What Families Learn
Each week builds on the last, combining education, guided practice, and family collaboration to support long-term success.
Over 8 weeks, participants and parents will:
- Understand how tics work in the brain and body — and why that knowledge changes everything
- Understand the tic cycle and how to interrupt reinforcement patterns
- Build self-awareness and learn to recognize tic urges before the tic happens
- Learn and develop individualized Competing Response (CR) strategies tailored to their specific tics
- Identify personal tic triggers and environmental influences
- Strengthen emotional regulation and executive function skills
- Build healthy routines around sleep, exercise, and nutrition that support tic management
- Add a variety of strategies to a personal toolkit — so there's always something to reach for
- Gain confidence applying CBIT techniques independently, in real-world situations
By the end of the program, families will have a clear, practical understanding of how to use CBIT at home — and the confidence to keep making progress long after the program ends.
Tic Tamer Lab Overview
- Camera-optional group sessions — participants follow along during teaching portions without any obligation to be on camera or speak; comfort comes first
- Private one-on-one breakout sessions — each participant meets individually with the therapist during the program, where they can feel more at ease working through their personalized strategies on screen
- Lab-style learning — everyone follows the same evidence-based CBIT curriculum each week, then applies it to their own tics, triggers, and daily life
- Personalized strategies — while the teaching content is shared, each participant develops their own individualized Competing Response (CR) strategies tailored to their specific tics
- Parent/guardian participation required — caregivers are an essential part of CBIT and are expected to attend each session to support practice at home
- Practice between sessions — short, manageable home practice each week is where the real progress happens; skills are reinforced between sessions, not just during them
- Low pressure, high impact — learn at your own comfort level while still receiving the full benefit of evidence-based CBIT treatment
Sessions are live video sessions via telehealth, held once a week for 8 weeks. Each session runs approximately 60–75 minutes.
Program Cost
8-Week Program: $600 More than half the cost of individual one-on-one CBIT sessions — significant savings for your family!
All major credit cards and HSA/FSA cards are accepted.
Program Schedule
Start Date: April 16, 2026
Weekly Sessions: Thursdays, 5:00–6:00 PM EST
Spots Limited to 10 Participants
How to Enroll
Start with a short online inquiry form. This helps clarify your child's needs and confirm the program is the right fit. Emily will review your submission and schedule a brief intake call to discuss eligibility, walk through the program, or recommend next steps if another option would serve your family better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all. Sessions are completely camera-optional, and there's no pressure to speak or interact during the group teaching portions. Your child can follow along however feels most comfortable to them. There is a private one-on-one breakout built into the program where your child will meet with me individually — that's a great time to get more comfortable on screen if they'd like, but it's always at their pace. Comfort comes first here.
My child has ADHD, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities alongside their tics. Is this program still a good fit?
Yes — and honestly, this is the norm, not the exception. Most of the kids I work with have co-occurring ADHD, anxiety, or sensory needs alongside their tics. CBIT strategies can be adapted to meet each child where they are, and the additional tools we cover in Tic Tamer Lab — emotional regulation, executive function, sleep, and more — directly support those challenges too. If you're unsure whether the program is the right fit for your child's specific needs, just reach out. I'm happy to talk it through before you commit.
The sessions are just the beginning. Every family also receives a 100+ page workbook covering everything you need to successfully understand and manage tics — it's yours to keep and reference long after the program ends. The goal is for you to walk away feeling genuinely equipped to handle this independently, not reliant on ongoing therapy to maintain progress.
Traditional CBIT can take months of weekly sessions to work through — Tic Tamer Lab condenses that same evidence-based content into 8 packed weeks, so your family gets results faster and at a fraction of the cost. You still get individualized attention through private one-on-one breakout sessions with me, plus a 100+ page workbook and a full toolkit of strategies you can implement on your own time, long after the program ends. It's CBIT made accessible, affordable, and built for independence.
Tic Tamer Lab is designed for kids and teens ages 6–18, but adults are absolutely welcome too! Whether you're a parent looking to understand your own tics or an adult who has never had access to CBIT before, this program gives you the same evidence-based tools and full toolkit to start making real progress. If you're not sure whether it's the right fit for your specific situation, just reach out — I'm happy to help you figure it out.
