CBIT Therapy in Kitchener-Waterloo
Improve Your Quality of Life
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is an evidence-based, highly structured, non-medication therapy designed to help individuals with tic disorders, including Tourette Syndrome. Through personalized sessions with a trained therapist, CBIT empowers individuals to manage their tics more effectively, improve daily functioning, and enhance their quality of life.
When the pressure keeps building
That urge or “must-do” feeling grows so strong that it’s impossible to ignore. Once the tic happens, the pressure goes away for a moment, but this cycle can be frustrating and make it difficult to focus on your day or enjoy time with friends. You worry about what others might think, which can make you feel like avoiding social situations or staying away from group activities.
At Colibri NeuroWellness, we support you in building confidence and reduce your tic frequency and severity, so you can engage more comfortably in social, academic, and everyday activities.
CBIT Therapy | Kitchener & Waterloo
What Is CBIT Therapy?
CBIT helps identify situations or environments that make your tics worse and works with you to find practical ways to manage or adjust those triggers. The goal is not to cure tics, but to give you tools and strategies to manage them.
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is a proven, non-medication approach that helps people with Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders manage both physical and vocal tics.
Recognized by the American Academy of Neurology as a first-choice treatment option, CBIT teaches you practical skills to reduce how often tics occur and how strong they feel. Through Habit Reversal Training (HRT), you will learn to notice the early warning signs of a tic and practice alternative actions that can help prevent the tic from happening. CBIT also helps you identify situations that might trigger your tics and find ways to manage them. Because stress can make tics worse, relaxation techniques are also used to help you feel calmer and more in control.
At Colibri NeuroWellness, CBIT therapy can help you build confidence and increase your quality of life by teaching practical strategies for recognizing urges and using competing responses to manage your tics.
- Frustrated or upset because you cannot control them
- Embarrassed or self-conscious in social situations
- Exhausted from the effort to supress them
- Ashamed or guilty about affecting others around you
- Distressed by the reactions of family or peers
- Isolated or reluctant to participate in group settings
- Anxious about when they will occur or how severe it will be
- Concerned about being teased or bullied
- Distracted or unable to concentrate at school or work
- Limited in your daily activities or hobbies
CBIT Therapy at Colibri NeuroWellness equips you with practical strategies to help you regain control of your body
CBIT Therapy | Kitchener & Waterloo
How CBIT Therapy Can Help
Take control
Reduce Tic Frequency & Severity
CBIT focuses on teaching you specific physical techniques that help lower the number of tics you experience each day. By practicing these methods, your tics can become less intense and less noticeable, making it easier to focus on your daily activities without constant interruption.
Practical Non-Medicinal Tools
This therapy provides you with a “toolkit” of behavioural strategies that you can use in real-time, wherever you are. Because these are physical techniques rather than medication prescriptions, they offer a way to manage symptoms without the side effects often associated with medication, giving you a natural way to regain control.
Enhance Self-Confidence & Social Comfort
Many people find that as they learn to manage their tics, they feel less anxious about how others might react in social settings. This sense of mastery over your body can help you feel more at ease during school, work, or social gatherings, allowing you to participate more fully in the things you love.
Increase Awareness of Premonitory Urges
You will learn to identify the “warning signs”, which are those specific physical sensations or urges that happen just before a tic occurs. By becoming more aware of these signals, you can use your management strategies earlier, which often helps you manage the tic before it fully happens.
Identify & Modify Environmental Triggers
We will work together to look at your daily routine and identify specific situations, such as high stress, excitement, or fatigue, that might make your tics more frequent. Once these triggers are identified, we develop practical plans to adjust your environment or your response to it, making your day-to-day life more comfortable.
Gain Long-Term Skills
The techniques you learn in CBIT are designed to stay with you for the rest of your life. Even if your tics change over time or new ones appear in the future, you will have the framework and confidence to apply these same principles independently, ensuring you are always prepared to manage your symptoms.
CBIT Therapy | Kitchener & Waterloo
How Does CBIT Therapy Work?
We use evidence-based approaches that are personalized to you. Depending on your needs, your Colibri NeuroWellness therapist may integrate:
Assessment and Education
You and your therapist will talk about your tics and learn together about how CBIT works, so you know what to expect from therapy.
Awareness Training
You will learn how to notice the feelings or urges that happen before your tics (“premonitory urges”), making it easier to understand when they might occur.
Competing Response Training
Using proven techniques, your therapist will help you practice new actions or habits that you can use instead of your tics when you feel an urge.
For example, if someone has a motor tic involving shoulder shrugging, a competing response might be gently pressing their arms down and holding them still. If the tic is vocal, the competing response might be slow, controlled breathing. The goal is to interrupt the tic cycle and reduce its frequency by replacing it with a more manageable or less noticeable action.
Relaxation Training
Stress and anxiety often make tics worse, so CBIT includes relaxation tools to help you calm your body and handle stress more effectively.
Strategy Development
You and your therapist will work together to find practical ways to manage your tics in everyday life, whether at home, school, or work.
Ongoing Support and Adjustment
Your progress is checked regularly, and your therapist will help you adjust your strategies so you can keep improving and feeling supported.
Meet Our Team
Connect With a CBIT Therapist for In-Person or Online Sessions
Teodora Kostadinovska
MACP, RP(Q)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Amy Battistone
MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
We provide Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), offering evidence-based strategies and practical management plans to help you recognize urges, use competing responses, and improve confidence and quality of life at home, school, and work.
CBIT Therapy | Kitchener & Waterloo
Questions About CBIT Therapy
Does CBIT actually work?
CBIT is a well-studied therapy that helps many people with tic disorders, including Tourette syndrome, manage their symptoms without medication. Leading medical organizations recommend CBIT because it is safe and effective for both children and adults. Research shows that about 60% to 70% of people who complete CBIT see a significant reduction in how often and how severe their tics are, and most report lasting improvements in their daily life.
Follow-up data from clinical trials indicate that about 80% of children and adults who experienced significant benefits from CBIT continued to see reduced tic severity and frequency for at least 6 months after completing therapy (Woods et al., 2011; Piacentini et al., 2010). Longer-term follow-ups suggest that many individuals retain these gains for a year or more, especially when they continue to use CBIT strategies as needed. While some people may see tics return or change over time, most maintain noticeable improvements in tic management and quality of life after CBIT.
Who can benefit from CBIT?
CBIT can help children, teens, and adults who have Tourette syndrome or other tic disorders. Many people find that CBIT helps them reduce how often tics happen and how much tics affect their daily life. However, everyone is different; some people notice big improvements, while others may see only small changes or need extra support. If CBIT isn’t enough on its own, we can talk with you about other options that might help. The goal is to find the right combination of strategies to support your well-being
Is CBIT a cure for tics?
CBIT is not a cure for tics, but it can be a very helpful tool for managing them. Many people who try CBIT find that their tics become less frequent or less noticeable, making it easier to go about daily activities. It’s important to remember that while CBIT may not make tics disappear completely, it can give you practical skills and strategies to help you feel more in control.
How long does CBIT take before I notice a change?
Most individuals begin to notice changes from CBIT within 4 to 8 weeks of starting therapy. CBIT typically consists of weekly sessions over 8 to 10 weeks, with progress depending on tic severity, engagement in practice, and individual factors. Some may experience improvement sooner, while others may require additional sessions or ongoing support for sustained benefit
Are parents or caregivers involved in CBIT for children?
Yes, parents and caregivers play an important role in CBIT when it’s used with children. They are often included in sessions so they can learn about tics and understand the techniques their child is practicing. By being involved, parents and caregivers can help their child practice new skills at home, encourage progress, and provide extra support when needed. This teamwork can make CBIT more effective and help children feel more confident as they work on managing their tics.
Does CBIT involve medication?
No, CBIT does not use any medication. It is a type of behavioral therapy, which means it focuses on teaching practical skills and strategies to help manage tics. Some people use CBIT by itself, while others may combine it with medication if their doctor thinks it could be helpful. We will work with you to find the treatment plan that fits your needs best, whether that includes CBIT alone or together with other options. The goal is to help you feel more comfortable and in control of your tics.
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CBIT Therapy | Kitchener & Waterloo
How Life Can Feel After CBIT Therapy
CBIT empowers you to navigate your daily life with greater confidence and a sense of physical control.
- Increased confidence in social situations
- Greater control over your tics
- Feeling less anxious about your symptoms
- Improved concentration at school or work
- More comfort participating in group activities
- Feeling empowered to manage urges independently
- Reduced frustration related to tics
- An overall improvement in your quality of life
“Having tics doesn’t mean you’re less capable. It just means you’re unique.”
Colibri NeuroWellness
How To Get Started
You deserve to feel supported and understood, and connecting with us is simple. You can reach out in the way that works best for you.
Book a free 20-minute consultation online, send a message through the form, or contact us by phone or email.
226-212-4842
info@colibrineurowellness.com
826 King Street North, Unit 17, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4G8
We provide in-person therapy in Waterloo and surrounding communities, including Kitchener, Cambridge, Elmira, and St. Jacobs. For those across Ontario, we also offer secure virtual therapy so you can access support from the comfort of your home.