Support for Tics In Kitchener-Waterloo
Living Well With Tics.
A safe and supportive space where tics are understood, you feel less alone, and positive change becomes possible. Therapy services for tics are available in-person in Kitchener & Waterloo and through secure online therapy across Ontario.
Your body communicates in ways that deserve understanding
Tics can interrupt daily life in ways that feel frustrating, unpredictable, or hard to explain. Whether it’s concentrating, socializing, or simply getting through the day, the constant urges and movements can be exhausting. Tics often occur due to neurodevelopmental conditions such as Tourette syndrome, which involves differences in the brain’s signaling pathways and may have a genetic component. You may feel self-conscious, misunderstood, or overwhelmed, but you don’t have to manage it on your own. Support is available.
At Colibri NeuroWellness, we work with you to navigate tics with greater ease, confidence, and understanding.
Support for Tics | Kitchener & Waterloo
What Is Support for Tics And How Can It Help You?
Experiencing tics can make daily life feel challenging and hard to manage.
The persistent urges, the effort to manage them, and the reactions of others may leave you feeling self-conscious, misunderstood, or drained. When everyday moments feel more difficult than they should, you deserve a space where your experiences are recognized and supported.
At Colibri NeuroWellness, we understand that living with tics, whether from Tourette syndrome or another tic disorder, can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and sometimes isolating.
In a warm and welcoming environment, we offer evidence-based therapy tailored to your unique needs, including specialized approaches for Tourette syndrome and related conditions. During sessions, your therapist will work collaboratively with you to build practical tools, ease distress, and foster self-acceptance, helping you feel more comfortable in your body and daily life.
- Frequent or sudden movements or sounds that feel hard to control
- Strong urges that build up and are only relieved by performing a tic
- Tics that are more noticeable during stress, tiredness, or certain situations
- Feeling self-conscious, embarrassed, or worried about how others may react
- Difficulty focusing or staying engaged due to the presence of tics
- Physical discomfort, soreness, or tension related to repeated movements
- Frustration with trying to suppress tics or manage them throughout the day
- Avoiding social situations or activities due to fear of judgment or attention
Support for tics can help you better understand your body, build effective coping strategies, and feel more confident in your daily life.
Support for Tics | Kitchener & Waterloo
How Support for Tics Can Help
Build skills and confidence
Accept & Understand Yourself
Tic support at Colibri NeuroWellness offers a comfortable and supportive space for you to explore your experiences and better understand how urges and movements are part of your daily life. We also encourage self-acceptance by helping you see tics as a medical condition rather than a personal flaw, supporting the development of a positive self-image.
Practical Tools and Techniques
Evidence-based therapies, such as Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) offer structured techniques to manage and reduce tic symptoms.
Build Confidence & Self-Esteem
In a supportive, judgment-free environment, we will help build your self-esteem by normalizing your symptoms and focusing on your unique strengths. Using strategies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Strengths-Based Therapy, we can guide you in navigating social situations with greater confidence. As your self-worth and confidence grow, you’ll feel empowered to engage more fully in daily life.
Perform Daily Activities Easier
Tic support can help you navigate daily life by identifying specific triggers and developing strategies to manage them in real-time. It provides guidance on implementing accommodations at school or work, ensuring your environment is tailored to your needs.
By utilizing behavioural techniques to reduce the frequency and intensity of symptoms, you can focus more effectively on your tasks and engage in social interactions with greater ease and less distraction.
Reduce Worry & Stress
Since stress and fatigue can also make tics more noticeable, we will work with you to identify triggers and learn stress management techniques, such as relaxation exercises and Mindfulness.
Additional approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can teach skills to reframe anxious thoughts and manage stress.
Develop Coping Strategies
With approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we will help you learn to accept the thoughts, feelings, and urges that come with tics, rather than trying to fight against them, which often increases distress and makes the experience more difficult.
ACT also supports you in identifying your personal values, so you can use values-based coping strategies to manage tic-related challenges and make choices that enhance your quality of life.
Support For Families and Caregivers
Tic support also extends to family and caregivers, helping them understand tics and how to provide effective support. We will provide clear information about tics and their management, enabling loved ones to know what to expect and how to respond appropriately.
Families and caregivers will also learn practical strategies, including effective communication and ways to encourage positive coping skills. This guidance will strengthen the support system at home and promote a more understanding and supportive environment.
Monitor Progress & Adjust Strategies
Ongoing check-ins allow for tracking changes, identifying what works well, and addressing any challenges. This process enables timely modifications to management plans, ensuring strategies remain effective and tailored to current needs. Support also provides guidance and feedback, helping you stay motivated and engaged in your treatment, and promoting continued improvement in daily functioning.
Support for Tics | Kitchener & Waterloo
How Support for Tics Works
Support is tailored to you using proven, evidence-based methods.
We Get to Know You
We start by taking the time to learn about your experience, how urges and movements show up, when they tend to happen, and how they impact your day-to-day life. Your perspective matters, and our role is to understand, guide, and support you from a place that feels comfortable and respectful.
We Create A Support Plan
Together, we will design a personalized approach based on your goals and needs.
Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT)
CBIT is a type of therapy that can help you manage tics by teaching you to notice when one is about to occur and then use a different action to stop it. CBIT can also help you identify and reduce things that trigger tics, learn relaxation methods, and involve family or others for support. CBIT can lessen how often and how strongly your tics happen and your improve daily life without medication.
Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
Similar to CBIT, HRT can help you manage tics by increasing your awareness of both the tics and the urges that come before them. When you notice an urge, you will learn to use a “competing response”, which is a physical action that makes it harder for the tic to occur. For example, if you have a vocal tic, the competing response might be practicing slow, controlled breathing. Over time, using these techniques can reduce how often tics happen and make them less noticeable, helping you feel more in control.
We Provide Diverse Care
We recognize that no two experiences are the same. Our approach is flexible and inclusive, adapting CBIT-based strategies to fit your lifestyle, strengths, and environment so that support feels practical, relevant, and accessible.
We Help You Move Forward
As you continue, we will work alongside you to strengthen skills and apply them in real-life situations. We’ll adjust your approach as needed, helping you build confidence, reduce the impact of symptoms, and move forward at a pace that works for you.
Meet Our Team
Connect With A Therapist Who Provides Tic Support
Teodora Kostadinovska
MACP, RP(Q)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Amy Battistone
MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
We offer compassionate support in a safe and understanding space, both in-person and online, helping clients feel comfortable exploring their experiences. Through a genuine and collaborative approach, we support individuals in developing practical tools to manage tics and feel more at ease in daily life.
Support for Tics | Kitchener & Waterloo
Questions About Support for Tics
How can I tell if what I’m experiencing are tics or something else?
Tics are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that can feel difficult to control. They’re often preceded by an urge or tension that builds up and is temporarily relieved after the tic occurs. While occasional habits or movements can be common, tics tend to happen repeatedly and may change over time. If you’re unsure what you’re experiencing, speaking with a professional can help you better understand your symptoms and whether support would be helpful.
Can tics go away on their own, or should I seek support?
In many cases, tics can lessen or even go away over time, especially in children. However, if they are frequent, worsening, or impacting daily life, such as school, work, or social situations, additional support can be helpful. Seeking guidance doesn’t mean something is wrong; it simply provides you with tools and strategies to better manage what you’re experiencing.
Why do my symptoms seem worse at certain times?
Tics can become more noticeable during periods of stress, fatigue, or strong emotions. They may also increase when you’re relaxed or paying more attention to them. These patterns are very common and don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Understanding your personal triggers can be an important step in learning how to manage them more effectively.
Why is it so hard to stop or control them?
Tics are not something you can simply “turn off.” They’re often driven by an internal urge that builds until it’s released through the movement or sound. While some people can briefly delay them, this usually increases discomfort. Therapy focuses on working with your body by building awareness and using strategies that make urges easier to manage over time.
Will I need medication to manage tics?
Not necessarily. Many people benefit from behavioural approaches like Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT), which focuses on practical skills to manage urges and reduce their impact. Medication may be considered in some cases, but it’s not always required. Support is tailored to your needs and preferences.
Have more questions? See All FAQs
Support for Tics | Kitchener & Waterloo
How Life Can Feel After Support for Tics
Seeking support for tics is a step toward building confidence and daily comfort.
- Fewer disruptions in your day as you learn to respond to urges more effectively.
- Feeling more comfortable in social and public settings without as much worry about reactions.
- Understanding your patterns and triggers in a way that makes them feel more manageable.
- Experiencing less physical strain or tension from repeated movements.
- Feeling more confident navigating situations that used to feel overwhelming.
- Building a sense of ease and trust in your ability to handle challenges as they arise.
"My tics do not define me—they are just one part of my story."
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.