Tourette’s syndrome and other tic disorders, body focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have often been seen as rare disorders; however, we now know they are much more common than many people think.

Tourette’s syndrome affects nearly 1% of the population, and approximately 20% of people experience at least one tic over their lifetime. Tics can be embarrassing and painful and can make it hard to function and live to your potential. Medications for tics are frequently ineffective and can have devastating side effects. That is why I feel passionately that Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) should be available to anyone who is interested in pursuing it.

Body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) is a general term for a group of related disorders that includes hair pulling, skin picking, and nail-biting. BFRBs affect at least 5% of the population. These behaviors can have an enormous impact on people’s lives and often lead to feelings of shame and isolation. That being said, recently published research shows that behavior therapy is the most effective treatment for BFRBs, and many people see significant improvement with this short-term therapy approach.

OCD affects nearly 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children. OCD can take up many hours of a person’s day and severely affect their relationships and other aspects of their lives. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective treatment that can help you to get your life back from the tyranny of OCD.

If you are interested in learning more about the evidence-based therapies I use to treat tics, BFRBs, and OCD we can talk by phone. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help you decide if these therapies feel like a good match for you or your child.