Treating tics in young people: how CBIT actually works

Tics are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that a child produces involuntarily, for example a rapid eye blink, a shoulder shrug, a throat clear that just won't stop. When tics persist for more than a year, the condition is diagnosed as either Tourette Syndrome (when both motor and vocal tics are present) or a chronic tic disorder. These are neurodevelopmental conditions, meaning they arise from how the brain develops, and they typically first appear in childhood. For many young people, tics are mild and manageable. For others, they cause real distress, drawing unwanted attention, disrupting concentration, and affecting confidence and quality of life. This article explains what psychological therapy for tics actually looks like.

What it involves

Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is the psychological therapy with the strongest evidence base. It is structured around several core components:

Psychoeducation. Making sense of what tics are, how they develop, and what tends to make them better or worse.

Awareness training. Learning to notice the physical urge or sensation that comes just before a tic occurs.

Competing response training. Practising a specific alternative movement when the urge arises — one that is incompatible with the tic — until the urge passes.

Relaxation training. Managing the tension and stress that can precede or worsen tics.

Functional intervention. Identifying situations or daily triggers that increase tics, and making practical adjustments where possible.

Behavioural rewards. Reinforcing effort and progress throughout treatment, particularly for younger children.

What this means for your family

The main thing to take away is that while tics are not curable, psychological therapy can help young people manage their tics. Treatment involves a structured set of skills that target how tics are triggered and maintained.

CBIT asks something active of your child. Learning to notice the urge before a tic, and to do something different in that moment, takes practice and patience. Progress tends to be gradual rather than sudden, and tics may not disappear entirely — but meaningful reductions in severity and the distress they cause are a realistic goal.

If tics are affecting your child's confidence, schooling, or day-to-day life, an assessment is the right place to start. It can provide clarity on what is going on, and the treatment options available.

Reference McGuire, J. F., Murphy, T. K., Piacentini, J., & Storch, E. A. (2018). Introduction to treatment and management of youth with Tourette Disorders and TIC disorders. The Clinician's Guide to Treatment and Management of Youth with Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-811980-8.00001-7

Authored by Hana Kowalczyk. Clinically reviewed by Dr Cynthia Turner, Clinical Psychologist, The Moore Centre.

This article is general information, not a substitute for individual assessment. If tics are affecting a young person's day-to-day life, get in touch — we see children, adolescents and adults in person at the Annerley rooms, by telephone, or by Zoom.