Welcome to Online OTs

Tics are frequent, unvoluntary, sudden, and repetitive muscle movements (motor tics) and uttered sounds (vocal tics). They tend to be distracting, frustrating, painful, stressful, and embarrassing. Tics wax and wane, with spikes during times of fatigue, anxiety, excitement, sedentary behavior, and boredom. Some tics last a lifetime while others fade away with time. Common motor tics include repetitive blinking and unusual eye movements, shoulder shrugging, and head jerks. Common vocal tics include throat clearing, coughing, saying words, and uttering  short phrases. Some people with Tourette's also have a condition that causes them to say taboo words and phrases such as swears and racial slurs. They do not do this intentionally and often feel extremely upset about the situation. Tics also can involve complex movements and sounds such as torso twisting with facial and neck movement accompanied by a high pitched noise. 

CBIT Therapy with Online OTs is an effective and empowering strategy to manage tics. Tic Disorders that we treat include:

• Tourette Syndrome 

                 (Tourette Disorder, Tourette's, TS)

• Provisional Tic Disorder 
• Persistent Tic Disorder

Learn more about Tic Disorders and Tourette here.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a physical, emotional, and sensory impairment that is related to an abnormality in how the brain processes information rather than structural damage in the brain. FND symptoms seem to occur suddenly but are often preceded by lengthy period s of heightened anxiety and loneliness. People with FND benefit from a proper diagnosis by a neurologist and guidance managing stress and building community.  Online OTs helps patients with FND to regain hope and independence while learning to inhibit unwanted and unvoluntary movements with CBIT competing responses and ComB situational awareness.

Online OTs treat s children and adults with the following FND conditions:

• Functional tic-like behavior
• TikTok Tics (functional tic-like behavior related to social media)
• Functional tremors 
• Functional blindness for ADL training

Learn more about FND here.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB) are compulsive and habitual grooming actions that cause significant physical damage to hair, skin, or nails. Online OTs utilizes two habit reversal programs (the ComB protocol and CBIT Therapy) to address unwanted repetitive behaviors. The ComB model was designed specifically for concerns such as excessive hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting to address some of the sensory, cognitive, and emotional triggers. CBIT, which was initially used to address tics and Tourette Syndrome, enables patients and therapists a means to better understand the anatomy and physiology behind behaviors. With Online OTs, patients learn to use common household items as barriers to habitual actions and are introduced to wearable technology when appropriate. Training in CBIT Competing Responses also decreases unwanted movements and behaviors, as well as the urges that precede them.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors include:

• Excoriation (skin picking)
• Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
• Onychophagia (nail biting or chewing)
• Onychotillomania (nail picking and pulling)
• Lip Bite Keratosis (lip biting)
• Cheek Keratosis (biting of inner cheeks)

Learn more about BFRB here.

Online OTs strongly supports people with Autism who have repetitive behaviors such as tics or other rapid  movements. We get that those actions sometime are soothing, necessary, and automatic. Although the movements can be helpful at times, they also sometimes may hinder the ability to socialize with others, to perform daily tasks, and to communicate needs. Online OTs is here for you in whatever way works for you and your family. We can teach CBIT competing responses to manage the repetitive behaviors when you want to, as well as use ComB to gain better understanding of how the behaviors occur in regard to environment, affect, sensory input, and the movement of your muscles. We reinforce the use of engaging activities and exercise, as well as companionship, time spent outdoors and  in public spaces, and advocacy.

 Our goal is not to stop stimming all together. We know that stims tend to be self-soothing for people with ASD and are a way to cope with daily demands.

Please reach out to us if you want some compassionate support related to stemming, tics, or BFRB.