Assertiveness training in the treatment of a child's tics

Tic activity has long been an area for clinical intervention by behavior therapists. Most techniques have involved approaches that require direct focusing on the tic itself (e.g. habit reversal). For some people, however, such a direct focus may not be clinically appropriate. This article describes a child who, in addition to suffering from tics, was also extremely unassertive. It was observed that unassertive behavior often preceded tic activity. Assertiveness training provided the child with a self-control technique with which he was able to control and eventually eliminate his tic activity.