Laura Grünwald, OTR/L | Occupational Therapy for Tics & BFRBs

Do tics or body-focused repetitive behaviors get in the way of daily life?

Do you find that your tics or body-focused repetitive behaviors (like hair pulling, skin picking, or nail biting) interfere with doing the things you enjoy?
Do they leave you feeling frustrated, self-conscious, or embarrassed because of unwanted attention?
Are you dealing with discomfort or pain from repetitive movements or sounds?

You're not alone — and support can help.

How I Can Help

I help children, teens, and adults better understand their tics or body-focused repetitive behaviors and learn practical, evidence-based strategies to manage them in everyday life.

Together, we will:

Build awareness of urges, patterns, and triggers
Learn individualized strategies to reduce the impact of symptoms
Practice skills that support participation at school, work, and home
Develop confidence and a greater sense of control

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and client-centered. Treatment is tailored to your unique needs, strengths, and goals — with a focus on helping you feel more comfortable, capable, and confident moving through the world.

About Me

My name is Laura Grünwald, and I am an occupational therapist specializing in the treatment of chronic tic disorder, Tourette syndrome, and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), including hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting.

I hold a Master's degree in Psychology from the University of Vienna (2007) and a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Utah (2023). I work with children, teens, and adults, helping them build awareness of their symptoms and develop individualized, evidence-based strategies that fit into their daily lives.

My approach is client-centered and collaborative. I believe meaningful change happens when clients feel understood, empowered, and actively involved in their care. I am deeply passionate about helping people take charge of their lives, reduce the impact of their symptoms, and move toward greater confidence, independence, and happiness.

I practice from a neurodiversity-affirming framework and am proud to offer an LGBTQ+-welcoming, inclusive space for all clients.

Services

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)

CBIT is a non-medicated, first-line treatment for chronic tics and Tourette Syndrome and is recommended by the Tourette Association of America and the American Academy of Neurology.

CBIT focuses on helping clients:

Increase awareness of tics and premonitory urges
Learn and practice competing responses to reduce tic expression
Identify and modify daily routines or environmental factors that influence tic frequency and severity
Build confidence managing tics across home, school, and community settings

CBIT has been shown to significantly reduce tic severity in both children and adults, with improvements maintained after treatment ends.

Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment for BFRBs

The ComB approach is an individualized, functional treatment model for hair-pulling (trichotillomania), skin-picking (excoriation disorder), nail biting (onychophagia), and other BFRBs.

Treatment includes:

Identifying the unique sensory, cognitive, emotional, motor, and environmental (SCAMP) factors that maintain the behavior
Developing customized strategies such as sensory substitutions, emotional regulation tools, cognitive reframing, and environmental supports
Building on Habit Reversal Training (HRT) while addressing the full range of triggers and maintaining factors

ComB is collaborative and flexible, helping clients develop sustainable strategies that fit their real-world lives.

Service Details

Services for:

Children ages 9 and up
Teens
Adults

Offered:

In-person in Salt Lake City, UT
Online in UT

Fees (Private Pay)

Session Fees

Phone consultation (15 min) Free

Intake session (90-120 min) $250

Each therapy session (55 min) $160

Cancellation Policy

You are free to cancel any of your appointments up until 24 hours before the appointment. If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, or if you simply don't show up to your appointment, you will be charged the full rate of the therapy session.

Contact

Laura Grünwald, MSc, MOT, OTR/L

2319 S Foothill Drive, Suite 275

Salt Lake City, UT 84109

Call or text: (801) 513-1894

Email: laura@lauragrunwald.com

Behavioral Interventions for Tics, Tourette, Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, and other BFRBs