Our Story

I have a master’s degree in Communication Design with a concentration in Innovation Studies, and a minor in Cultural Anthropology from the University of North Texas. I am currently a Professor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I joined the faculty in 2014. Teaching brings balance to my life, offering me the opportunity to channel my creativity and contribute to a greater purpose. Whether I'm engaged in one-on-one sessions, facilitating large group discussions, or active in our community, I derive immense motivation and joy from collaborating with others and supporting them in unlocking their full potential.

In 2023, my proposal to establish and brand a support group for Tourette syndrome was approved, granting me a year-long sabbatical to dedicate to this endeavor. My vision is to cultivate a welcoming and nurturing environment where individuals can freely share their experiences, acquire knowledge, and extend and receive genuine support.

Tourette syndrome can be a complex tapestry of emotions and behaviors, often overwhelming to navigate. My own family faced considerable challenges during my adolescent years, but through our journey, I've come to realize that understanding Tourette syndrome isn't something that can be achieved in isolation. Having a supportive community of people who truly understand one another, can be transformative.

My oldest son has motor tic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, while my youngest son has Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and tendencies of Oppositional Defiant Disorder. We talk about these conditions with pride, and we also rely on effective communication and mindfulness to confront our challenges together. We encourage each other to identify positive lessons from the hurdles we encounter in hopes a new perspective may be revealed. This is how we try to support one another in our home, and it has been our lifeline.

I've witnessed firsthand the invaluable support that comes from connecting with others facing similar challenges. Community can be another lifeline. Identity can play an important role in helping to establish a community, as it shows the world something exists, and also gives form and life to an idea. During the creative process of developing Tourette Support & Education's visual identity, I involved both of my sons in a unique exercise. Using bingo daubers, crayons, and oil pastels, I encouraged them to freely express themselves on paper, allowing their tics to naturally influence their artwork. The result was breathtaking, their tics beautifully captured on paper, serving as the primary visual element for our support group. While Tourette syndrome may not always be perceived as beautiful, it's essential to acknowledge those moments when it is. It's within these moments that I believe individuals can truly learn to embrace and love themselves.

My familiarity with Tourette syndrome is all-encompassing, and I will draw upon these experiences to organize and facilitate the support group meetings. I firmly believe that by coming together, we can create a positive impact on each other's lives through encouragement, support, and genuine care. I invite you to join us every first Wednesday of the month as we strive to make a difference together.

Prior to my first semester in graduate school, Dr. Woods suggested that I serve as a counselor at an overnight camp for 150 children with tic disorders. At the camp, I got to have fun playing games and swimming with kids in an environment where others understood the difficulties related to their tics. I also had the opportunity to watch a camp psychologist use behavioral techniques to help children manage their tics in this setting with many tic exacerbating stimuli. This crucial experience fostered my interest in treating children with tics, and several years later, I served on the camp’s board of directors where I helped develop educational and supportive programs to benefit those with tics and their families.

I have a variety of clinical experiences in outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient/residential settings, and at my practice, I approach intervention through a theory-guided, evidence-based framework. I utilize comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and habit reversal training (HRT). Additionally, I have been engaged in clinical research focused on the assessment and treatment of tics and related disorders and have published 25 original research articles in professional peer-reviewed journals, three book chapters, and co-edited one book.

I look forward to working with this Tourette Support Group to help educate individuals with tic disorders and their families.