About Us

Modern wooden house with stone steps and outdoor landscaping, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and distant mountains during sunrise or sunset.

At the Victorian Tourette’s Clinic, we believe that every person who experiences tics deserves to feel understood, respected, and supported — not judged or dismissed.

Our clinic was established to provide a dedicated, evidence-based service for children, adolescents, and adults living with tic disorders and Tourette’s syndrome across Australia.

We take a neurodiverse-affirming approach — which means we don’t see tics as something to be fixed, but as part of a person’s unique neurodevelopmental profile. Our goal is to help people build knowledge, confidence, and choice. For some, that may include reducing or even eliminating certain tics through behavioural therapy; for others, it’s about developing strategies to manage stress, self-esteem, or school and social life.

Our Focus

We specialise in the behavioural treatment of tic disorders using Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT) — a highly researched, practical, and collaborative therapy recommended by the Tourette Association of America and the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS).

Our clinicians also understand that not everyone benefits in the same way, and we adapt our work to meet each person’s needs — sometimes integrating Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) or other supportive approaches when these are better suited.

We also work with individuals who experience functional tic-like behaviours (FND-related tics), offering assessment, education, and behavioural strategies tailored to this presentation.

Who We Support

We see:

  • Children and teens who are just beginning to notice tics, or who feel anxious or frustrated by them

  • Adults who may have lived with tics for years but are now seeking practical tools and understanding

  • Parents and families who want to learn how to support their child at home and school

  • Professionals and psychologists seeking guidance, supervision, or CBIT training

Everyone is welcome. Our sessions are calm, friendly, and collaborative — with space for curiosity, learning, and sometimes laughter.

Our Team

The clinic is led by Ivan Mathieson, Clinical Psychologist and one of Australia’s earliest practitioners trained in CBIT through the Tourette Association of America’s Behavioural Therapy Institute in 2017. Ivan has since seen hundreds of children, adolescents, and adults for behavioural interventions and co-developed national CBIT training programmes for psychologists.

Our team includes psychologists Madi Fuge and Kezia Matheson, both of whom have completed the TSAA-endorsed “Behavioural Interventions for Tic Disorders” training at the University of New South Wales, and are deeply committed to providing affirming, compassionate care for people with tics and Tourette’s.

A modern wooden house with vertical wooden siding is situated on a grassy hillside with tall grass. Small trees are in the foreground, with a large body of water and mountains in the background. The scene is at sunrise or sunset, with soft, pastel sky colors.
Scenic outdoor landscape with paved stone pathway, large rocks, green shrubbery, rolling grassy hills, and snow-capped mountains in the background during daytime.

Our Values

Acceptance – We meet every person with respect, validation, and warmth.

Evidence – Our interventions are grounded in science and continuously informed by current research.

Collaboration – We work closely with families, schools, and health professionals.

Growth – We aim to build confidence, resilience, and self-understanding.

Our Vision

We want every person in Australia living with tics or Tourette’s syndrome to have access to high-quality, evidence-based, and affirming care — without long waiting lists or stigma. Through therapy, training, and community connection, we’re helping to make that vision real.