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Habit Reversal Training (HRT) is a structured, evidence-informed therapy approach often used for body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs) and tic-related concerns. HRT focuses on building awareness of a behaviour, identifying triggers, and practising alternative responses that reduce the urge and interrupt the habit loop.
HRT is skill-based and collaborative. The focus is practical: understanding when the behaviour happens, what increases risk, and what helps you respond differently in the moment.
HRT is commonly used to support concerns such as:
The first step is learning to notice the behaviour earlier—what it looks like, how it starts, and what typically comes before it (situations, emotions, sensations, thoughts).
You practise a specific action that is physically incompatible with the habit. The goal is to have a realistic alternative you can use when an urge shows up.
Stimulus control focuses on changing the environment and routines that increase risk. This might involve reducing cues, adding friction, or making “high-risk” moments easier to manage.
HRT supports motivation by clarifying goals, tracking progress, and reinforcing what is improving—without relying on shame or self-criticism.
Skills are practised in different settings so improvements carry beyond sessions. Maintenance planning focuses on preventing relapse and responding effectively if urges return.
You and your therapist identify the behaviour, how often it occurs, and what tends to trigger it. Simple logs may be used to spot patterns.
Therapy focuses on the situations that most commonly lead to the behaviour—stress, fatigue, boredom, certain environments, or specific sensations.
Competing responses are selected and practised until they feel usable. The plan is adjusted based on what works in real life.
Sessions may include stress-management strategies, routine adjustments, and practical changes to reduce exposure to triggers.
Progress is tracked over time, and setbacks are treated as information—used to refine strategies and strengthen long-term follow-through.
Goals vary, but many people seek:
At The Cohen Clinic, HRT is offered as a structured, supportive approach focused on practical skills and steady progress. If you are looking for Habit Reversal Training in Toronto, our psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers can help you build an individualized plan that fits your triggers, goals, and daily life.