Dr. Kelly Ann Cartwright, PsyD

Psychologist

Certified CBIT Therapist

(she/her/elle)

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL SERVICES

Dr. Cartwright is currently accepting new clients and a wait list for services

Dr. Cartwright specializes in the psychological evaluation and treatment of tics and tic disorders, and can help you better understand, accept and manage your own tics, or those of someone you love.

In addition to tics, whether you are struggling with anxiety, relationship concerns, coping challenges, obsessive-compulsive symptoms or OCD, or emotional anguish, Dr. Cartwright will work with you to learn new skills and overcome your difficulties. And when life becomes complicated, as it sometimes does, she will offer you a listening ear, a caring heart, and active support, helping you to find balance in the midst of change.

Dr. Cartwright’s practice is grounded in the beliefs that everyone sometimes experiences difficulties as a normal part of the human condition, and that every person regardless of their strengths and difficulties is of equal value. She will affirm your lived experience and work with you to reduce any self-judgment or stigma you may feel. She is LGBTQ-positive, neurodiversity-affirming, and will celebrate the unique aspects of identity that make you You.

Dr. Cartwright’s approach is integrative, drawing mainly from client-centered (humanistic) and cognitive behavioral (CBT) therapies. Your therapy will be personalized to who you are as a person and to the areas that you would like to improve. With this approach, therapy can help you restore your sense of calm and experience a greater feeling of well-being in your daily life.

Qualifications
& Current Activities

Licensed Psychologist with the Order of Psychologists of Québec
Certified CBIT therapist (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics), certified with the Tourette Syndrome Behavioral Therapy Institute (TS-BTI) of the Tourette Association of America (TAA)
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from the University of Montréal
Co-investigator of the research study Unraveling the Tapestry of Tourette's: A Lifespan Exploration of Women's Unique Experiences and Challenges, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Clinical Coordinator of Projet CoBRA, a randomized, controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of Cognitive Psychophysiological therapy for tics with the addition of BioFeedback, Laboratoire d'études des troubles de l'ordre de la psychopathologie à l'enfance (LETOPE), Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Services offered in English and French

Client Focus

Adults

Children, Teens & Adults with Tics

Clinicians

Concerns

Anxiety Disorders
Tics and Tourette Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Adjustment Difficulties

Relationship Concerns

Neuro-Affirming Supportive Therapy

LGBTQIA-Affirming Therapy

Approaches

Client-Centered
Humanistic
Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT)
CBIT for tics

CoPs for tics

Integration of other therapeutic approaches as helpful

Services Offered

Individual Psychotherapy for Adults

Specialized Psychotherapies for Tics & Tourette

Parent Consultation Regarding Tics

Psychological Assessment of Tics (age 6 and up)

Psychological Evaluation of Adults

Professional Development & Training

Clinical Consultation and Supervision

Values

Non-judgmental
Authenticity
Collaboration
Neurodiversity-affirming

LGBTQ-affirming
Destigmatization

Client-Centered

More than just my work

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing with my cat, having fun with watercolor, making artisanal soap, going to concerts, and losing myself in science fiction/fantasy or a good detective/cop show. My guilty pleasure? Definitely Got Talent videos - I'm a sucker for those Golden Buzzer moments!

My Journey as a Therapist

I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from the University of Montreal. My doctoral residency/ internship and early career took place in a hospital setting, where I worked with persons from ages 14 through 64 at all stages of severe mental illness, helping them to manage symptoms while moving toward life goals and an improved quality of life.

I decided to specialize in tics and Tourette disorder a few years later, when a friend was unable to find services locally for her child. I have completed advanced training and certification in specialized therapies for tics, including the CBIT approach under international expert Douglas Woods, and the CoPs approach with Drs. Keiron O'Connor and Julie Leclerc. As an adult who grew up with tics myself, my ability to provide services for persons with tic disorders is both professionally satisfying and personally meaningful.

Before training as a psychologist, I had a first career helping youths and adults in the related fields of career counseling and work rehabilitation. I worked closely with young entrepreneurs during the start‐up phases of their businesses, with adults rehabilitating from a workplace injury, and with women looking to go back to work or or reorient their careers after starting a family.