CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme (CBT4T) for Tinnitus UK Supporters with severe & very severe tinnitus, stress and anxiety

CBT4T | FOUR Element Framework | EIGHT Stages

CBT4T Enrolment

The online CBT4T programme uses a process developed primarily for people with a category 4 or 5 Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). CBT4T is provided by UK Hearing Therapist, CBT for Tinnitus Specialist Debbie Featherstone

When you join the CBT4T programme:

You have a structured programme to follow from Day 1. Follow the programme at your own pace. The CBT4T process is evidence-based with a 6 year (2020-2025) track record of success for individuals enrolling in the online programme - view Results & Reviews

You have personal weekly email contact with Debbie using SITREP - this goes beyond your logs, your progress checks at the beginning of a new Stage and the tools from Stage 4 onwards

Your weekly SITREPs help Debbie to get to know you, get to know how you think, how you feel, how you are progressing, what is going well and what you are finding difficult or struggling with. Your are never just a number when you join the CBT4T programme. And by the time we meet up for your first appointment once you complete Stage 4, we feel as though we already know one another quite well

Once enrolled, your enrolment is open-ended. Although many people have completed the programme within 6-8 months, some sooner (mainly those having enrolled with a category 3 TFI 32-53%) and some need longer (mainly those having enrolled with a category 5 TFI 73-100%), your enrolment remains open giving you continued access to the full programme content long after you have completed it

In fact, it is uncommon for people to revisit the programme content more than a few times in the first couple of months after they have completed, and is rarely visited at all beyond those first couple of months; however, open-ended access is significant because just being available acts as a psychological "safety net". Such worries have been a common feature in feedback from people particularly when they are nearing the final stages of the process, and have been unaware they would continue to have access. It puts their mind at rest to know that they DO continue to have access should they need it

CBT4T enrolment is with ONE, TWO or SIX one-to-one appointments included. Zoom is used for all appointments

For all enrolments, your first one-to-one appointment with Debbie is due once you complete Stage 4. Here’s why: www.tinnituseprogram.org/initial-appointment.html

Choose CBT4T enrolment 1, 2 or 3:

To include TWO appointments in your enrolment, CBT4T 2025 - £295 (or 3 monthly payments x £100) This enrolment includes TWO appointments, the first of which takes place on completion of Stage 4
To enrol with the option of adding appointments later, CBT4T 2025/26 - £150 (or 2 monthly payments x £75). ONE (£95) or TWO (£150) appointments can be added during the enrolment payment process, or defer them to be added later. Note: Your first appointment is due on completing Stage 4.
To include SIX appointments in your enrolment, CBT4T 2025 (Enhanced Support) - £625 (or 6 monthly payments x £110) The 6-appointment “Enhanced Support” enrolment includes a 60-90 minute appointment (using Zoom) at the end of each of the first SIX MONTHS of enrolment to review with you your progress to date and discuss a plan of action for the upcoming month.

The course content is EXACTLY THE SAME in each enrolment – the only difference is the number of appointments. Appointments are carried out using Zoom and generally are 60-90 minutes.

What makes CBT4T an individual process Find out more

CBT4T participant review by medical practitioner Find out more

CBT4T participant review by clinical psychologist Find out more

The CBT4T Evolution Find out more

The Autonomic Ladder Find out more

Debbie Featherstone - CBT4T Founder Find out more

Latest reporting....

Pascal, France

8 weeks post-CBT4T enrolment, Pascal completed Element 1: Preparation Stages 1-3 and moving forward through Element 2, has completed Stage 4

Q: In addition to the top 5 Aspects of the CBT4T programme you have already chosen, are there further aspects you would like to add?

A: "As a medical practitioner, I have been impressed by the breadth and depth of science underpinning the CBT4T programme. In particular it was very interesting learning more about the neuroscience behind CBT in general and CBT4T in particular, as well as recovery-oriented strategies using brain's neuroplasticity. Another aspect is the standardized tests that allow measurement of progress. In my case, I feel that the progress I have made up to this point is the result of several factors: 1) understanding the science behind tinnitus, the emotional response and CBT4T, 2) breathing/relaxation exercises, 3) antidepressants (to reduce anxiety and obsessive monitoring of tinnitus), 4) hearing aids (I realized that I had moderate hearing loss at higher frequencies), and last but not least the resumption of physical activities. Finally, the relaxation logs and SITREP are important elements of individual commitment and accountability." More from Pascal

Go to more Stage 4 reports

Go to all Feedback/Reviews

The CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme Partnership with Tinnitus UK

The CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme has been in a formal partnership with Tinnitus UK (previously the British Tinnitus Association) since January 2020 over and above our Corporate Member status. Our joint purpose is to provide the best possible support for those seeking help and relief from their distress of tinnitus.

Members and Supporters of Tinnitus UK can enrol for the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme with a 10% discount, while Tinnitus UK earn a donation of 10% of the pre-discounted fee.

Enrolment can only accept one discount voucher code. Where you previously purchased Tinnitus Assessment, use your Tinnitus UK discount to enrol on your choice of CBT4T course. If you email debbie@tinnituseprogram.org, the Tinnitus Assessment fee discount can be arranged.

Tinnitus UK Supporter code available on Tinnitus UK website. 10% discount available on all packages

About the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme (CBT4T)

Provided by Debbie Featherstone - dual qualified Hearing Therapist & Psychotherapist

Around 86 billion neurons in the brain are organised to fire in patterns (neural pathways) that produce what we experience, moment by moment. Their purpose is to process information and it's the processed information that gives us what we experience.

Neurons that fire together, wire together through repetition, resulting in processed information repeating over and over. This all works to our benefit until what we experience is unpleasant.

Firing patterns of neurons (neural pathways) don't differentiate between an actual experience and an imagined experience, so when we imagine a pleasant experience, the patterns produced are the same as if we were having the actual pleasant experience.

The downside is that firing patterns (neural pathways) work in the same way when we have - or we imagine by thinking of - an unpleasant experience. Something called "Cognitive Bias" kicks in - for good reason, as our brains are wired first and foremost for survival. What we know we know – we cannot “un-know” it. We filter any experience we have through our personal window of Cognitive Bias. Consciously and unconsciously, we persistently seek out that which confirms what we know (Confirmation Bias), ignoring to the point of not even noticing there may be alternatives. This is how we end up going down the rabbit hole of suffering, and we perpetuate suffering through multiple means, one of the most common being the repeated use of Cognitive Distortions, for example:

Predicting the future
All or nothing thinking
Maximising the negative, minimising the positive
Emotional reasoning
Self and other blaming

Fortunately, brain plasticity (neuroplasticity) gives us the ability to weaken old firing patterns and to grow & strengthen NEW firing patterns of neurons. The more FLEXIBLE we allow our mind (mindset) to be, the more EFFECTIVELY we make use of brain plasticity. This is precisely what the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme (CBT4T) enables you to do.

CBT4T (the new name for the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme from October 2023) is a neuroscience-informed CBT process for severe and very severe stress and/or anxiety experienced because of tinnitus. The Neuroscience & CBT Process developed for CBT4T enables the user to separate having tinnitus from being distressed by tinnitus

The process used is unique to this course:

There is a reason for everything used in the course being not only what it is but where it is in the process
Part 1 of the process changes the nervous system from being DYSREGULATED to REGULATED
Using the bespoke tools unique to this course, Part 2 of the process first DISRUPTS old embedded neural pathways > GROWS new neural pathways > STRENGTHENS the new neural pathways
The process combines polyvagal informed neuro-psychotherapy, associated neuroscience, behavioural and cognitive therapy with a focus on third wave CBT
Third wave CBT enables psychological flexibility, develops and deepens a recovery-oriented perspective. This is wholly different to 2nd wave CBT that is problem-oriented and thought-focused

Snapshot of how CBT4T brings about the necessary changes

How much change can be expected using the CBT4T process?

Outcomes are consistent, reliable and now this process has been used for FIVE years (2020-2025) and improved year on year, have proven to be sustainable:

Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) Category changes following completion of the 12 stage CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme

Average change by TFI value:

Cat 5 pre-course: 84.9% > 29.9% (Cat 2 post-course)
Cat 4 pre-course: 64.8% > 20.8% (Cat 2 post-course)
Cat 3 pre-course: 45.6% > 19.0% (Cat 2 post course)

Figures published 22 May 2022