Originally online as 'The Tinnitus E-Programme' (2009-2020), the programme was extensively developed to provide for those with high tinnitus distress (TFI categories 4 & 5), anxiety (GAD-7 & ASQ) and stress (PSS & ASQ).
In the 5 years since 2020, responsive to feedback from Users, the 2025/26 programme is the 6th edition, delivering what had previously only been achievable through around 30 hours of expensive individual tinnitus management and high quality therapy.
Combining the interactive online programme with individual clinical support from Debbie Featherstone, CBT4T provides an exceptional programme for tinnitus, stress & anxiety rolled-in-to-one (read the Reviews), based on human psychology, neuroception and neuroplasticity in understandable language, and at an affordable cost (£150-£300) compared to the equivalent individual tinnitus management and high quality therapy costing in the region of £3,000.
The CBT4T programme - A Mission
Uses a neuroscience-informed Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Process
Is evidence-based with an excellent track record
Uses a structured FOUR ELEMENT framework that enables you to progress through this bespoke programme at a pace that suits your needs and responsibilities
Includes email and clinical support by Debbie Featherstone, founder of CBT4T - the Tinnitus E-Programme that has provided an accessible online programme since 2009
View CBT4T ENROLMENT OPTIONS (ONE, TWO, THREE or SIX 1-1 appointments with Debbie Featherstone included)
Check out what's in place to support you through the CBT4T Online programme:
CBT4T Online with THREE appointments (£380 or 3 x £130) Enrol in the CBT4T programme with THREE appointments included. A first 1-1 appointment with Debbie Featherstone is due after your interim repeat TFI & ASQ results at the end of Stage 4
CBT4T Online with ONE appointment (£190 or 3 x £65) Enrol in the CBT4T programme with ONE appointment included. A first 1-1 appointment with Debbie Featherstone is due after your interim repeat TFI & ASQ results at the end of Stage 4. You can add additional appointments if needed (£95 per appointment)
CBT4T Online (£150 or 2 x £75) APPOINTMENTS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS ENROLMENT. Enrol in CBT4T Online and add appointments later (£95 per appointment) as you progress through the programme. A first 1-1 appointment with Debbie Featherstone is due after your interim repeat TFI & ASQ results at the end of Stage 4
CBT4T Online Enhanced Support (£665 or 6 x £115) Enrol in the CBT4T programme with an 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. All in addition to CBT4T standard provision of logs, email, weekly reporting (SITREP), and bespoke CBT tools
Personal Consultation with Debbie Featherstone:
Consultation with Debbie Featherstone (£195) Arrange a one-to-one Consultation with Debbie Featherstone to discuss your needs. A full set of validated clinical measures for tinnitus (TFI & THI), anxiety and stress (GAD-7, PSS & ASQ) and hearing sensitivity (HSQ & HAQ), plus a Mini-history and Impact Statement is completed prior to your Consultation, so none of our Consultation time is taken up "form-filling". A Personal Consultation with Debbie can take up to TWO HOURS. In addition to your Consultation, enrol in a starter pack - a selection of modules from Stages 1-3 that gives you a great start to apply some early changes. Waiting times vary - the aim is under two weeks. Wait times for a Consultation vary throughout a year. For the majority of people, a straightforward enrolment in the CBT4T programme with immediate access and no wait whatsoever has a significant advantage and the better option: note the progress people report as early as Stage 4
Become a free CBT4T Substack Subscriber to receive newly published content by Debbie Featherstone straight to your email Inbox
The CBT4T Substack is for:
Anyone with tinnitus, whether already enrolled or not yet enrolled on the CBT4T programme
Anyone supporting others who have tinnitus, such as Audiologists, Hearing Therapists, and those in a tinnitus supporting/advisory role
CBT enables living life independently of presenting “problems”. When any problem causes uncomfortable feelings and emotions, using a well designed CBT framework removes the learned necessity for being at the mercy of the problem.
CBT is not something "off the shelf", although anyone could be forgiven for believing it was, considering the proliferation of CBT books and "apps" for this, that, and everything else!
ALL CBT IS NOT CREATED EQUAL!!!! How effective CBT is, is wholly dependant on the skills of the therapist you work with.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of clinicians and well-intentioned counsellors and therapists that learn a few "CBT tools" (standard ones like the Beck Thought Record, for example), and call what they offer "CBT".
The issues around tinnitus distress are complex. Resolution isn’t found by treating any single aspect of tinnitus distress, but through a process that addresses all the aspects involved. This is precisely what CBT4T provides for those with tinnitus distress.
The CBT4T process draws from 5 fields of expertise:
Hearing Therapy & Audiology
Clinical Physiology
Neuroscience
Neuropsychotherapy - an integrative approach to therapy that takes into account the dynamic interplay between the mind, body, social interaction, and the environment on a person's well-being with a focus on neuroscientific research
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (predominantly third-wave)
The problems for the many people struggling to get through their days because of tinnitus evolve in to non-problems, through following this structured process that combines all 5 fields enabling independence, rather than how good or bad each day may be being dependent on what tinnitus does or doesn't do.
This course - a Neuroscience & CBT Process developed specifically for severe & very Severe Tinnitus Distress - is a carefully put together process based on three decades' experience of helping people with high levels of tinnitus distress. The user is encouraged to work through the process at their own pace, although each section is released at set intervals based on a MINIMUM number of days to be spent at each stage.
IMPORTANT! The CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme is a clinical intervention - it is not a set of 'Tips & Tricks'. Think of this course as a "PROCESS" and that you are following the process stage by stage.
One face-to-face appointment is included in your enrolment
All face-to-face appointments use Zoom
Booking your first appointment: choose your preferred day and I will do my best to accommodate you. Optimum time for a first 1-1 is after completing Stage 4
Clinical support by email throughout the course
COUPONS: If you have a code that gives a discount on the full cost, enter it during checkout
Complete the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)
After enrolling, there is also a Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) that should be completed as a secondary measure for tinnitus distress and a measure for anxiety, stress and anxiety/stress symptoms
Suitable for a TFI score of 80/250 or over (TFI Categories 3, 4 and 5), the therapist-supported CBT4T leads you through the comprehensive process of behaviour and cognition change
...... But here are a few snippets of what's being said about the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme (CBT4T):
"This course has been life transforming for me. Before I started the course, I was constantly focused on the tinnitus (March 2021 onset) and had taken time off work for associated anxiety. Now it rarely comes to mind and when it does, it has no emotional impact on me and I fairly quickly forget about it."
“The Tinnitus E-Programme is a quality on-line programme for actively learning how to manage tinnitus. It is a game changer!”
“This course and all the support has really helped me to live with my tinnitus and I feel my life is now getting back to normal. I know that I couldn't get to where I am now without this programme. I feel ok now about my tinnitus. I can still hear the hissing sound sometimes but it doesn't really concern me.”
“CBT going well. Really like reading module 3 as this nicely focused the CBT towards tinnitus.”
"I am particularly impressed with the depth of the recorded relaxation programs. They do exactly what they are intended to do. I am also very satisfied with the responses to my emails I get from Debbie and her depth of skill and knowledge of working with people with tinnitus."
"I have been concerned about long-standing insomnia issues and how they impact on CBT for tinnitus. Debbie gave me reassurance that I was on track with the program and was making incremental progress in line with those who are currently taking and those who have taken the program."
"Now I understand the tinnitus more than ever, how to relax and I’m able to observe my thoughts. After using the breathing exercise and the relaxation (recordings), I feel different - quiet and relaxed"
"I have found the Tinnitus E-Programme to be great! Especially to understand why and how to be more rational about tinnitus, and less stressed about why I have it"
"Debbie explains everything thoroughly and simply. I use the breathing exercises and relaxation everyday"
"This course has done exactly what Debbie (Featherstone) told me it would do. My thanks to Debbie - it has been a life-saver being shown that there is a “way out”, a way of dealing with tinnitus, and also dealing with stress in general which is on-going."
"A well thought out course which covered many aspects of the cause of tinnitus and management of it."
"I find the switching between listening to the tinnitus and not listening very helpful"
"Over the past 10 weeks, again I have had a lot of stress with different circumstances. But even so, I amazed to see my (THI) score come down from 46 to 29. I know I will benefit more from working with Debbie using more CBT."
"Being able to talk to Debbie about tinnitus and her fully understanding the problems and impact it causes helped me a great deal."
"It helped me to relax more and helped me to get to sleep easier. I don’t feel as isolated and realise other people have the same feelings about having tinnitus."
"I particularly like having the four relaxation recordings to download and keep. Having 4 of them allows a good choice. I now have a much better understanding of the problem and realise how to deal with it."
"Has been beneficial and I can now relax a lot easier which therefore helps with getting to sleep which was one major problem for me!"
"Debbie has been most helpful answering queries and giving clear explanations. Her whole manner is relaxing in itself which generates a feeling of well-being. She shows great empathy."
"I love the way you write and how hopeful I feel after reading these modules. I'm hopeful, uninterested in tinnitus, very still."
"I've been falling asleep in less than 10 minutes. I find that I've become more bored of my tinnitus. I worry for a second 'what if I hear it again?' then I think of something else (automatically not forced) and give it no more thought. It just seems like my brain is finding it harder to focus on the tinnitus sounds."
"I feel a lot less anxious about the future living with tinnitus. I found the course very easy to cope with and enjoyed it!"
"The course was helpful. I feel less anxious now I have more information regarding the way tinnitus works."