Tinnitus Awareness (for Psychologists & CBT-Accredited Therapists)

Course Overview

Tinnitus affects 1 in 7 people in the UK, yet many struggle to access psychological therapies that take account of both the sound and the distress it causes. This specialist awareness course, designed for psychologists and CBT-accredited therapists, will provide professionals with a robust understanding of tinnitus and how it may present in therapy. 

The course explores how tinnitus-related distress can be conceptualised within existing CBT models, and, considers the relevance of ACT and mindfulness approaches for long-term adjustment. It highlights the management of comorbidities (such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia), adaptations for more complex cases, and the importance of ethical referral and collaboration within professional accreditation frameworks. 

Through case studies, group reflections, and interactive discussion, delegates will leave better equipped to recognise tinnitus-related issues in therapy, and to support patients within their existing CBT practice and referral pathways. This course is specifically designed for psychologists and CBT-accredited Therapists to enhance their practice and best serve people living with tinnitus. 

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the course, delegates will be able to: 

• Recognise how tinnitus distress can be understood within existing CBT frameworks. 
• Reflect on which CBT strategies may be most relevant when tinnitus is part of the clinical picture. 
• Consider how ACT and mindfulness principles may support habituation and acceptance. 
• Identify common comorbidities (e.g. anxiety, depression, insomnia) moderated by tinnitus distress. 
• Be aware of factors complicating therapy (e.g. hyperacusis, trauma) and when these may require specialist input. 
• Become familiar with outcome measures commonly used in tinnitus research and practice. 
• Work ethically within existing accreditation standards while collaborating with audiologists ENT, and other professionals. 

About your trainer: 

Dr James Jackson has been a member of the Tinnitus UK Professional Advisory Committee for two years. He is a Reader in Psychology at Leeds Trinity University. He is a Chartered Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. James has tinnitus and a severe/ profound hearing loss. His doctorate was on cognitive performance in tinnitus patients, and his most recent papers investigated use of online resources for tinnitus. He leads workshops training healthcare professionals to more effectively work with tinnitus patients. 

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Date

Friday 7 November, 10:00 – 4:30pm 

Cost 

Introductory offer of £200  

Draft Itinerary

10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome & Introductions 

• Aims of the day 
• Why tinnitus awareness matters 
• Delegate expectations 

10:15 – 11:00 | Session 1 – What Is Tinnitus? 

• Prevalence, causes, and mechanisms (auditory + psychological) 
• Typical patient journey & lived experience 
• Common comorbidities: anxiety, depression, insomnia 
• Discussion: how tinnitus might present in therapy (case examples) 

BREAK 

11:15 – 12:00 | Session 2 – Current Treatment Pathways 

• The NHS primary care pathway: where it works, where it fails 
• My recent research: Patient perceptions of CBT 
• Currently – what’s out there? 
• Group reflection: how this affects therapy access 

 12:00 – 12:45 | Session 3 – CBT and Tinnitus 

• 2020 Cochrane review: what we know (CBT and tinnitus) 
• How tinnitus distress maps onto CBT models
• Warning signs: tinnitus is secondary to other conditions 
• Case Study One  

 LUNCH 

13:30 – 14:15 | Session 4 – Tinnitus in the Therapy Room  

• How tinnitus distress shows up in sessions (themes, metaphors, common language) 
• Patient expectations: “fix my tinnitus” vs “help me cope” 
• Comorbid hearing loss? Role of reassurance, empathy, and psychoeducation 
• Group reflection: current experiences delegates have already had with tinnitus 

14:15 – 15.00 | Session 5 – The Complexity of Tinnitus Patients 

• Case Study Two (More complex) 
• Recognising when tinnitus is secondary to other mental health conditions 
• Pitfalls of “CBT-informed” work without full formulation/risk assessment 
• Framing tinnitus therapy as long-term habituation, not “cure” 
• Group discussion: Red Flags – when is referral/collaboration essential? 

BREAK 

15.15 – 16:00 | Session 6 – Working Alongside Others 

• What audiologists and ENT typically provide (hearing tests, medical screening, sound therapy) 
• Their limits: where therapy takes over?
• Bridging the gap: collaboration across disciplines 
• Exercise: mapping an “ideal pathway” for a sample client 
• Group discussion: how therapists already adapt their models 

16.00 – 16:15 | Closing and Next Steps 

• Signposting to audiology and Tinnitus UK resources 
• Introduction to the Tinnitus UK register of CBT therapists? 
• Opportunities for further involvement 
• Group discussion: Key takeaways 

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