What is CBT-Hear?

CBT-Hear is a comprehensive, multi-stage training and certification programme designed to equip clinicians with the specialist skills needed to deliver Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia. It is both a clinical framework and a professional development pathway, grounded in evidence-based care, ethical practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Why CBT-Hear Was Developed

CBT-Hear was developed by Dr Hashir Aazh over two decades of specialist clinical work and collaborative research across disciplines, including audiology, clinical psychology, neurophysiology, otolaryngology, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and philosophy. The programme addresses a critical training gap by integrating psychological and audiological care for individuals with sound-related distress.

Who is it for?

CBT-Hear is open to professionals with qualifications at BSc, MSc, or doctorate level (or equivalent) in relevant disciplines. It welcomes:

  • Audiologists
  •  Psychologists
  • Hearing therapists
  • Hearing aid dispensers
  • Psychiatrists
  • Otologists
  • Speech and language therapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Nurses
  • Social workers
  • Teachers of the deaf
  • General medical practitioners
  • Other allied health and social care professionals

What Makes CBT-Hear Unique?

  • Integrates CBT with audiological expertise
  • Focuses on the person, not just the symptom
  • Structured into three clinical pillars: assessment, education & holistic support, and targeted CBT
  • Offers a stepped-care model aligned with ethical and multidisciplinary standards
  • Backed by peer-reviewed research and clinical guidelines

Core Clinical Pillars of CBT-Hear

  1. Assessment Comprehensive assessment is the foundation of CBT-Hear. It includes audiological testing, screening for comorbidities, differential formulation, and outcome measurement. This ensures tailored care and appropriate referral when necessary.
  2. Patient Education and Holistic Support Education empowers patients through psychologically informed explanations of their symptoms and practical coping tools. Holistic strategies include breathwork, relaxation techniques, somatic care, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  3. Targeted CBT CBT-Hear provides focused interventions for tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia-related distress. It equips clinicians to differentiate primary tinnitus/sound-related distress from underlying mental health conditions and to apply CBT-Hear to the former, and facilitate psychiatric or psychological interventions within a multidisciplinary team for the latter.

CBT-Hear Training Pathway

Stage 1: CBT-Hear Certified (Entry-Level) 67 hours of structured training + 18 hours of supervised clinical practice. Focus on assessment, counselling, iCBT support, and foundational CBT principles.

Stage 2: CBT-Hear Certified Practitioner (Intermediate) 125 hours of advanced training + 27 hours of supervised practice. Enables full CBT-Hear intervention for patients without significant psychological comorbidity.

Stage 3: CBT-Hear Certified Advanced Clinician (Advanced) 66 hours of case reflection + 27 additional supervision hours. Develops skills to distinguish primary auditory distress from psychological comorbidity and work within multidisciplinary teams.

Supervisor and Fellowship Pathway Graduates of Stage 3 may become CBT-Hear Certified Supervisors through additional training. Fellowship titles (Clinical Fellow, Faculty Fellow, Honorary Fellow) recognise leadership, innovation, and impact.

Clinical Supervision Requirement

To retain the CBT-Hear title at any level, clinicians must complete at least 90 minutes of clinical supervision per month. This supports ethical, reflective, and safe clinical practice.