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Audiology · UK

Tinnitus counselling - quieter days, honestly.

A structured programme delivered by BSA-accredited hearing therapists. The sound may not go away - but for most people, the distress does.

See indicative pricing
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  • 01

    BSA-accredited hearing therapists

    A qualified hearing therapist or audiologist trained in tinnitus counselling, not a general practice offering it as a sideline.

  • 02

    No overselling cures

    There is no reliable cure for most tinnitus. What genuinely helps - CBT, sound therapy, hearing correction - is what we offer.

  • 03

    Independent, and free

    We are paid by no clinic. Whether you need audiology, ENT, CBT or nothing at all - the answer is impartial and costs you nothing.

Indicative pricing

What a private tinnitus programme costs.

A structured package is often cheaper than paying session-by-session - and easier to commit to.

Step Range
Initial tinnitus assessment £220–£380
Hearing therapy session (per hour) £95–£160
Six-session tinnitus counselling package £550–£950
CBT for tinnitus (six sessions) £720–£1,200
Sound generator or ear-level masker (pair) £450–£1,800
Hearing aid with tinnitus programme £1,500–£3,500
ENT consultation (add-on) £250–£450

The programme

From noise to a settled routine - what happens, in order.

One therapist, one plan, over a few months. Reviewed with numbers, not just impressions.

  1. 01

    Before

    A confidential form. What the sound is like, how loud, how long, what makes it worse, and how much it affects sleep, mood and work.

  2. 02

    Before

  3. 03

    Before

    Hearing and tinnitus assessment

    Pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, tinnitus pitch and loudness match, and completion of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.

  4. 04

    Before

    Formulation session

    A dedicated appointment mapping your tinnitus, hearing, sleep and mood into a shared plan. This is where the actual therapy begins.

  5. 05

    On the day

    Structured counselling programme

    Six to eight sessions covering neuroscience of tinnitus, thought patterns, sound enrichment, sleep hygiene and relaxation. In person or online.

  6. 06

    On the day

    Sound therapy and hearing aids if needed

    Trial of ear-level maskers, apps, bedside sound generators, or hearing aids with tinnitus programmes where hearing loss is present.

  7. 07

    After

    Review and long-term plan

    Repeat THI at 3 and 6 months. Booster sessions available. Onward referral for CBT or ENT if progress stalls.

When it helps

When tinnitus counselling is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that needs ENT first.

  • Persistent chronic tinnitus

    A noise in the ears or head that has lasted more than three months and interferes with life.

  • Sleep disturbance

    Difficulty falling asleep or waking through the night because of tinnitus.

  • Distress, anxiety, low mood

    When the emotional weight of tinnitus starts to shape your day - a strong signal that therapy will help.

  • Hyperacusis (sound sensitivity)

    Everyday sounds feeling uncomfortably loud, often coexisting with tinnitus and responsive to structured sound therapy.

  • Post-noise-exposure tinnitus

    Tinnitus after a concert, machinery or shooting exposure that has not settled after a few weeks.

  • Tinnitus with hearing loss

    The commonest scenario - a hearing aid alone often reduces tinnitus awareness dramatically.

  • Failed self-help

    You have tried apps, white noise machines and reading online - and still cannot make peace with it. That is where a therapist earns their keep.

  • Red flag: pulsatile or unilateral tinnitus

    A pulse in one ear, sudden hearing loss on one side, or tinnitus with facial weakness or dizziness needs urgent ENT - not a counselling booking.

Therapy options

Every route, honestly explained.

Counselling, CBT, TRT, sound therapy, hearing aids, mindfulness - and doing nothing extra.

  • Tinnitus counselling (structured education)

    A short course of appointments that reframes how the brain processes the sound - supported by the British Tinnitus Association.

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for tinnitus

    The best-evidenced psychological intervention for distress - reducing suffering even when the sound remains.

  • Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

    Longer-term combined counselling and low-level sound therapy. Effective for the right patient; time-intensive.

  • Sound therapy

    Ear-level maskers, bedside sound generators, apps and pillow speakers - all evidence-based ways to reduce awareness.

  • Hearing aids with tinnitus programmes

    For anyone with even mild hearing loss, aids often reduce tinnitus more than any specific treatment.

  • Mindfulness-based tinnitus stress reduction

    Growing evidence for reducing tinnitus distress and improving quality of life.

  • Sleep hygiene and relaxation training

    Practical work on sleep, breathing and pacing - often the single biggest quality-of-life change.

  • Doing nothing extra

    For mild, non-distressing tinnitus, structured reassurance and self-help materials are often the honest answer.

Our vetted UK network

Therapists who audit their own outcomes.

  • Hearing therapists and audiologists with BSA accreditation and tinnitus-specific training

  • CBT therapists on the BABCP register experienced in tinnitus and hyperacusis

  • Clear, published outcome measures using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

  • Access to ENT and audiological medicine for red-flag or complex presentations

Safety and expectations

What is realistic - honestly.

Counselling is safe. The important thing is setting the right goals.

  • Tinnitus counselling has no medical risks

    Talking therapies do not damage hearing. The main risk is buying more sessions than you needed, which is why we cap packages.

  • Realistic expectations matter

    For most people the sound does not disappear. What changes is how much the brain notices and how much distress it causes.

  • Sound therapy volumes

    Sound generators should be set below your tinnitus, not to mask it entirely. Loud masking makes the brain rely on the sound and can slow progress.

  • Hearing aids: fit matters

    A poorly fitted hearing aid can amplify tinnitus. The audiologist should offer a follow-up appointment within a fortnight to fine-tune.

  • Sleep medication

    Short-term sleep aids can help while therapy takes effect. Long-term dependence is a risk we watch for - GP involvement is standard.

  • Depression and suicidal thoughts

    Severe tinnitus can be genuinely distressing. Any suicidal thought is a reason to see a GP or crisis line the same day, not wait for a therapy appointment.

  • Online versus in-person

    Both work for most people. Complex hyperacusis usually needs in-person fitting; counselling itself is often just as effective on video.

  • Realistic timeline

    Most people notice improvement over 6–12 weeks. Established programmes are 3–6 months. Give the therapy time before switching.

  • Red flags - see ENT first

    Pulsatile, unilateral, sudden onset, or tinnitus with dizziness, facial weakness or hearing change on one side needs medical review before counselling begins.

Your therapy plan

Four parts. Read the last one first.

  1. 01 Header

    Presentation and goals

    How the tinnitus started, how long it has lasted, what has been tried, and the specific outcomes you want.

  2. 02 Technique

    Assessment findings

    Audiogram, tympanometry, tinnitus pitch and loudness match, THI baseline score, sleep and mood screens.

  3. 03 Findings

    Formulation

    A shared model of why the tinnitus is bothering you now, and which mechanisms the therapy will target.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan and review

    Read this first: number of sessions, sound therapy prescribed, hearing aid recommendation and review dates.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for tinnitus counselling varies - many insurers include it under audiology or mental-health benefits.

Frequently asked

Everything patients ask about tinnitus counselling.

  • What is tinnitus counselling?

    A structured programme delivered by a hearing therapist or audiologist that helps you understand tinnitus, reduce the brain’s focus on it, and manage its impact on sleep, mood and work. It usually runs over six to eight weekly sessions and can be delivered in person or online.

  • Does tinnitus counselling actually work?

    Yes for most people - not because the sound disappears, but because distress reduces. UK trials and NICE guidance support counselling and CBT for tinnitus, with meaningful improvements in quality of life and sleep for around 70–80 percent of participants.

  • What is the difference between counselling, CBT and TRT?

    Tinnitus counselling is structured education about the condition and coping tools. CBT is a formal psychological therapy focused on thoughts, feelings and behaviour. TRT combines counselling with continuous low-level sound therapy over 12–18 months. Most people start with counselling and add the others if needed.

  • How much does tinnitus counselling cost in the UK privately?

    Roughly £220–£380 for an initial assessment, £95–£160 per hearing therapy session, £550–£950 for a six-session package, and £720–£1,200 for CBT. Sound generators cost £450–£1,800 and hearing aids with tinnitus programmes £1,500–£3,500 a pair.

  • Will I need a hearing aid?

    If audiometry shows even mild hearing loss, a hearing aid is often the single most effective intervention. For many patients, correcting hearing quietens the brain’s search behaviour and reduces tinnitus awareness within weeks.

  • How long does it take to feel better?

    Most people notice change over 6–12 weeks of structured therapy. Full programmes are typically 3–6 months. Progress is measured with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory at baseline, 3 and 6 months.

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