Credentials

Debbie Featherstone MSc

Debbie Featherstone MSc

Hearing Therapist & Psychotherapist

Based in the heart of Lancashire

I have extensive training and experience working as a Hearing Therapist (specialist clinician in tinnitus management, hearing loss and balance rehabilitation), Psychotherapist & Clinical Hypnotherapist. Prior to opening my clinic in Clitheroe in September 2010, I worked in the NHS for 17 years starting in Essex (1993-96), Birmingham (1996-2002) and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as Head of Hearing Therapy Services (2002-2010)

My qualifications and registrations

Qualifications:

(2012) MSc in Psychotherapy with Merit (University of Sheffield)

(2005) DHP(NC) Post Graduate Diploma in Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy with Distinction (NCHP)

(1994) Diploma in Hearing Therapy (City Lit., London)

Registrations:
Registration Council of Clinical Physiologists (Hearing Therapy) RCCP
Member of the National Society of Hypnotherapists & Psychotherapists MNSHP
Registered as a Hypnotherapist with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council CNHC

External Lectures & Courses
January 2020 - present

Partnered the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme with the British Tinnitus Association BTA website

January 2016 - Present

Counselling Skills & Tinnitus Care Pathway (CSTCP) - training Audiologists & Specialist Sensory Social Workers across all regions of Northern Ireland Health & Social Care Northern Ireland

2010 - present
Counselling Skills & Tinnitus Care Pathway (CSTCP) - A Course for Audiologists
8 day training course delivered to NHS and private sector Audiologists over 8 - 9 months in partnership with the North West School of Audiology

2009 - present

Provision of the 'online' Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Tinnitus E-Programme www.tinnituseprogram.org

2006 - 2012

Lecturer at University of Manchester
Teaching BSc and MSc Audiology students - Tinnitus Management and Rehabilitation in Audiology; Masters level specialist course development in Aural Rehabilitation and Tinnitus Management

National and International Lectures & Workshops

November 2017
University of Manchester - Tinnitus Training Day for Audiologists
June 2014
British Academy of Audiology Student Conference (Nat) Main Speaker: "Working with Non-routine Patients"
Sept 2012
British Society of Audiology (Nat) Main Speaker "Practice Guidance Principles of Adult Rehabilitation: Implications of the Principles for an Individual's Practice"
April 2012
National Biomedical Research Unit in Hearing, Nottingham: Seminar Series Main Speaker: “Tinnitus – Designing Therapy Around the Patient”

Collaborative Research with NIHR NHBRU
2015 - 2017

Published: A psychologically informed, audiologist-delivered, manualised intervention for tinnitus: Protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial (Tin Man Study) John A Taylor; Deborah A Hall; Dawn-Marie Walker; Mary McMurran; Amanda Casey; David Stockdale; Debbie Featherstone; Dean M Thompson; Carol MacDonald; Derek J Hoare, Pilot and Feasibility Studies
2013 - 2016
NIHR NHBRU Stage 1 & 2 Evaluation of the Tinnitus E-Programme

Published: The application of intervention coding methodology to describe the Tinnitus E-Programme, an internet-delivered self-help intervention for tinnitus, Kate Greenwell, Debbie Featherstone, Derek Hoare, American Journal of Audiology

Other Professional Interests
2004 - present
Provision of national interactive forum for Hearing Therapists
2009 - present
Provision of Tinnitus E-Programme: a worldwide tinnitus management resource for professionals and the public, (including a moderated on-line Support Forum)
2011 - 2014
Member of NSHP Ethics Panel. NSHP is a member organisation of UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy)

Earlier Lectures & Workshops:
May 2011
NHS Scotland: Starkey Innovation Day (NHS Scotland Heads of Audiology) Main Speaker: “Innovation and Change”
March 2008
RNID National Study Day (Nat) “Group Work and Tinnitus”
March 2008
ATLA National Training (Nat) “Management of Patients with Tinnitus”
April 2008
Phonak iLearn (Int) “Working with Groups in a Clinical Setting”
April 2007
Phonak iLearn (Int) “Change Management”
2007-2008
Hearing Therapy Forum (Nat) “Case Studies Workshops” – Various topics
Note:
RNID – Royal National Institute for the Deaf (now Action on Hearing Loss)
ATLA – Association of Teachers of Lipreading
Phonak iLearn – Worldwide Web Live lectures for professionals in Audiology, also in recorded format thereafter
Hearing Therapy Forum Workshops held at Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital, London

History of Professional Body Offices whilst working in the NHS
2004-2007
BAA (British Academy of Audiology) Executive Board
2004-2009
BAA Professional Development Committee
2006-2009
BAA Chief Auditor for Continuing Professional Development
2008-2009
Chair BAA Professional Development Committee