CBT-MISO Misophonia Chat Therapy Research Study
This study provides individuals with 10 free chat therapy sessions (valued at $1500 Canadian) in exchange for being part of a research pilot study. Chat sessions will be conducted via an encrypted chat service. This study has received IRB approval from The International Misophonia Foundation and will be conducted by Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond, MA, LCT-C. This program is only available in Canada due to regulations and therapist licensing.
What you will receive:
- 10 chat therapy sessions following the Misophonia Matters protocol
- A free PDF copy of the book Misophonia Matters
All data will be anonymized for research and will NOT include any personal information or the content of sessions—3 questionnaire surveys will be conducted during the study and these will be the only published materials.
Note: This is not the official consent form, nor does it guarantee participation. Approved participants will receive further documentation and paperwork.
- Canada Only
- Ages 18+ only
- Consent to be included in anonymous research data will be necessary.
- Clients will go through 10 sessions of chat therapy based on the CBT-MISO Approach.
- Missing 1 session without prior notice will lead to removal from the program (to ensure data continuity).
- This is a small-scale offering with 10-20 positions open; it is NOT dependent on income to qualify.
- Sessions will be conducted weekly (but may take longer if rescheduling is necessary); you will be able to select your appointment times.
To Qualify:
- Must have misophonia
- Must live in Canada
- Must be over 18
- Must consent to being part of a research study
Study Structure:
This study will be conducted through telehealth chat. These chat sessions are 50 minutes long and will be done through an encrypted channel and conducted like a regular therapy appointment. Consent forms must be filled out to be part of this process. This process is contingent on being part of a research study; however, clients may choose to end services at any time and decide to be excluded from the study.
This study is an Open-Label Pre-Post Observational Study using rolling admissions. Due to the current lack of approved treatments for misophonia, this design prioritizes immediate access to care while measuring treatment efficacy. This study will include 3 clinical questionnaires using the Duke Misophonia Questionnaire (DMQ) Clinical Impairment Scale: 1 at the start of services, 1 after session 5, and 1 at the conclusion of 10 sessions.
No information, transcripts, or data from individual sessions will be used in the study, only the answers from anonymized questionnaires. No results will be analyzed until all answers are anonymized (i.e., the 3 questionnaires will be linked to one another via a unique ID but not to a specific client); and the researcher will NOT analyze data until it has been anonymized. Results will be used to analyze Reliable Change Index (RCI) to determine the clinical significance of the chat-based intervention.
Clinical integrity will be considered above research interests, and if any clinical goals become unaligned with the research study, sessions will be offered to be continued to the 10 session mark without participation in research required.
The CBT-MISO Approach
Developed by Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond, CBT-MISO is a specialized adaptation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Unlike standard CBT, which may treat sound sensitivity as a phobia, CBT-MISO recognizes misophonia as a neurophysiological and sensory processing challenge. It focuses on the “trigger-response” cycle, physiological regulation, and adaptive environmental modifications.
10-Week Program Overview
- Psychoeducation: The program begins by exploring the neurobiology of misophonia, helping you understand the condition through current clinical literature and the mechanics of the autonomic nervous system.
- Goal Setting: This stage is dedicated to defining clear, personalized objectives so you can be precise about what successful coping looks like for your specific lifestyle.
- Beliefs & Values: Here, the focus shifts to identifying your internal values and the deep-seated beliefs you hold regarding your experience with sound and the world around you.
- Impact & Precipitants: You will analyze the specific ways misophonia affects your daily life and identify the precipitating moments or triggers that lead to distress.
- Cognitive Patterns: This section focuses on managing the automatic thoughts that arise during trigger events and introduces cognitive tools for effective reframing.
- Adaptive Tools: During this week, you will begin implementing specific devices, software, or physical techniques designed to alleviate immediate sensory distress.
- Physiological Regulation: This stage focuses on the bodily response to triggers, utilizing techniques to lower physical arousal and manage the “fight-or-flight” sensation.
- Accommodations: You will develop practical strategies for environmental modifications and learn how to communicate your needs effectively to others.
- Strategic Planning: This week is about synthesis—creating long-term, proactive plans to navigate and manage your life around known triggers and difficult environments.
- Sustaining Progress: The final session includes working through exercises to celebrate the successes achieved during the program and establishing a plan to maintain your clinical gains.
Crisis Protocol & Participant Safety
Researcher: Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond
This pro bono service is conducted via telehealth chat and is not a crisis intervention service. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, or if your safety (or the safety of others) is at immediate risk, please contact 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Because sessions are conducted weekly and follow a specific research protocol, the researcher may not be available to provide immediate support outside of your scheduled appointment time.
24/7 National Resources in Canada
If you need immediate emotional support or are in distress between sessions, please reach out to one of the following free, confidential services available across Canada:
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 anytime for bilingual, trauma-informed support.
- Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 686868 to chat with a trained volunteer crisis responder.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline: Call 1-855-242-3310 or use the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. (Available to all Indigenous people across Canada; support in English, French, and upon request, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut).
- 211 Canada: Dial 2-1-1 to be connected with local community, social, and government services in your area.
Please fill out the following form if interested:
CBT-Miso Research Study