The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), created by Dr. Stephen Porges, is an evidence-based listening therapy designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation, and social engagement behaviors, reducing stress and improving the wellbeing of people of all ages.
As a practical application of Polyvagal Theory, or the science of feeling safe, the SSP acts as a non-invasive, acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to re-tune your nervous system to better support connection, collaboration and resilience.
The SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones alongside a provider, in-person or remotely.
Who can the SSP help?
The SSP was initially developed for those struggling with difficulties associated with autism spectrum disorder, including auditory sensitivity. However, it soon became clear that it provided benefits for a far wider population, including those experiencing the effects of trauma.
It is suitable for children and adults, and can help you if you live with the impact of:
trauma, including complex post-traumatic stress;
chronic pain;
functional digestive disorders;
anxiety;
sensory processing difficulties;
eating disorders;
and more.
A great benefit of SSP is that effective delivery involves focusing on features and behaviors of each person rather than with any particular diagnosis.
How does it work?
Trough specially filtered music, the SSP resets the subconscious nervous system connecting the brain and body, encouraging a shift out of its defensive survival responses of fight, flight, freeze, appease and dissociate. The brain and body can then work together in a more balanced way, and this physiological state regulation makes it easier to "rest and digest", cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life, socially connect with others and engage in play, allowing for greater resilience.
The music is played through over-ear headphones, gradually exposing the auditory system to different sound frequencies. There is a popular vocal music playlist and a non-vocal classical music playlist, both with the same special filtering, you can choose between the two playlists. The volume and clarity of the music varies with the specific filtering and is pleasant to listen to.
The full protocol consists on three pathways, each with 5 hours of listening: Connect, Core, and Balance.
SSP Connect offers a slow and gentle way to approach SSP and allows you time to adjust and acclimate to the listening and to prepare for SSP Core.
SSP Core is the existing, original SSP that has been used by thousands of providers and tens of thousands of clients since its release in 2017. It is designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience.
SSP Balance offers an integrating experience and the opportunity to extend the state-regulating benefits beyond SSP Core.
You can learn more about the three pathways and available playlists here.
Polyvagal Theory: the science of feeling safe
Developed by world-renowned researcher and Unyte’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system, and explains how our sense of safety, danger or life-threat can impact our behavior.
Understanding Polyvagal Theory gives us a scientific framework that can be applied through physiological, or “bottom-up” therapies, to help change and improve how we feel, think and connect with others.
Working together: SSP with me
I specialize in working with adults who are suffering the effects of complex trauma, chronic pain and/or illness, anxiety, and eating disorders.
I will use my medical background, knowledge of neuroscience, professional and personal experience of the effects of trauma to sensitively support you through SSP as appropriate to your individual situation and needs. This includes carefully titrating and pacing the delivery SSP to match your experience and sensitivities and best support your bodymind, to ensure you are not overwhelmed and there is enough opportunity for you to benefit the most from the protocol. Online delivery is particularly suitable for this as it gives us the opportunity to take the process as slowly as needed for any shifts and changes to be integrated into your life.
As part of the process, I will ask that you have access to additional therapeutic support, whether body therapy and/or talking therapy, with me or with another provider. This allows for better integration of any shifts and changes that may occur from SSP, meaning there can be more deeply embedded and sustainable benefits once the SSP listening program is complete.
What’s included?
We’ll start with a 2 hour intake during which we’ll:
explore your experience and needs in detail;
address any questions you might have about the protocol and talk about logistics, including recommended activities while listening to the music;
do a trial 15-min listening session and establish duration and frequency of your listening sessions.
Prior to our intake session, I will ask that you download the Unyte-iLs app for SSP delivery, activate your account and complete a few questionnaires.
Depending on the duration of your listening sessions and the pathways that are best suited for your needs, the full protocol will take between 6 and 12 weeks. For all listening sessions, it is important you have a comfortable and reasonably quiet area where you feel private and safe and won’t be disturbed. Additionally, I will encourage you to engage in somatic practices to provide additional support to your nervous system throughout these 6-12 weeks and beyond.
As part of the SSP delivery, we will have:
up to two text or email check-ins per week for SSP-specific support throughout the duration of delivery (6-12 weeks);
two 30 min sessions when you transition between pathways (i.e. one when you complete Connect and start Core, and one when you complete Core and start Balance);
a 60 min integration session when you’ve completed Balance.
Format
Videoconference, via Zoom.
Fees
Delivery of SSP includes:
2 hour intake
3-month access to the Unyte-iLs app for SSP delivery
up to two text or email check-ins per week for SSP-specific support throughout the duration of delivery (6-12 weeks);
two 30 min sessions timed for transition between pathways;
one 60 min integration session on completion of the SSP.
Investment is $1,895 (USD), to be paid in full when scheduling your intake session.
If you’re not sure if/how the SSP can benefit you personally, and/or want to make sure we’re a good fit before committing to the full program, you can schedule a standalone intake session ($620). If we agree to continue with the SSP, you’ll pay the remaining balance ($1,275) before getting started with the Connect pathway. If you don’t wish to continue with the SSP at this time, you’ll leave the session with greater clarity and resources in support of your healing.
If you have any questions, please contact me. If you wish to go ahead and get started with the SSP, please choose one of the options below.
