Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

Regulate Your Nervous System

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a therapy designed to help regulate the nervous system. This can be helpful for children and/or adults who have a dysregulation of the nervous system (link to questionnaire). Children and adults with a dysregulated nervous system may have difficulty feeling safe or calm due to anxiety, mood disorders, sensory processing issues (SPD), complex trauma, PTSD, social engagement difficulties, or neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and others. People with sleep, digestive, and physical regulation issues can also benefit from SSP. SSP is especially helpful for people whose nervous systems are “stuck” in survival mode, and who might benefit from a gentle, body-based intervention that doesn’t rely on words or talk therapy alone.

What it is:

Safe and Sound is a type of auditory intervention to gently influence the vagus nerve (a key player in the body’s fight or flight response) using the closest location in the body (inner ear) to the vagus nerve.  This therapy is based on The Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges.

How it works:

 Listening Sessions: Using earphones that cover the ears (with noise cancelling turned off), the client listens to music that’s been altered to emphasize frequencies found in human speech (filtering out high and low sounds that can be dysregulating for the nervous system).  The SSP therapy is ideally begun in a ‘safe’ situation for the client in a trained and SSP certified therapist’s office, to determine tolerance and pace recommended for therapy progression. It is required to be administered by a trained therapist who can support the client if emotional responses come up. 

Gradual Progression: The protocol requires a total of 5 hours of listening time occurring over multiple days or weeks, starting slowly and increasing as tolerated.  Listening can be done at home after the initial session. The client will work closely with the therapist by having in-office or virtual follow up sessions as recommended by the therapist.  SSP can be used alongside Holistic Therapeutic techniques where coping tools can be taught and practiced as SSP can help ‘prep’ the nervous system to be more receptive to healing.

Reported Benefits:

Once the nervous system has become more regulated, clients report improved emotional resilience, better sleep, increased social connection and communication, reduced anxiety and stress, and enhanced focus and learning capacity.  Importantly, once the body is no longer in “fight or flight” mode, other bodily functions such as healing, good digestion, nutrient absorption and detoxification of various toxins can all begin to work together effectively as they were designed to do.

Sessions are available for children and adults. Schedule an appointment with Peyton, our certified SSP therapist to start your journey to a more regulated nervous system. Text or call our office at 713.861.6777 to schedule.