Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP)

What is the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) ?

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a therapeutic listening intervention developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, grounded in his Polyvagal Theory. It’s designed to regulate the autonomic nervous system by using specially filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve, promoting a sense of safety and calm. The SSP involves listening to music—typically over five hours, often broken into shorter sessions—that has been processed to emphasize frequencies associated with human speech, helping to "retune" the nervous system. It’s used to address issues like anxiety, trauma, auditory sensitivities, and social engagement difficulties by shifting the body from a defensive state (fight, flight, or freeze) to a more relaxed, socially connected state.

Beginning SSP

Typically for those ages 13 and up we begin with an online session in which your provider observes the start of listening. With those aged 12 and under we most often meet with a parent to go over things and to make up a plan for how to begin SSP.

After the online session, the rest of our communication typically takes place via email.

Coregulation

It is also important that, when you listen to SSP that you (or your child) have someone that feels safe and comfortable present during listening. The support person's job is to notice if the listener looks at them and meet them with soft eyes, a smile, etc..

Areas of Improvement Potentially Arising 2-7 weeks after completion of SSP Core

• Reduced anxiety, especially social anxiety
• Improved assertiveness and self-protectiveness
• Increased displays of affection-seeking affection-expressive contact
• Increased facial flexibility and expressiveness
• Increased body flexibility Reduced chronic pain
• Change in throat tension/sound of voice
• Improved eye contact Reduced repetitive motions and restlessness
• Increased feelings of calmness Hearing changes/reductions in sensory hypersensitivities
• Finding transitions much easier
• Speech and language improvements
• Reduced sensitivity to food tastes and textures/less "picky eating"
• Improved reciprocal communication
• Thoughts and behavior have more purposeful flow
• Improved comprehension
• Easier to follow directions
• Improved processing speed
• Improved organization
• Improved dexterity
• More active participant in classroom, able to tolerate and overcome challenges
• Improved visual focus/tracking
• More able to put words to feeling
• Able to remain regulated during face to face communication
• Improved self-awareness (particularly of emotions)
• Improved communication about self (again particularly about emotions)
• Decreased panic, fears and phobias
• Improved cardiac function
• Improvement in breathing pattern
• Able to tolerate busy environments
• Increased sense of humor
• Improved ability to read social cues
• Less easily stressed Improved digestion
• Improved bladder control
• Hormonal shifts for women
• Concerns related to long covid.

With SSP there is the potential for some things to get worse initially before they get better. We do our best to avoid this by paying close attention to how the nervous system is responding and pausing or going as slowly as needed, to keep the process gentle.

However, ideally, we try to choose timing carefully. If anyone is feeling at the absolute limit of what they can cope with, or if there are upcoming events that may be quite stressful, it's not always the best time to begin SSP. Some exceptions do exist, please discuss this with me if you aren't sure of the best possible timing for you.

SSP is effective in the context of feeling safe. If there is someone in the home who rocks the boat for the person who does SSP, or if there is a great deal of conflict in the home, SSP may be less likely to be effective.

It's ideal to choose a time when you may be able to slow down a little, to allow yourself to process should anything get bumpy.

It is also important to avoid doing SSP shortly before having any invasive dental work done - things like a dental extraction, or a root canal. SSP is contraindicated for anyone with a recent head injury and/or a seizure disorder unless someone has been seizure free for at least one year prior to

SSP.

If someone has any significant medical issues and/or bipolar depression, it is important to let me know that so that I can do a medical consult ahead of time, if needed.