Safe and Sound Protocol
An auditory intervention developed by Dr. Stephen Porges to restore the nervous system, reduce stress and auditory sensitivity, and enhance social engagement and resilience.
The SSP targets the vagus nerve through specially filtered music, making it non-invasive and accessible for clients. This program has been successfully applied as a listening therapy to treat patients experiencing difficulties with emotional control, behavioral organization, and hearing and auditory sensitivities.
The SSP is an adjunct therapy meant to be used in combination with and enhance existing treatment programs. Once patients are able to enter a regulated state of safety and calm by listening to the treated music served by the SSP, they become more receptive to other effective therapies.
Who Is It For?
The SSP may be helpful in reducing symptoms and supporting overall health and resiliency for people seeking support for:
- Families working on Co-Regulation
- Depression and anxiety
- Neurodevelopmental differences, such as autism, hyperactivity and attention
- Learning difficulties
- Auditory and other sensory processing differences
- Trauma history
- Sleep
- Neurological changes
- Other challenges related to autonomic dysfunction, such as eating difficulties, gut health, and more
With Other Therapies
It can be combined with and is supportive of other therapies, including:
- Neurodevelopmental treatment, such as occupational therapy, play therapy and sensory integration therapy
- Other forms of mental health and trauma therapies, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of talk therapy (e.g. DBT, MCBT, etc.)
Repatterning the nervous system through listening.
