What is Safe & Sound Protocol?
The Safe and Sound Protocol is a non-invasive listening intervention designed to help you feel better, think better and connect better. The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an evidence-based therapy designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation, and social engagement behaviors through filtered music. As a practical application of Polyvagal Theory, the SSP acts as a non-invasive, acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to retune the nervous system to better support connection, collaboration and resilience. whatisthessp.com
Who can benefit?
The Safe and Sound Protocol helps children and adults to better regulate their emotions and their behavior, as well as helping them with social engagement. It is designed to be used in conjunction with other therapies to enhance outcomes for ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Trauma-related difficulties and Auditory Processing difficulties. At Deeply Rooted Interventions, my approach is based on the reality that human behavior is the outward reaction of a foundational nervous system response to the world and our environment.
What is the SSP Process?
As you begin your journey with SSP it is important to understand that it is not a linear journey. The listener may experience increased symptoms which usually can be alleviated quickly. We will pay close attention to how the nervous system is responding and adjust the program to keep the process gentle.
Timing is important. If you are experiencing significant overwhelm, and/or heightened levels of stress and anxiety, then it is not always the best time to begin your journey with SSP. It is ideal to begin when you’re able to commit to the time needed to process the body’s responses. We can chat more in detail about this during our discovery call.
Please refer to the contraindications and precautions list to determine if there is any reason to delay you from starting the intervention.
Listening to SSP requires you to have someone that feels safe and can be a comfort to you during listening. The SSP works by turning on the social engagement systems. The activation of these systems will look different for each individual. It is important that the listener feels continuously supported while listening throughout the program.
“Ashlyn is AMAZING! My daughter is 10 and was diagnosed with selective mutism and global developmental delay when she was 5. At the age of 8 she was diagnosed with mild/moderate intellectual disability. We have gone through public school, private school and multiple therapies. Two years ago I made the decision to homeschool her and find the professionals that best fit her personality and needs. One of those professionals was Ashlyn. Her passion and love for children was apparent the first time we met. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, loving, listens and most importantly thinks outside the box and customizes her sessions for each child's needs. My daughter is absolutely thriving since we started with Ashlyn. I would highly recommend her services to anyone!”
ROBYN N.
Time Commitment
Dr Porges approves the “less is more” approach and go at your own pace. No two nervous systems are alike so finding your rhythm is important. The CORE program is 5 hours of listening. People listen for a few seconds up to several minutes a day while going through the SSP. This is something we discuss more in detail as you go through the program.
“The theory forces us to question whether our society provides sufficient and appropriate opportunities to experience safe environments and trusting relationships.”
Dr. Stephen Porges
Rooted in Polyvagal Science
The Safe and Sound Protocol is the only auditory intervention that directly re-tunes and regulates autonomic state through stimulating the vagus nerve, moving a person out of fight/flight/freeze and into a rest and digest/parasympathetic state.
The mind and body are connected through the vagus nerve, it is the longest nerve in the autonomic nervous system. This nerve stretches from brainstem to the colon. It works as our internal control center, giving information to the brain about bodily functions. The vagus nerve helps regulate several critical aspects of human physiology, including heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, digestion and even speaking. As our body takes in information automatically through neuroception, this information is communicated to the brain, which processes these signals and queues from our environment and determines how we react.
Researched-Based Evidence
The Safe and Sound Protocol is a research based and evidence informed treatment that is intended to be used alongside other therapies to significantly enhance outcomes.
Explore the potential benefits of SSP for a variety of presenting problems. For more details on research related to SSP, click here.
"Healing comes from within, but is nurtured through connection."DANIEL J. SIEGEL