Safe and Sound Protocol.
Reset your nervous system
Rewire your brain
Rediscover your center
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, founder of the Polyvagal Theory, the Safe and Sound Protocol is a non-invasive acoustic vagus nerve stimulator that helps you connect with yourself, others, and the world from a foundation of physiological safety.
Clients experiences the SSP playlists through over-the-ear headphones which can be delivered in-clinic or remotely.
Our nervous system is designed to protect us from danger. When it senses danger, it sets off the fight, flight or freezes response and the body goes into high alert ready to find safety from threats. This is healthy, positive and life-saving.
Sometimes, our brain gets it wrong. It interprets harmless events as dangerous, and we end up in a constant state of anxiety or high alert. This often occurs when trauma happens in early childhood or is repeated over a long period of time. Highly sensitive people who are attuned to be very sensitive to stimuli are susceptible to this experience.
This happens on a subconscious level. Even if logically we know we are safe, we are "wired" or "primed" to feel anxious, depressed or overwhelmed as we exist in a constant state of danger. Our brains are stuck in a dangerous feedback loop, and we don't know how to stop it.
How it works.
The Safe and Sound Protocol interrupts and redirects that physiological feedback loop with cues of safety. Safety cues help shift the nervous system out of chronic defense and high-alert into a safe and connected state.
It does this by stimulating the neural networks associated with listening using filtered music focusing on the frequency range of the human voice. Through this mechanism, the SSP alters the way sounds are interpreted, and moves the nervous system from a state of defense and into a state of safety, connection and regulation. Resetting your brain's wiring from the bottom up allows you to develop resilience and flexibility to tolerate and handle what life brings.
What are the Benefits of Safe & Sound Protocol?
☑ When we are safe and connected, we process emotions, eat, digest and eliminate food, and utilize our support system with flexibility and ease.
☑ We feel less anxiety and depression. We feel connected and safe in the world and at ease with ourselves.
☑ We can handle our emotions and process our experiences in a healthy way, and make conscious decisions about how we choose to engage with ourselves and the people in our lives.
Safe & Sound Protocol helps you progress in therapy by shifting your fundamental experiences of the world.
You can’t think your way into safety.
We need something to interrupt this feedback loop.
The nervous system wants to be oriented to safety and connection.
SSP allows us to uncover the pathway.
How it’s delivered.
Safe and Sound Protocol is automatically integrated if you’re a current client of mine. Outside clients can choose from two types of delivery:
100% Supported SSP Core Program (facilitated by trained SSP provider)
Includes:
Access to SSP core Program
Link to access the listening device remotely on your device of choosing (smartphone and earphones, earbuds, or headphones required and supplied by you)
Secure end to end encrypted account with access to your personal dashboard to record progress
Daily log in sheets to record your discoveries
Access to the Connect program during SSP for two months
Access to follow-up Balance program post Core program for one month
Individual sessions + support:
Intake session: includes Intake Questionnaire, Autonomic Nervous System Assessment, review of Polyvagal Theory and how SSP works.
Regulation and Resource session: Includes creating your Personal Profile Map for your nervous system and learning individualized resourcing skills to support your experience with SSP
50 minute sessions with SSP trained provider depending on case by case basis (includes SSP delivery, coaching on somatic regulation tools, and Polyvagal Theory)
Access to SSP provider during your CORE protocol
One half-hour post-session to process your experience
A follow-up session (a half-hour) one and two months post-treatment
Provider 100% Supported Learning Cost:
$150 per 50-minute session. Sessions consist of 30 minutes of SSP and 20 minutes of supported regulation work. The program requires 12 to 15 sessions.
Equipment Needed for Remote Session:
The headset required for SSP (or a similar version) (not noise-cancelling)
The headset required for SSP (or a similar version) (not noise-cancelling)
Phone with access to apps
Hybrid Remote Home Program (partially facilitated)
Includes:
Access to SSP Core program
Access to the SSP Core program
Access to SSP Connect program during the duration of the SSP intervention for ANS regulation
Access to follow-up SSP Balance program post Core program for one month
Link to access listening device remotely on your device of choosing (smartphone and earphones, earbuds, or headphones required and supplied by you)
Secure end to end encrypted account with access to your personal dashboard to record progress
Daily log in sheets to record your discoveries
Support
Intake session: Includes Intake Questionnaire, Autonomic Nervous System Assessment, review of Polyvagal Theory and the mechanics of SSP.
Regulation and Resource session: Includes creating your Personal Profile Map for your nervous system and learning individualized resourcing skills to support your experience with SSP
1 or 2 video monitoring 30-minute sessions with Shelley Tom, certified SSP provider to “monitor” initial Autonomic Nervous System patterns
Access to SSP provider via email during your Core protocol (10-15 days)
One half-hour post-session via phone consultation to process your experience
An additional follow up session (a half-hour) post-treatment
Limited Support Remote Learning Session Cost:
$800 in full or 4 instalments of $200 each to be paid by end of the second month
Equipment Needed
The headset required for SSP (or a similar version) (not noise-cancelling)
Phone with access to apps
