The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

What is the Safe & Sound Protocol?

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an auditory intervention. It was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, an internationally renowned trauma researcher and neuroscientist, based on his Polyvagal Theory. The SSP is a cutting-edge intervention, developed to reduce mental health symptoms associated with an over-stressed vagus nerve response. Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, by calming the physiological and emotional state, the door is opened for improved communication and more successful therapy. The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an evidence-based listening 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 re-tune the nervous system to better support connection, collaboration and resilience. The SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones alongside a provider, in-person or remotely. Suitable for children and adults, the SSP has demonstrated benefits for individuals with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences and more.

The nervous system is sensitive to sounds to help identify and respond to safety and danger in the environment. Sounds can change the regulation of the autonomic nervous system which is involved in stress reactions. The intervention uses specially filtered music to help regulate the nervous system by resetting autonomic functioning. Our ability to hear and tune to a full range of frequencies maintains the body’s ability to be on alert, or stay calm and socially engaged in the presence of others. Calm states are required for learning, development, relationships and to maintain mood.

Here is a short video about how the responses to sound work together with the vagus nerve to reduce the activation of your nervous system.

How Does It Work?

This non-invasive intervention involves listening to music that has been processed specifically to retune the nervous system to introduce a sense of safety and the ability to socially engage. This allows the client to better interpret not only human speech, but, importantly, the emotional meaning of language. Once interpersonal interactions improve, spontaneous social behaviors and an enhanced ability to learn, self-regulate and engage are often seen.

The human ear and nervous system are particularly sensitive to sounds of human voices, giving people the ability to attend to speech, even in the presence of louder sounds that are lower or higher in pitch than human voices. When the middle ear muscles contract, the human ear is ‘tuned’ to detect the sounds of speech and give less attention to other sound frequencies. When the middle ear muscles are inactive, lower frequency sounds (background noise) perceive stronger than human speech. If the middle ear muscles are not contracting adequately, the person isn’t as able to hear the frequencies associated with the human voice, which our nervous system uses to calm defense reactions. In polyvagal terms, these are “cues of safety.” The middle ear muscles are primarily fast-twitch, and they fatigue easily. Illness and aging also reduce the function of the middle ear muscles. When the Middle ear muscles work properly the background noise is dampened and the nervous system is not activated as easily, thus preventing flight/fight/freeze as easily.  The listener is able to focus and hear human speech (higher frequency) easier.  Listening is connected with the vagus nerve, our body’s internal control center for processing and responding to cues and signals from our environment. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the autonomic nervous system traveling from the brainstem to the colon. Polyvagal suggests that we have two branches of the vagus nerve (front & back).  The ventral vagal (front) is activated when we feel safe in our environment and connected with others.  The dorsal vagal (back) is activated when we are in a life-threatening situation, or flight/fight/freeze. The vagus nerve helps to regulate blood pressure, digestion, and heart rate. As the body monitors and receives information, the vagus nerve processes these signals/cues from the environment and determines how to react. SSP brings the client from a state of hyperarousal (fight or flight, defensiveness, cautious or nervousness) to a feeling of safety or calmness.  What you hear and how you hear it, influences how the body responds to situations. In polyvagal terms, these are “cues of safety.” Over the course of the SSP, the musical filters progressively elicit greater levels of muscle contraction, and thus strengthen the link between hearing, safety, and middle ear muscle.

  • Trauma/Depression

    When the nervous system is unable to easily move out of this activated state once the stress or danger has passed, the nervous system’s defense response can be chronically “on” given the activated defense response. Social engagement is our connection to others, our relationships, and our ability to feel safe with others. If our system is chronically activated and on constant “red alert” for danger, it will impact our relationships, focus, mood, stress levels, health and wellness.

  • Hypersensitivities

    Autonomic imbalance towards more sympathetic (“charged”) nervous system responses than parasympathetic (“restful/calm”) responses is part of the Autism symptoms. Studies have shown the SSP can help those with autism or hypersensitivities “power down” so that they can feel calmer, more able to communicate and respond, and less activated or charged up.

  • Social Engagement/Anxiety

    When our nervous system is feeling safe, it is operating in the “social engagement” and “connection” mode. When the nervous system senses a danger, it becomes activated and moves into a state of “fight-flight” (sympathetic) or “freeze” (dorsal vagal). The state inhibits optimum social engagement.

Is the Safe and Sound Protocol right for everyone?

Due to being at higher risk for adverse responses, the Safe and Sound Protocol may not be appropriate for people who may be experiencing the following:

  • Not every inquiry for delivery of the Safe and Sound Protocol is appropriate. 

  • Safe and sound protocol is not an appropriate intervention if the following occur: 

  • Currently living in an unstable household (unsafe)

  • History of trauma, and not currently working with a trauma therapist 

  • Lack of stabilty in day to day

  • Recently experienced a negative life event such as job loss,divorce, death of a loved one

  • Lack of a support system 

  • History of disassociation 

  • Ongoing substance abuse

  • Currently self-harming 

Safe and Sound Protocol Group for Professional

We understand the demands of working professionals from mental health clinicians to teachers, executive leadership, paraprofessionals, and medical professionals. We know our best work comes when our nervous systems is operating at an optimum level as we help our client and community to manage stress. We are offering a Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) group for helping professionals. This is an opportunity for you to give your nervous system a boost in a safe, supportive and enjoyable way while strengthening your eye muscles to facilitate future adaptive responses.

We all know, as professionals, that we offer our best care when we are grounded, calm and connected to ourselves first.

Join a Group

It all begins with an idea. Ready to join a group or request a group for your team?

Areas of Improvement

After 2 to 7 weeks after completion of SSP Core these areas have a potential to change.

  • Hearing changes/reductions in sensory hypersensitivities

  • Reduced anxiety, especially social anxiety

  • Improved eye contact

  • Finding transitions much easier

  • Reduced chronic pain

  • Increased body flexibility

  • Easier to follow directions

  • Improved communication about self

  • Able to remain regulated during face-to-face communication

  • Improved bladder control

  • Less easily stressed

  • Decreased panic, fears and phobias

  • Increased feelings of calmness

  • Improved assertiveness and self-protectiveness

  • Improved processing speed

  • Improved cardiac function

  • More active participation in classroom

  • Improved organization

  • Improved dexterity

  • Improved comprehension

  • Speech and language improvements

  • Reduced repetitive motions and restlessness

  • Hearing changes/reductions in sensory hypersensitivities

  • More active participation in classroom

  • Improved organization

The SSP Process

What to Expect

After registering, schedule your first check-in session. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive additional paperwork to complete and return to your SSP clinician. The clinician will guide you through the process of downloading the app that contains the music and explain how to use it.

During each session, your clinician will support you as you listen for up to an 1 hour at your designated level. The Core Pathway requires listening support with your clinician. Sometimes, clients need to go more slowly or even microdose small amounts of time while listening. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you are encouraged to stop and adjust. The point is to start listening to your body more and see what works for you. You will have the opportunity to listen to the Connect and Balance pathways on your own without the Clinician support. After each listening session, simply send an email to your clinician to report your experience and progress.

Next steps:

  • Please register at the portal and schedule an appointment.

  • Purchase your desired package below.

Pricing

For current clients of the HVWC the Safe and Sound Protocol may be added to your current treatment plan for an additional fee. If you are interested in this Protocol, please inform your therapist and you can determine if it is right for you.

Packages are for home listening with a SSP clinician contact via email or virtual session if needed.
Repeated rounds of SSP for the same family members with SSP clinician are $250.00

For non HVWC individual clients, we are offering up to 1 year of service at a bundle rate of $650.

One online session at the start of the SSP process

  • Email check-ins, Monday - Friday

  • One round of SSP Core + other SSP pathways, if desired

  • Access to the SSP app for up to one year

  • Additional time on SSP app if needed for more time to complete one round of SSP Core $145.00 for an additional year

  • Additional online sessions with SSP are $100 for 30 minutes and $200 for 60 minutes.

  • Additional sessions can be used for check ins, provider supported listening.

For non HVWC clients with two or mor family members, we are offering up to 1 year of service at a bundle rate of $950.

  • Help each person and the family as a whole by stimulating social engagement systems together!

  • One online session per family member

  • Email check ins, Monday - Friday

  • One round of SSP Core + other SSP pathways, if desired

  • Access to the SSP app for up to one year

  • Additional time on SSP app if needed for more time to complete one round of SSP Core $145.00 for an additional year

  • Additional online sessions with SSP are $100 for 30 minutes and $200 for 60 minutes.

  • Additional sessions can be used for check ins, provider supported listening.

To inquire about if the Safe and Sound Protocol is appropriate for you or your family member, please contact the Hope Village Wellness Center at hopevillagewellnesscenter@gmail.com