Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP): A non-invasive listening therapy to better nervous system regulation.
What is it?
The Safe and Sound Protocol is an evidence-based therapeutic tool designed to reset the nervous system and return it to safety. Designed to work with other therapeutic approaches and modalities, the SSP features specially filtered music that stimulates the vagus nerve.
Suitable for children and adults, the SSP has demonstrated benefits for individuals with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences, autism and much more.
How Does It Work?
The Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) is the only practical application of Polyvagal Theory, and is designed to improve sound sensitivities and auditory processing, behavioural state regulation, and social engagement behaviours through specially-filtered music.
The SSP allows for the repatterning of neural networks and improved regulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) for lasting change.
Based on hierarchical recruitment of the ANS, the SSP trains the middle ear muscles to tune-in to cues of safety signalled by the frequencies of human voice, which stimulates the social engagement system through the neural network associated with listening.
Who Is It For?
The SSP is suitable for children and adults, and has been designed to work with a diverse variety of therapeutic approaches and modalities. Its effectiveness has been proven in a wide range of studies including clinical trials involving children with autism, along with numerous case studies demonstrating effectiveness with emotional regulation, trauma, anxiety and more.
Duration: Minimum 30 days to maximum 90 days (depends on the client’s regulation). It is 15 hours of the program that needs to be done integrated with Coregulation and Sensory and motor input.
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 your clients connect with themselves, others, and the world from a foundation of physiological safety.
Clients experience the SSP playlists through over-the-ear headphones which can be delivered in-clinic or remotely.
Learn More About the Science Behind the SSP
https://integratedlistening.com/polyvagal-theory/
The SSP interrupts chronic states of nervous system defence by stimulating the neural networks associated with listening.
The SSP uses algorithmically filtered music focused on the frequency range of the human voice that alters the way sounds are interpreted.
This ushers the nervous system out of a defensive (fight, flight or freeze) state and into a socially engaged (ventral vagal) state.
Step 1: Engage the ventral vagal complex through the neural network associated with listening.
Step 2: Shift the nervous system into safety using the SSP’s algorithmically filtered music.
Step 3: Administer therapy to a physiologically and psychologically available client.