The Safe and Sound Protocol

The Safe and Sound Protocol

What is the SSP?

The Safe and Sound Protocol is a listening program especially designed and researched by Stephen Porges, author of the Polyvagal Theory, for supporting emotional regulation and auditory sensitivities.

Who can benefit from the SSP?

The SSP is a ‘bottom-up” intervention which targets the nervous system regulatory systems. 

Children experience dysregulation in their autonomic nervous system, or ANS for a multitude of reasons such as sensory reactivity differences, anxiety, sleep difficulties, or developmental trauma. 

By reducing auditory sensitivities and improving the ability to process human speech, the goal of SSP is to calm the autonomic nervous system so that the child can become more social, engaged, and responsive to their own emotional needs. 

Other benefits may include improved digestion, improved sleep, and improved vocal tone.

How does it work?

Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, the program is derived from nearly four decades of research on the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and social-emotional processes. It is designed to stimulate nervous system regulation by exercising and systematically challenging the auditory system with specifically processed music.

The music trains the auditory pathways by focusing on the frequency envelope of human speech. As the client learns to process these speech-related frequencies, they improve the functioning of two cranial nerves that are important for promoting overall social behavior. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve) helps clients focus on human voice and tune out irrelevant frequencies. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve) enables self-soothing and autonomic regulation.

Following successful completion of the intervention, individuals will be better able to focus in school, at work, in therapy, and everyday life and experience a calmed emotional, and physiological state.  This is based on studies that suggest that skills such as attention, state regulation and the ability to engage socially will be enhanced.

>To learn more, please click here