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.  The SSP acts as a non-invasive, acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to retune the nervous system to better support connection, collaboration, and resilience. 

The SSP is a 5-hour auditory intervention developed and patented by Dr. Stephen Porges, author of the Polyvagal Theory.  Polyvagal Theory, or “the science of feeling safe” focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system and explains how our sense of safety, danger, or life-threat can impact our behavior.  Learn more about the Polyvagal Theory here: https://vimeo.com/unyte/ssp.

What Is SSP?

We Can’t Think Our Way to Safety!

Safety is not a cognitive experience.  It develops in the nervous system so we must use bottom-up approaches, such as the SSP, to achieve it.  The SSP can help shift our nervous system out of a state of defense and enhance therapeutic outcomes.  The following benefits can be achieved through SSP:

  • Improved social connection

  • Improved emotional control

  • Improved auditory and other sensory sensitivities

  • Improved executive functioning skills

  • Improved focus/attention

  • Improved expressive and receptive language skills

  • Decreased anxiety

  • Improved sleep

  • Decreased pain

How is SSP Delivered?

The SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones alongside your provider in person or remotely.  The SSP is delivered through an app-based platform, which can be available on IOS and Andriod devices. The provider will monitor listening sessions and continuously customize the program to best suit your needs.

  Learn more here:  www.whatisthessp.com.

SSP Connect

SSP Connect consists of 5 hours of full spectrum, classical music. The classical music has been curated to be calming & grounding, with a soothing tempo and without abrupt changes. SSP Connect is a warmup to the SSP Core for individuals who would benefit from a slower & gentler introduction for highly defensive nervous systems. This pathway provides the opportunity for the client to connect with the experience of listening to music as a part of therapy. This familiarity helps to provide the “safe” before “sound” experience & create a setting to guide the way for the client as they enter SSP Core pathway. 

SSP Core

SSP Core is the existing, original SSP that is designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. SSP Core uses 5 hours of prosodic vocal music that has been modulated to train the neural network.

SSP Balance

SSP Balance can be used to extend and integrate the gains of the SSP Core while potentially acting as a state stabilizer. The SSP Balance was developed as a follow up to the SSP Core to offer an opportunity to return to music as a calming and grounding experience with a less strenuous neural workout. The 5 hour music in SSP Balance uses the same playlists as SSP Core, but is treated to present the frequency envelope of human voice with a narrower and less dynamic modulation around this range.

Pricing

30 Day Package - $300

Includes:

  • Access to the SSP Connect and Core Pathways with guidance daily or as needed via text/ email support for 30 days

  • Free access to SSP for primary caregiver

  • Discounted access for additional family members

Optional - $100 month

Access to Connect and Balance Programs following the 30 Day Package