SSP Safe and Sound Protocol

What I’m hearing from my own clients:

Improvements and Benefits

While we can't predict which improvements will show up for any one person, here is a list of common known improvements:

• Increased feelings of calmness

• Less defensiveness

• Less easily stressed

• Reduced anxiety, especially social anxiety

• Decreased panic, fears and phobias

• Easier to overcome & tolerate challenges

• Less anger, meltdowns, outbursts

• Finding transitions much easier

• Change in throat tension/sound of voice

• Speech and language improvements

• Improved self-awareness (particularly in relation to emotions)

• Improved communication about self (particularly in relation to emotions)

• Improved reciprocal communication

• More able to put words to feelings

• Increased sense of humor

• Improved assertiveness and self protectiveness

• Improved comprehension

• Easier to follow directions

• Improved processing speed

• Improved organization

• Thoughts and behavior have more purposeful flow

• More able to remain regulated during face to face communication

• Improved eye contact

• Improved ability to read social cues

• Increased displays of affection-seeking affection-expressive contact

• Improved visual focus/tracking

• Improved cardiac function (HRV, resting heart rate)

• Improvement in breathing patterns

• Improved digestion

• Improved bladder control

• Hormonal shifts for women

• Concerns related to long covid

• Hearing changes

• Reductions in sensory hypersensitivities generally

• Reduced sensitivity to food tastes and textures/less "picky eating"

• Reduced or eliminated sound sensitivities, including misophonia & hyperacusis

• More able to tolerate busy environments

• Reduced repetitive motions and restlessness

• Increased facial flexibility and expressiveness

• Increased body flexibility

• Improved dexterity

• Reduced chronic pain
  
  It is important to know that it can take between two and seven weeks AFTER the entire SSP process has been completed for improvements to appear. Although many people do notice shifts appearing immediately once the process has begun, for some people they don't notice anything at all for a few weeks after completing the process and this can be quite normal as well.

Source

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 retune 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.

Highlights of the SSP:

• A 5-hour auditory intervention developed and patented by Dr. Stephen Porges, author of the Polyvagal Theory.

• Designed to reduce sound sensitivity, and improve auditory processing and behavioral state regulation.

• Activates the client’s social engagement system, helping to accelerate and enhance therapeutic outcomes.

• Supports physiological state regulation, allowing for greater resilience.

Polyvagal Theory: the Science of Feeling Safe

Developed by world-renowned researcher and Unyte’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory 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.

Understanding Polyvagal Theory gives us a scientific framework that can be applied through physiological, or “bottom-up” therapies, to help change and improve how we feel, think and connect with others.

Here is a brief video to learn more.

As you listen to the music of the SSP, these highlighted frequencies send cues of safety to retune your nervous system, which can help you feel more settled, engaged and balanced.

The SSP Process

• I will create a personal account for you on the Unyte platform that you log into with your email address. You can log on to this website with your laptop, tablet, or phone. There you will see:

  • Introductory information and videos

  • Pre and post listening assessments

  • Samples of the different music playlists

  • Your dashboard will have your listening sessions listed so that you can see where you are if needed

  • A link to the Unyte app where all the listening happens

• Unyte app

  • Can be used on a phone or tablet (not a laptop)

  • All listening happens through this app

Getting started with me

• We’ll start with an initial session either in person or online (more if indicated)

  • You’ll complete paperwork before this session so I can become familiar with your situation

  • I’ll explain and answer any questions about this listening therapy

  • I’ll explain how to administer this therapy to yourself or your child

• Access to one round of SSP is $300 and lasts for one year

  • Insurance cannot be billed for access

• The initial session with me and any other sessions that are needed are $150.

  • Insurance can be billed for the sessions (I am paneled with EMI and most SelectHealth plans)

other details

• The SSP is delivered through the app and over the ear headphones (earbuds cannot be used)

  • The headphones must completely cover or surround the ear, not sit on top of the ear

  • No noise cancelling, or the ability to turn noise cancelling off

  • No bass boost or other enhancements

  • They can be either wired or wireless

  • Some children or individuals are not able to tolerate over the ear headphones and we have workarounds for this

• The standard delivery of SSP is a maximum of 30 minutes every other day with a supportive person (co-regulator) present

  • The co-regulator is present to provide calm and supportive energy and to help regulate and soothe if needed

  • Some situations are not ideal and this can be very difficult to find a co-regulator and again we have workarounds for this

  • Many of my clients find that listening every other day is difficult to remember or that 30 minutes is too much time, so alternatively, it is an option to listen daily for 5, 10, or 15 minutes

  • Because the filtering in the music is directly affecting the nervous system it is important that we not overwhelm the nervous system

    • you cannot go too slowly, but you can go too fast and experience uncomfortable physical sensations and emotional dysregulation

    • If that occurs I can guide you through managing the discomfort and dysregulation

  • While listening you or your child can

    • snuggle, back tickles or scratches

    • petting or snuggling with a pet

    • fidgets, sensory items

    • color, draw, engage in light easy art

    • crochet, simple crafts

    • gentle movement or stretching

    • Legos or easy mindless games

    • The music needs to be listened to and focused on so

      • no reading, writing, homework

      • no screens or electronics

      • talking to a minimum (parents may wear their own earbuds or headphones as a visual cue to not talk)

      • nothing very vigorous

• SSP is a supportive therapy and does not take the place of your original therapy - CBT, ERP, EMDR, DBT

  • SSP makes your original therapy easier to engage in since your nervous system is calmer

  • Sometimes you can do the SSP at the same time as your other therapy modalities, other times there needs to be several weeks or months in between

• Some people see all the improvements they want to see in just one round of the SSP.

  • Others see benefit and would like to see continued benefit and do more rounds

  • Some do a round or two a year as a way to maintain and keep their nervous system well tuned

  • There needs to be at least 2-3 months in between rounds of SSP in order to allow the nervous system to integrate