Sometimes the nervous system needs something different than more thinking, talking, or trying.
Rest and Restore Protocol™ (RRP) is a therapeutic listening program developed by Unyte Health to support nervous system regulation, restoration, and recovery. RRP uses specially designed music and acoustics to work with the body's natural physiological rhythms and gently support movement from stress and fatigue toward greater balance and rest.
I am a Certified Rest and Restore Protocol Provider and offer RRP as part of my nervous-system-informed approach to mental health and wellness.
RRP is a clinical-grade listening therapy informed by behavioral neuroscience and the study of physiological rhythms in the body.
Unlike relaxation exercises that ask you to consciously control your breathing, thoughts, or body, RRP is designed to be a relatively passive experience. You listen to specially designed music while allowing your nervous system to respond naturally.
The program was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, originator of Polyvagal Theory, and music and audio innovator Anthony Gorry.
RRP may support a shift from chronic activation or exhaustion toward greater:
Rest and recovery
Nervous system regulation
Emotional balance
Connection with the body
Sleep and restorative rest
Capacity to respond to stress
Mental clarity and concentration
Sense of connection with yourself and others
RRP may be particularly helpful for people experiencing chronic stress and fatigue, sleep difficulties, anxiety or emotional dysregulation, trauma-related symptoms, chronic health concerns, pain, or gastrointestinal and gut-related concerns.
RRP is not a cure or replacement for medical or mental health treatment. It is used as an adjunctive therapeutic tool and can complement psychotherapy and other forms of care.
There is very little you have to "do."
During listening, you may sit, recline, or lie comfortably while listening through headphones. Some people close their eyes, while others prefer to keep them open. Quiet activities or gentle movement may also be incorporated when helpful.
Rather than trying to create a particular emotional or physical response, you are encouraged to notice your experience and allow the process to unfold.
Some people describe feeling very quiet, relaxed, sleepy, grounded, or internally focused during or after listening. Responses vary, which is why the program is individualized and monitored throughout the process.
The complete Rest and Restore Protocol includes 10 listening tracks of approximately 30 minutes each.
The program begins gently and gradually progresses through increasingly complex levels of therapeutic listening. Your pace is individualized based on how your nervous system responds.
For many people, listening sessions are completed with at least one day between sessions. Others may benefit from shorter listening periods, more time between sessions, repeating a track, or temporarily pausing the program.
There is no benefit to rushing through RRP. The goal is to find the pace that best supports your nervous system.
RRP can be offered:
In person at my North Tonawanda office
Remotely with therapist support
Through carefully monitored independent listening at home
Using a combination of these approaches
We will decide together which format is appropriate for you.
Clients completing listening remotely use the Unyte Health app on their own compatible device and appropriate headphones.
$450
Your program includes:
Initial RRP consultation and readiness assessment
Nervous system and autonomic pattern discussion
Individualized listening plan
Access to the complete 10-track Rest and Restore Protocol
Guidance for setting up your listening environment and equipment
Ongoing monitoring of your progress
Brief check-ins throughout the program
Adjustments to pacing or listening time when needed
Post-program review and recommendations
Most clients complete RRP over several weeks rather than listening on consecutive days.
RRP can also be incorporated into ongoing psychotherapy when clinically appropriate.
Psychotherapy sessions are billed separately from the RRP program and may include nervous system education, regulation strategies, trauma therapy, EMDR, play therapy, or other therapeutic work based on your treatment needs.
Insurance coverage applies only to eligible psychotherapy services and is dependent upon your individual insurance plan. The RRP program fee itself is self-pay and is not billed to insurance.
Before beginning, we will talk about your physical and emotional health, nervous system patterns, sensory needs, current stressors, sleep, available supports, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
RRP is highly adaptable. Some nervous systems benefit from slower or shorter listening sessions, particularly when there is a significant trauma history, sensory sensitivity, chronic illness, or difficulty tolerating changes in internal sensations.
The goal is never to push through discomfort.
We begin with safety, move at the pace your nervous system can tolerate, and adjust the program as needed.
RRP may also be used with children and adolescents.
For younger clients, caregiver involvement is an important part of the process. Children may listen while resting, drawing, coloring, doing a quiet activity, or engaging in gentle movement depending on their individual needs.
Caregivers receive guidance on creating an appropriate listening environment, supporting regulation, noticing changes, and communicating observations throughout the program.
You do not need to know whether RRP is right for you before contacting me.
We can discuss what you are experiencing, what you are hoping to improve, and whether RRP makes sense as part of your care.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about Rest and Restore Protocol.
This information includes proprietary content about Rest and Restore Protocol, used with permission from Unyte Health Inc., a provider of evidence-based listening therapies for nervous system regulation. Rest and Restore Protocol is developed by Unyte Health.