A Listening-Based Approach to Nervous System Regulation

The Safe and Sound Protocol™ (SSP) is an evidence-based, listening-based intervention designed to support nervous system regulation through the auditory system.

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and based on Polyvagal Theory, SSP uses specially filtered music to help the nervous system become more receptive to cues of safety.

Rather than beginning with thoughts or behaviors, SSP works from the bottom up, supporting the body's ability to move from states of protection and defense toward greater regulation, connection, and engagement.

SSP May Be Helpful If You or Your Child Experience:

• Anxiety or frequent feelings of overwhelm

• Difficulty regulating emotions

• Sensory or auditory sensitivities

• Feeling constantly on alert or unable to settle

• Shutdown, withdrawal, or disconnection

• Difficulty with transitions or flexibility

• Trauma-related symptoms

• Challenges with social connection or engagement

• Difficulty staying regulated enough to participate comfortably in therapy

SSP can be used with children, adolescents, and adults, and it can complement other therapeutic approaches.

How Does SSP Work?

Our nervous systems are constantly taking in information from the world around us and evaluating whether we are safe.

Sound is an important part of that process.

SSP uses music that has been specially filtered to emphasize frequencies associated with cues of safety in the human voice. Through carefully paced listening, the program is intended to exercise and support the nervous system's ability to detect safety, regulate physiological state, and engage with other people and the environment.

SSP consists of five hours of specially filtered music, but those five hours are not necessarily completed in five sessions or on a predetermined schedule.

The amount of listening is individualized.

My Approach to SSP

There is no need to rush through the program.

SSP is not something I ask clients to "power through." Your nervous system's response helps determine the pace.

Some people may tolerate longer periods of listening. Others may begin with only a few minutes. We may pause, shorten sessions, repeat portions of the program, incorporate regulating activities, or take additional time between listening sessions.

Less can be more.

The goal is to find an amount of listening that provides an appropriate level of challenge without overwhelming your nervous system.

Throughout the process, we will pay attention to your responses and adjust the program as needed.

For children, this means the process can be adapted around developmental needs, sensory preferences, movement, play, and the involvement of a trusted caregiver.

What Happens During Listening?

SSP is a supported listening experience.

Depending on your individual needs, you might listen while:

• Drawing or coloring

• Playing quietly

• Using sensory or fidget items

• Sitting, lying down, or changing positions

• Engaging in gentle movement

• Using a blanket, pillow, or other comforting sensory support

• Simply listening and noticing what you experience

The listening environment matters, too. Lighting, sound, seating, movement, volume, and other sensory factors can all be adjusted to help create an environment that feels supportive.

You do not have to sit perfectly still, concentrate on the music, meditate, or make anything happen.

SSP and Psychotherapy

SSP can be incorporated alongside psychotherapy rather than replacing it.

It may be used to help establish greater nervous system stability before or during other therapeutic work and can complement approaches such as:

• EMDR

• Play therapy

• Talk therapy

• Somatic and body-based approaches

• Occupational or sensory-based therapies

For some clients, strengthening the capacity for regulation first may make deeper therapeutic work feel more manageable.

In-Person and Remote SSP

SSP can be offered in person in North Tonawanda, New York.

A supported remote format may also be available when appropriate. Remote participants listen through the Unyte platform while remaining connected with me throughout the process.

Remote SSP is still a provider-guided intervention. We will establish a listening plan, discuss your environment and available supports, monitor your progress, and check in throughout the program.

Is SSP Appropriate for Everyone?

SSP is considered low-risk for most participants, but it is not appropriate to begin the program without considering your individual history and current circumstances.

Certain medical, psychiatric, auditory, or neurological conditions may require additional assessment, consultation with another healthcare provider, modifications to the program, or postponing SSP.

For this reason, everyone begins with a consultation and screening process before listening begins.

The goal is not simply to determine whether you can do SSP, but whether SSP is an appropriate intervention for you right now and how it can be delivered as safely and effectively as possible.

What to Expect When Getting Started

1. Consultation

We begin by talking about what is bringing you to SSP, what you hope to gain from the program, and whether it may be a good fit.

2. Preparation and Planning

Before listening begins, we create an individualized plan. We may discuss:

• Your nervous system and sensory patterns

• Your listening environment

• Activities that help you regulate

• Who can provide support or co-regulation

• Headphones and listening equipment

• How we will communicate between sessions

• An initial listening schedule

3. Supported Listening

You begin the SSP at a pace your nervous system can manage. Listening time may be adjusted throughout the program rather than following a rigid schedule.

4. Integration

The effects of SSP are not limited to the time you spend wearing headphones.

We continue to notice how you are responding in daily life and integrate what is emerging into therapy, relationships, routines, movement, play, and other sources of regulation and connection.

SSP for Children

Children do not need to understand Polyvagal Theory or sit quietly through long listening sessions to participate in SSP.

The program can be adapted to the child's developmental level, sensory needs, interests, and capacity.

Listening may include movement, play, art, sensory activities, and caregiver involvement. We will also consider the child's environment and what helps them feel comfortable and connected.

Parents and caregivers are an important part of this process, particularly because co-regulation and supportive relationships can help children integrate their experience.

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about the science behind SSP, Polyvagal Theory, and the research associated with the program, visit:

What Is the SSP?

Ready to Explore SSP?

The first step is a consultation so we can determine whether SSP is a good fit for you or your child.

Book a Consultation

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Safe and Sound Protocol™ is developed by Unyte Health. SSP is intended to support health and wellness and is not a replacement for appropriate medical or mental health treatment. Individual experiences and responses vary.