Safe and Sound Protocol
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an evidence-based listening protocol. The Protocol is 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 re-tune 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.
Reduce Symptoms of:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- ADHD/ADD
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder
- Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia
- Compassion Fatigue
- And Other…
Questions???
Schedule a Time to Speak with Dr. Stephanie’s Assistant about the Safe and Sound Protocol!
Highlights of the SSP
● A five-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.
Listening Group Schedule
Starts Monday September 25, 2023.
Join Dr. Stephanie for online Group Listening on any of these days and times. Sessions are 45 minutes. Please check back to this page for information about any cancellations or future schedule changes.
Mondays 6:00 pm EST
Tuesdays 8:15 pm EST
Thursdays 8:15 pm EST
Fridays 6:30 pm EST
Sundays 7:30 pm EST
* You must register and complete MyUnite assessments and a Mental Health evaluation prior to starting Safe and Sound Protocol Therapy Group. If you have already completed a mental health evaluation at the practice for other individual psychotherapy, then you do not need to complete an additional evaluation.
Listening Group Fees
There is a Registration Fee of $290. This fee gives you access to use the Safe and Sound Protocol Software through MyUnyte for three months. This is not covered by Insurance.
There is an additional fee of $55 per group listening session, however most insurance plans will cover group therapy. Your typical co-pay will then be your cost. If you would like a Benefits Check for how much SSP group therapy will cost for your insurance plan please complete this Benefits Check Request Form.
Listening Group Results
After completing Five Hours of Listening, you will then complete the MyUnyte assessment again to measure your progress.
You will schedule an appointment with one of Dr. Stephanie’s interns. They will review your results, discuss your progress, and advise you how you can use the Safe and Sound Protocol software to help you with continued emotional state regulation post-treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About SSP and
SSP Listening Groups
Question: How long is the Treatment Protocol?
Answer: The protocol includes five hours of listening in total; so if you are directed to listen for thirty minutes per listening session then you will attend ten therapy sessions.
Question: How many group listening sessions will I attend?
Answer: You will attend between ten to twenty group therapy sessions. The number of sessions you will need to attend depends upon titration for your therapy. Your therapist will tell you at your first session how many minutes you should listen. Most often it will be 15 – 30 minutes of listening per group therapy session. The length of time a client should listen depends upon the intensity of symptoms and the client’s nervous system tendencies. This is measured before the first session when you complete the MyUnyte Assessments.
Question: Can my child or adolescent complete Safe and Sound Protocol Therapy?
Answer: Yes. For children under the age of 8, we require the parent to complete the treatment first; then if the parent is well-regulated, then the parent can administer the treatment to their child at home with the guidance of the therapist. Children eight and older may also complete the treatment at home, however in this case we require the parent to complete the treatment first and then the parent can administer the treatment to their child at home with the guidance of the therapist.
Children age eight and older can complete the Safe and Sound Protocol through group listening. The parent will need to assist with completing the Registration, Evaluation, and Assessment. After this has been completed, the child may attend listening groups if they have good behavior during the group listening sessions.
Schedule a Time to Speak with Dr. Stephanie’s Assistant about the Safe and Sound Protocol.
“The SSP was a Complete Game-Changer. My PTSD symptoms were causing me to be very closed off in my relationships. Within the same week I started to listen, I began opening up and creating better relationships with everyone in my family…”
“My son with autism completed the SSP. I noticed right away that he was laughing more. It was as if in every situation, he was more likely to see it with open eyes instead of feeling scared and hypervigilant.”
..”I would recommend the SSP for anyone who has chronic pain in their body. So many people have pain that doctors really cannot explain. Calming your nervous system helps with improving digestion, sleep, mood, and well pretty much everything…”
“During COVID and Post-Covid, the work and stress in my body was almost unbearable. I was having panic attacks and yelling at my kids nearly every day. Joining an SSP group was a wonderful way to take care of myself. In addition to psychotherapy, I made rapid improvement and was back to myself.”
