Safe and sound protocol
what is the safe and sound protocol?
As noted on the Unyte/Integrated Listening website, the The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an acoustic vagus nerve stimulator developed by Dr. Stephen Porges based on his Polyvagal Theory.
The SSP is a 5 hour auditory intervention therapy that seeks to help clients access a physiological state conducive to well-being, positive engagement with others, and growth in learning and therapy. The 5 hours of music is administered in segments planned by your provider. Some clients are able to tolerate intensive listening sessions while others require titrated listening.
By helping to access this calm and grounded state, the SSP promotes a neural platform for health, growth and restoration in clients experiencing the following challenges:
Anxiety
Inattention and Focus
Auditory sensitivities
Behavioral Regulation and Resilience
Physical Coordination and Balance
Reading and Auditory Processing
Sleep
Speech and Language
Social and emotional difficulties
Trauma and PTSD
Stressors that impact social engagement
This tool has been used to treat clients experiencing difficulties with emotional control, behavioural organization, and hearing and auditory sensitivities.
The SSP is an adjunct therapy meant to be used in combination with and to enhance existing treatment interventions such as EMDR, Play Therapy and Somatic Experiencing®. Once clients are able to enter a regulated state of safety and calm by listening to the treated music served by the SSP, they become more receptive to other effective therapies.
The SSP is engineered to support clients in enhancing nervous system regulation. A regulated nervous system in one that can flow in and out of restriction and expansion. Check out the Polyvagal theory for more education about the the autonomic nervous system.
This program can be administered in-office, at home, or remotely through a digital delivery platform using an over the ear headset and connection to a downloadable app.
The SSP can generate benefits long after the program has been completed. Clients often see benefits from the SSP for 6-8 weeks after they have completed the program. That said, many clients benefit from doing some or all of the SSP another time. Clients who tend to benefit from repeated use are individuals who benefitted the first time and show a need for more input, clients who are gaining language, and clients who are benefitting academically. Clients have to wait about 8-12 weeks before a repeat of the program can be offered.
Talk to your practitioner to see if you or your kiddo may benefit from the SSP.
