
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a powerful listening therapy designed to help regulate the nervous system, allowing people to better connect with themselves, others, and their surroundings. The protocol was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and is based on his Polyvagal Theory, which focuses on the body and the nervous system, explaining how our sense of safety, danger, or threat can impact our behavior. The SSP uses specially filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve and send cues of safety to the nervous system, improving well-being and mental health. It has been used in over 70 countries to help with anxiety, autism, and other challenges, and can be delivered in-person or remotely.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Creator | Dr. Stephen Porges |
| Basis | Polyvagal Theory |
| Type | Music-based listening therapy |
| Objective | Reduce stress and auditory sensitivity, enhance social engagement and resilience |
| Mechanism | Specially-filtered music, vocal and non-vocal playlists |
| Target | Neural network associated with listening |
| Effect | Sends cues of safety to the nervous system, builds foundation for awareness, embodiment and resilience |
| Outcome | Improved nervous system regulation, better sleep, improved concentration, enhanced communication, positive social relationships |
| Delivery | In-person, remote, or hybrid |
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What You'll Learn

The Safe and Sound Protocol is a powerful trauma intervention
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a powerful trauma intervention designed by Dr. Stephen Porges and his team. Dr. Porges is best known for his Polyvagal Theory, which forms the basis of the SSP. This theory focuses on the body and the nervous system, explaining how our sense of safety, danger, or threat can impact our behavior.
The SSP is a listening therapy that uses specially filtered music to regulate the nervous system and improve an individual's ability to connect with themselves, others, and their surroundings. The music is designed to send cues of safety to the nervous system, building a foundation for awareness, embodiment, and resilience. This therapy is accessible to many populations and can be customized for each client.
The SSP has been clinically proven effective in a wide range of studies, including trials involving children and adults with autism. It has been used to support individuals with anxiety, autism, and more. The therapy is typically delivered in one-hour sections over five days, and it can be administered in-person, remotely, or through a hybrid approach.
While the SSP has been life-changing for some, it is important to note that it may not be suitable for everyone. Some individuals have shared their experiences of regression and re-traumatization after undergoing the SSP. It is recommended to consult a licensed and certified professional to determine if the SSP is an appropriate intervention for your specific needs.
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It involves listening to 5 hours of computer-modified music
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a listening therapy based on Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory. It involves 5 hours of computer-modified music, which is typically divided into 1-hour sections over 5 days. The music is pop music that has been filtered through a patented, evidence-based algorithm, and it sounds similar to listening to an old radio. The computer filter exercises the inner ear at a microsecond pace, and the brain scans for safety 4–5 times per second.
The SSP is designed to help regulate the nervous system by sending cues of safety to the nervous system through the specially filtered music. The vagus nerve is stimulated, and the state of feeling safe and calm becomes accessible. This helps to improve sleep, eating, digestion, concentration, communication, and meaningful relationships.
The SSP can be delivered in-person or remotely and is often used in conjunction with other modalities to enhance therapeutic results. It is commonly used by mental health professionals, therapists, and sensory integration practitioners as an adjunct therapy to help patients regulate their nervous systems.
It is important to note that the SSP is not a gentle treatment and may not be suitable for everyone. It is recommended to consult a licensed and certified professional to determine if the SSP is an appropriate treatment option.
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The protocol is delivered by qualified professionals
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a powerful listening therapy designed to help regulate the nervous system, thereby improving one's ability to connect with oneself, others, and the world around them. It is based on Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, which focuses on the body and the nervous system, explaining how our sense of safety, danger, or threat impacts our behaviour.
Qualified professionals delivering the SSP ensure that their clients are treated as experts in their own experiences. They encourage clients to take things at a comfortable pace, regularly check in on how they are feeling, and offer grounding tools to ensure a sense of support throughout the process. A good practitioner will work to earn and maintain their client's trust, ensuring that the experience is collaborative rather than controlling.
The SSP is not a standalone therapy but is used in conjunction with other modalities to enhance therapeutic results. It is often used by mental health professionals, therapists, and sensory integration practitioners as an adjunct therapy to help patients regulate their nervous systems and attain a grounded state of feeling safe and calm.
Overall, the qualified professionals delivering the SSP play a crucial role in ensuring that the protocol is administered effectively and ethically, prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of their clients throughout the process.
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It was designed by Dr. Stephen Porges, based on Polyvagal Theory
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) was designed by Dr. Stephen Porges, a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University and the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is also a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland. Dr. Porges is well-known for his Polyvagal Theory, which the SSP is based on.
The Polyvagal Theory focuses on the body and the nervous system, explaining how our sense of safety, danger, or threat impacts our behaviour. The theory emphasizes the role of the vagus nerve in detecting safety cues and stimulating a sense of calm. The SSP is a powerful listening therapy that utilizes specially filtered music to regulate the nervous system and enhance social engagement and resilience.
The music in the SSP playlists is carefully sequenced and filtered through an evidence-based algorithm backed by decades of scientific research. This filtered music sends cues of safety to the nervous system, helping individuals build awareness, embodiment, and resilience. By regulating the nervous system, individuals can improve sleep, digestion, concentration, communication, and relationships.
The SSP is commonly used as an adjunct therapy by mental health professionals, therapists, and sensory integration practitioners to help patients process external cues and signals, attain a calm and grounded state, and feel safe. It is often used in conjunction with other modalities to enhance therapeutic results. The SSP can be delivered in-person or remotely and has been utilized in over 70 countries, helping individuals with anxiety, autism, and more.
While the SSP has been praised for its positive impacts, some individuals have shared their negative experiences and concerns about the potential for re-traumatization. It is important to consult a licensed and certified professional to determine if the SSP is a suitable option for an individual's healing journey.
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It helps regulate the nervous system and improve well-being
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a powerful listening therapy designed to help regulate the nervous system and improve well-being. It is a music-based intervention that uses specially filtered music to support nervous system regulation. The music is sequenced and filtered through an algorithm backed by decades of scientific research. This algorithm filters music to target specific sound frequencies, primarily those of the human voice.
The protocol was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and is based on his Polyvagal Theory, which focuses on the body and the nervous system and explains how our sense of safety, danger, or threat impacts our behavior. The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion. It has two parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The parasympathetic nervous system is associated with the "rest-and-digest" state, while the sympathetic nervous system supports our "fight-or-flight" responses.
When we don't feel safe, our autonomic nervous system responds by activating the "fight-or-flight" response, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, fast breathing, and feeling hot or quick to anger. The SSP interrupts this feedback loop by sending cues of safety to the nervous system through the specially filtered music. This music engages the vagus nerve via the muscles of the middle ear, encouraging the nervous system to tune into signals of safety.
By regulating the nervous system, SSP helps individuals respond more effectively to life's challenges, access higher learning and cognition, and build positive social relationships. It improves well-being by making it easier to sleep, eat, digest, concentrate, and communicate. SSP has been used to treat patients of all ages and has shown improvement in reducing anxiety, autism, and trauma-related symptoms.
It is important to note that the SSP should be delivered by qualified professionals, and the pace of the intervention should be tailored to the individual to avoid overwhelming them.
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Frequently asked questions
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a listening therapy designed by Dr. Stephen Porges to help regulate the nervous system, so you can better connect with yourself, others, and the world around you.
The SSP uses specially-filtered music to train the neural network associated with listening to focus on the frequency range of the human voice. The music is filtered through a patented, evidence-based algorithm. The SSP can be delivered either in-person or remotely.
The SSP is commonly used by mental health professionals, therapists, and sensory integration practitioners as an adjunct therapy. It has been used to treat patients of all ages with anxiety, autism, and trauma-related symptoms.






























