Now Offering the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

I’m excited to share that I'm now offering the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) as an additional service for families in my practice.

Most of the kids I work with have nervous systems that are sensitive or under a lot of stress. They tend to struggle with anxiety, big emotional reactions, sensory sensitivities, attention challenges, or social difficulties. These challenges reflect a nervous system that struggles to feel "safe and sound."

The Safe and Sound Protocol is designed to support this foundation of regulation and felt safety.

Developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory, SSP is a research-based listening therapy that supports nervous system regulation so children can feel calmer, safer, and more connected. When regulation improves, managing emotions and behaviors, connecting with others, and participating in therapy and everyday life becomes easier.

What Is the Safe and Sound Protocol?

SSP uses specially filtered music delivered through over-the-ear headphones to gently support the part of the nervous system responsible for regulation and social engagement.

The music used in SSP has been carefully modified to highlight specific sound frequencies that our nervous systems associate with safety and connection. (Think of the tone of voice you instinctively use when speaking to a baby, young child, or pet.) When these cues of safety are registered repeatedly, the body begins to shift out of defensive or stress states and toward regulation and connection.

The protocol includes five total hours of listening, completed gradually at a pace tailored to each child’s nervous system. Your child can choose from several playlists to help create a pleasant listening experience.

What Do Listening Sessions Look Like?

Listening sessions are designed to feel calm and supportive rather than demanding.

Sessions may take place:

• In my office with my support,

• At home with a caregiver,

• Or through a combination of both.

Children do not need to sit still while listening. Many do best when they are engaged in calming activities like drawing, building, swinging, coloring, or other types of quiet play. The goal is to support regulation while the nervous system processes the listening experience.

Because every child’s nervous system is different, pacing is individualized. Some children listen in shorter segments over time, while others are comfortable moving more quickly. We adjust based on each child’s responses.

Caregiver involvement is an important part of the process when completing the SSP at home, and I support families in learning how to pace sessions and respond to their child’s cues along the way.

What Can SSP Support?

SSP is used with children and adults who experience nervous system dysregulation in many forms. Areas it supports include:

• Emotional regulation and stress responses

• Anxiety and fearfulness

• Sensory sensitivities

• Attention and impulse control challenges

• Sleep and overall body regulation

• Social engagement and connection with others

SSP is typically not delivered as a stand-alone treatment. Instead, it works best as an addition to play therapy (or other therapy modalities.)

Why SSP and Play Therapy Work Well Together

SSP pairs naturally with Synergetic Play Therapy, the approach I use in my work with children and families.

Both therapies:

• Focus on supporting nervous system regulation

• Respect each child’s pace and autonomy

• Work from the “bottom up,” supporting the parts of the brain responsible for regulation and emotion

• Emphasize co-regulation between children and caregivers

For some children, SSP helps them become more available for the therapeutic work we do in play therapy. When regulation improves, children often have an easier time engaging in play, problem-solving, and relationships. SSP can also help support progress outside the therapy room as regulation strengthens at home and in everyday environments. Perhaps best of all, both SPT and SSP allow your child to show up as themselves, without placing rigid expectations around engagement.

Is SSP Right for My Child?

The SSP can be a supportive adjunctive therapy for many children, however, it is not the right fit for everyone.

SSP may not be recommended, or may need to be postponed, when a child is:

• Living in an environment that is currently chaotic or unsafe, making regulation difficult to maintain

• Actively experiencing psychosis

• Experiencing active suicidal thoughts or ongoing self-harm behaviors

• Experiencing seizures or seizure disorders that are not yet well managed medically

• In need of mental health or medical crisis stabilization

In these situations, the priority is helping a child access safety and stability first. SSP may become an option later, once the nervous system has more capacity for regulation work.

Every child and family situation is unique, and decisions about SSP are made thoughtfully and collaboratively.

Interested in Learning More?

If you’re curious whether the Safe and Sound Protocol might be beneficial for your child, you can explore What is the SSP or reach out to me directly for a free consultation. I’m happy to answer questions and discuss whether this approach feels like a good fit for your family. Even if you’re unsure whether SSP or therapy is the right next step, we can talk through what support might be most helpful.