Certified Safe & Sound Protocol Providers
WHAT IS THE SAFE AND SOUND PROTOCOL (SSP)?
- This Therapeutic Program is the result of four decades of research on the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and social-emotional processes. It is founded in the Polyvagal Theory and was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges.
- A non-invasive vagal nerve stimulator, the SSP is designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience by re-patterning the auditory and nervous systems for safety and connection.
- The SSP is a listening program designed to calm the physiological and emotional states resulting in improved sensory and emotional regulation, social engagement and resilience.
- There are playlists created for both adults and children including popular musical tracks.
- It is a 5 hour Program and is completed at the individual’s own pace and comfort level.
- There are three potential components of the pathway that can be used: SSP connect, SSP Core and SSP Balance. On consultation we identify the appropriate pathway for your specific needs.
- The user listens to electronically altered music through use of just standard over the ear headphones.
- The program is delivered through the downloaded the app to access the playlists on different devices, so it can go with you wherever you go.
- The SSP can be given with or without other ongoing therapies.
- This intervention can boost or accelerate other therapies such as counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy and/or speech therapy.
- While listening, individuals sit quietly listening to the music or undertake a relaxing task like coloring or puzzles.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SSP?
SSP is proven to benefit individuals with challenges related to:
- Behavior, and inconsistent self-regulation skills
- Sensory Processing and Integration difficulties
- Auditory Sensitivities
- Difficulties regulating emotional state
- Attention and difficulties with executive function
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Stress, anxiety and trauma related challenges
- Sleep-related problems
- Social difficulties/overload in social situations
- Down Syndrome
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SSP
Safe and Sound Protocol and Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory or the “science of feeling safe”
was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. This approach focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system, and explains how our sense of safety, or danger or threat, can impact our behavior.
- This scientific framework can be applied through physiological, or “bottom-up” therapies, to help change and improve how one feels, think and connect with others.
- The mind and body are connected through the vagus nerve, which is the longest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, stretching from the brainstem to the colon.
- It is our internal control center, allowing the brain to monitor and receive information about many of our bodily functions.
- The vagus nerve helps to regulate many critical aspects of human physiology, including the heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, digestion, and even speaking.
- As the body takes in information automatically, the vagus nerve processes the signals and cues from the world around us and, in turn, determines how we react through three physiological states:
- Parasympathetic /Ventral Vagal state (our centered “true self” state), where all social interaction, connection and cognition occurs.
- Sympathetic state, when we experience the feeling of threat or danger and feeling the need to either “fight” or “flee” from a situation to seek safety.
- Dorsal Vagal state (or “freeze state, when we feel our lives are so immediately threatened that we become immobilized.
SSP: CHANGING UNBALANCE TOWARDS A PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE OF REGULATION
We all process cues and signals from the world around us differently. Some of us may naturally feel calmer and spend more time in a ventral vagal state while others, due to genetic makeup and life experience may feel more threatened or endangered and default to sympathetic or dorsal vagal state.
Stimulating the vagus nerve and providing cues of safety can enable our nervous system to reset and change our physiological state — helping us to more easily access our ventral vagal state and to more consistently feel safe and calm. This is what SSP does.
This clinical intervention is designed to help the central nervous system better receive, process and respond to the cues and signals from the world around us, leading to mere frequent and accessible states of regulation.
HOW DOES SSP WORK?
- The music in the playlists is modified to remove low sound frequencies and keep high frequencies. (Note that sound frequency does not related to sound volume).
- High frequency sounds produce a quality of electric impulse that is different from the low frequency sounds, and it makes a huge calming difference to our entire parasympathetic nervous system:
Sound waves at higher frequencies (sent to our organs via the Vagus nerve) affect the physiological processes in all our organs, and get our nervous system into a space of physiological balance and safety, so that it enable us to respond to our surroundings in a way that facilitates healthy emotional interactions and a feeling of wellbeing. When this happens it triggers the social engagement mode in our brain.
- This social engagement mode of the brain allows us to be more attuned to positive cues from our environment.
- The SSP promotes balance on physiological state which is part of the foundation of all behaviors. The balance of our physiological state enhances our capacity to sustain our “just right” (or “ready”) state to engage in daily life challenges.
This balanced state affects the way we approach tasks at hand and related to others. When we are anchored within ourselves, we feel safe, connected, calm and social.
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