The Safe and Sound Protocol: A Revolutionary Approach to Well-being
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an evidence-based, non-invasive sound therapy designed to stimulate the vagus nerve through its branches in the ear. Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, a neuroscientist based in Florida, this protocol is grounded in his Polyvagal Theory. The SSP aims to tone and strengthen the nervous system, facilitating better regulation of various bodily systems and improving overall well-being.
To understand how the SSP works, it's essential to grasp the basics of the Polyvagal Theory and the interconnectedness of our nervous system with our social engagement system, sensory system, digestive system, immunity, and hormonal system. This includes understanding the eight senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, interoception, proprioception, and the vestibular system. The vagus nerve, also known as the "wandering nerve," plays a critical role within these systems. It is the longest nerve in the body, connecting the brain to the heart, lungs, digestive tract, and more through 500 million neurons in the gut. It also connects to the muscles in our face, throat, larynx, and pharynx, as well as the trigeminal nerve, which runs past our ears and along our jaw.
Dr. Stephen Porges and Neuroception
Dr. Stephen Porges introduced the concept of neuroception, which describes how our senses detect cues of safety or threat and send these messages to the thalamus. When the thalamus perceives a threat, it signals the amygdala, which then activates either the sympathetic or the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system triggers the "fight or flight" response, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. If the threat cannot be escaped, the amygdala signals the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a "freeze" response, causing immobility and a shutdown state. Once the threat passes, the nervous system ideally returns to a regulated state, promoting rest, digestion, social engagement, and relaxation.
Modern Life and Nervous System Dysregulation
In today's fast-paced world, many people struggle to achieve a regulated parasympathetic state due to constant stressors such as work, family commitments, health issues, financial pressures, and social expectations. This chronic state of dysregulation can lead to hypervigilance (increased heart rate, stress, and an inability to relax) or hypo-vigilance (a slow, immobilised state where simple tasks become challenging). Chronic stress affects the hippocampus, shrinking it, and enlarging the amygdala, which hampers our executive functioning and decision-making abilities. It can also lead to digestive issues and disrupt the gut-brain axis, where the gut and vagus nerve maintain a dynamic relationship.
The Safe and Sound Protocol: Toning the Vagus Nerve
Like physical exercise for our bodies, we need to tone our vagus nerve. The SSP provides a safe and effective modality to stimulate the nervous system, exercising the pathways, toning the nerve, and promoting neuronal growth and neuroplasticity. Since its introduction in 2017, the SSP has shown remarkable results in helping people with various challenges, including digestive issues, emotional dysregulation, trauma, anxiety, depression, functional neurological disorders, fibromyalgia, selective mutism, autism, ADHD, and OCD.
Personal Experience and Professional Practice
As a practitioner of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) since its release, I have witnessed firsthand its transformative power. At the 2023 Trauma Conference in Christchurch, Canterbury, I had the privilege of personally thanking Dr. Porges for his work. My children were the first in New Zealand to benefit from the SSP, and after completing the five-hour protocol, they showed significant improvements in relaxation and social engagement. Inspired by these results, I delved deeper into understanding the nervous system and the vagus nerve, eventually becoming a holistic integrated practitioner, and setting up my own private practice called Voice.
Over the past year, I have assisted numerous clients with diverse issues using the SSP. Watching clients transition from a state of struggle to one of calm regulation is incredibly rewarding. One notable case involved a client with long COVID, suffering from a persistently high heart rate and severe anxiety. Through regular SSP sessions and additional techniques like mindfulness and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), he experienced profound improvements in his heart rate, memory, anxiety levels, and overall well-being, enabling him to return to work.
I also supported a parent and child with the SSP, addressing the child’s selective mutism and the parent's anxiety from advocating for and supporting her child. The mother reported feeling significantly calmer and more regulated after the sessions, realising how dysregulated she had been. She noted, “Wow, is this how everyone else feels?” Her child made remarkable progress, displaying more spontaneous speech at home and at school, even participating on stage during assemblies.
Another client came to me with trauma, hoping to improve his sleep and anxiety. After undergoing the SSP, he was able to plan and organise better, process past traumas, and feel more present.
One more client sought help for low mood, nostalgia, and feeling stuck. After three weeks of working together, she felt more regulated, less depressed, and more excited about each day. She became more present with her family and finally began working on old projects she had set aside due to a lack of time.
These are just a few examples of the people I have worked with. There are countless more case studies on the Unyte website showcasing amazing improvements recorded by other practitioners in a variety of issues people have struggled with.
SSP Playlists and Benefits
The SSP offers four playlists: Classical music, Original music (80s and 90s songs), Wonder (fun songs like "Frozen" and "Happy"), and Freely (ambient music). This variety ensures there's a playlist suitable for everyone. The protocol has shown dramatic changes in trauma survivors, helping to re-regulate the nervous system, strengthen the vagus nerve, and process trauma, leading to a happier, more regulated life.
Accessibility and Impact
The SSP is suitable for all ages, making it a fun modality for children, especially when paired with art and sensory games. It also aids in language and speech development by exercising the nerves and stimulating neuroplasticity, improving stress response, emotional regulation, social connection, and relationships. The specially filtered music cues the nervous system towards safety, fostering awareness, embodiment, and resilience.
A Holistic Approach to Health
Incorporating SSP with trauma-informed health and nutrition coaching, I offer clients a holistic, integrated approach to well-being. Vagal stimulation, combined with micronutrients, gut health strategies, and top-down modalities like resilience and behavioural modification, creates a powerful approach to health, viewed through a biopsychosocial lens. This comprehensive approach is effective for autoimmune diseases, long COVID, gut issues, severe anxiety, and more.
Future Prospects
The SSP's potential continues to grow, with more practitioners integrating it into their practices. Research is emerging to support its benefits, and Dr. Porges is working on expanding the protocol with new playlists, including indigenous music. His Polyvagal Theory, with 38,000 citations, is reshaping our understanding of mental health and well-being, emphasising the connection between body, mind, and spirit.
Conclusion
The Safe and Sound Protocol has profoundly impacted my life and practice, offering a transformative approach to health and well-being. I invite you to explore the SSP, whether as a practitioner seeking to enhance your practice or an individual looking to improve your vagal tone and overall health. By incorporating the SSP, we can respond to life's challenges with resilience and calm, enjoying a future of well-being and happiness.
To learn more about this amazing modality you can visit www.whatisthessp.com
This month I have a special offer for the parent and child package! This package includes access to the Safe and Sound Protocol for 2 months, plus 10 half an hour sessions and regular emails until you and your child have finished the program for the same price as an individual package (payment plans available). Book now to secure your spot this month!
References
Alexander R. Lucas, PhD, Heidi D. Klepin, MD, Stephen W. Porges, PhD, and W. Jack Rejeski, PhD. (2018). Mindfulness-Based Movement: A Polyvagal Perspective. Sagepub, 17(1). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1534735416682087
Beverly Hills Pediatrics. (2019). Parent Packet: Attention & Regulation. Retrieved from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5aba683bb27e39b76dac30b7/t/5c85f25c8165f5cb5fbdb7d6/1552282227694/BH+Parent+Packet_Attention+_+Regulation.pdf
Eichhorn, Nancy. (2018). Stephen Porges: A Pioneer in Somatic Psychotherapy. Somatic Psychotherapy Today, 8(1). Retrieved from https://www.somaticpsychotherapytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Stephen-Porges-Pioneer-Award.pdf
Integrated Listening Systems. (2024). Case Studies and Stories. Integrated Listening. Retrieved from https://integratedlistening.com/resources/all-case-studies/
Johnson, R. L., & Wilson, C. G. (2018). A review of vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic intervention. Journal of Inflammation Research, 11, 203-213. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S163248
Kolacz, J., daSilva, E. B., Lewis, G. F., Bertenthal, B. I., & Porges, S. W. (2021, July 3). Associations between Acoustic Features of Maternal Speech and Infants’ Emotion Regulation following a Social Stressor. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.02.450379
Kawai, H., Kishimoto, M., Okahisa, Y., Sakamoto, S., Terada, S., & Takaki, M. (2023). Initial Outcomes of the Safe and Sound Protocol on patients with adult autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploratory Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 4862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064862
Procyk, S. M. (2020). The magic of polyvagal theory: Inviting vulnerability and facilitating safety through coregulation, touch, and micro interactions (Master's thesis). Pacifica Graduate Institute. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. (ProQuest No. 27744078)
Rutstein, J. S.(2020). How to enhance connection, happiness, and ease: The neuroscience of self-regulation. Retrieved from https://www.thelisteningexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Rutstein.-The-Neuroscience-of-Self-Regulation.-The-Brain-Change-Summit.pdf
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Unyte Health. (2023). What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)? Retrieved from https://www.whatisthessp.com