Safe and Sound Protocol

 

What is Safe and Sound Protocol?

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a 5-hour evidence-based listening therapy. The music of SSP is specially filtered to stimulate the vagus nerve while listening, and it works to deliver “cues of safety” to the nervous system. Clients listen to the music in the comfort of their own homes with the people they feel safe with.

SSP was created by Stephen Porges, the founder of Polyvagal Theory. Polyvagal Theory focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system, and explains how our sense of safety, danger, or life-threat can impact our behavior. The way our nervous system interprets sound affects how often we experience dysregulation and fight, flight, or freeze responses.

SSP helps to improve the functioning of the middle ear muscles in order to filter out background noise and increase the ability to hear sounds of speech and safety. This leads to higher social engagement, improved auditory processing, nervous system regulation, and greater resilience.

Gina Cadwallader is currently the only provider at Gusto offering Safe and Sound Protocol. You can reach out via our ‘Contact Us’ page or by emailing her at Gina@livewithgusto.org

 
 
 

Who can do SSP?

SSP is for all people and families.

It can be used for people dealing with misophonia, anxiety, depression, sensory sensitivities, auditory processing disorder, social difficulties, ADHD, rejection sensitive dysphoria, pathological demand avoidance, selective mutism, Tourette's syndrome, brain injuries, digestive issues, long COVID, trauma, PTSD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, POTS, tinnitus, and more.

 
 
 

What does SSP Sound Like?

 
 
 
 

Potential Areas of Improvement with SSP

Reduced anxiety, especially social anxiety
Improved assertiveness and self protectiveness
Increased displays of affection-seeking affection-expressive contact
Increased facial flexibility and expressiveness
Increased body flexibility
Reduced chronic pain
Change in throat tension/sound of voice
Improved eye contact
Reduced repetitive motions and restlessness
Increased feelings of calmness
Hearing changes/reductions in sensory hypersensitivities
Finding transitions much easier
Speech and language improvements
Reduced sensitivity to food tastes and textures/less "picky eating"
Improved reciprocal communication
Thoughts and behavior have more purposeful flow
Improved comprehension
Easier to follow directions
Improved processing speed

 

Improved dexterity
More active participant in classroom, able to tolerate and overcome challenges
Improved visual focus/tracking
More able to put words to feeling
Able to remain regulated during face to face communication
Improved self-awareness (particularly of emotions)
Improved communication about self (again particularly about emotions)
Decreased panic, fears, and phobias
Improvement in breathing patterns
Able to tolerate busy environments
Increased sense of humor
Improved ability to read social cues
Less easily stressed
Improved digestion
Improved bladder control
Hormonal shifts for women
Concerns related to long COVID

 
 
 

SSP Plans and Pricing

Individual SSP: $650

  • One online session at the start of the SSP process

  • Messaging check-ins Monday - Friday

  • Access to the SSP app for up to 6 months

  • Additional months, if needed, are $50 per month

  • Additional online sessions are $150 for 55 mins (can be used for check ins, provider supported listening, or additional relevant services and modalities)

 
 
 

Parent & Child SSP-$1050

  • We see the best SSP results in children when a parent does SSP first.

  • One online session for each family member at the start of the SSP process

  • Messaging check ins Monday - Friday

  • Access to the SSP app for up to 6 months

  • Additional months, if needed, are $50 per month per family member

  • Additional online sessions can be added, $150 per 55 minutes (can be used for check ins, provider supported listening, or additional relevant services and modalities)

 
 
 

Parent & Two Other Family Members SSP-$1450

  • We see the best SSP results in children when a parent does SSP first.

  • One online session for each family member at the start of the SSP process

  • Messaging check ins Monday - Friday

  • Access to the SSP app for up to 6 months

  • Additional months, if needed, are $50 per month per family member

  • Additional family members are $400 each

  • Additional online sessions can be added, $150 per 55 minutes (can be used for check ins, provider supported listening, or additional relevant services and modalities)