Safe and Sound Protocol

Have you noticed you're quick to snap, react, or explode over things that wouldn't normally rattle you? Maybe everything feels like too much - the sound of someone chewing, a room that's too loud, a to-do list that shouldn't feel this heavy - and all you want is a way out. Are you stuck in a loop of reacting, rupture, and repair? Or maybe it's the opposite – some days you can't find the energy to care about anything at all, going through the motions of your own life without ever quite feeling like you're in it. 

Either way, there’s nothing wrong with you.

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a listening therapy designed to soothe your nervous system and help it find its way back to a peaceful center. Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and rooted in Polyvagal Theory, SSP uses specially filtered music, delivered primarily through headphones, to gently retrain your ear and brain to recognize cues of safety again. Over time, that means you’ll notice your nervous system's whispers, instead of only hearing it once it’s screaming. Sounds a little like science fiction, doesn't it? I promise it's not. 

Whether you're revved up and scanning or shut down and foggy, everyday sounds, sights, and voices can register as threats without you ever consciously deciding that. Not only is that exhausting, but it makes real connection - with yourself, with the people you love, with me in our sessions together - so much harder. SSP works underneath all of that, speaking your body’s language, instead of asking you to think, talk, or logic your way into calm.

I offer SSP to both adults and kids. The goal isn’t to dig into any one story - it’s to help your nervous system learn a new baseline: calmer, steadier, and better equipped to handle life's ups and downs without tipping into overwhelm. Over time, your brain and body learn (or relearn) what rest actually feels like, so calm becomes a place you can return to, not just a moment you stumble into every once in a while.

This can be especially helpful for:

  • Kids and adults who meltdown, shut down, or struggle to bounce back after big feelings

  • Sensory sensitivities to sounds, touch, transitions, crowds, and more

  • A nervous system that’s often “on,” scanning, or bracing

  • People who’ve experienced trauma, including early or preverbal experiences

  • Difficulty feeling safe enough to connect, even with people you love

  • Caregivers looking for a way to support their child that doesn’t rely on talking it out

(For kids, this often works best alongside you as their parent - staying close, noticing what comes up, and helping carry what we learn back into daily life.)

Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was built to do: keep you safe, using the only tools it has - rev up or shut down. Sometimes, though, it gets locked into that state long after the danger has passed. And being stuck is exhausting, whether you’re up or down.

Calm isn’t a state you can force yourself into.

You don’t have to stay stuck, hoping relief finds you. Together, we can help your nervous system relearn - or discover for the first time - what a peaceful center feels like, one song at a time.

I'm ready for support and healing.

  • You'll listen to specially filtered music through over-ear headphones (no earbuds cuz the frequencies matter). Some clients find the music soothing right away; others find it more intense and prefer to move through it in smaller increments. There's no wrong way to respond - we'll shape the pace around what your nervous system can actually hold, not around a fixed schedule. Remember, we’re trying to notice the whispers, not the screams; this is definitely a time to start slow and listen to your body!

  • Every nervous system moves through SSP a little differently, so we'll find the right pace together. Most clients listen with me each week, either in person or virtually - starting slowly and increasing the duration of listening as your nervous system tolerates it and recalibrates. Every session involves an opportunity for self-reflection, debrief, and co-regulation. For sessions with kids, their adults may also join to hear the progress, reflections, and suggestions on how to support the work we’re doing in session. Every session depends on what you’re carrying that day and what your system can hold. Once you've moved through the full program and it's clear your nervous system is ready, some clients transition to listening more independently, with check-ins every other week to stay connected to the process.

  • Because SSP is typically delivered through our weekly sessions together rather than as a standalone program, it's billed the same way our regular sessions are - so your specific investment depends on session length, cadence, and your insurance benefits. I'm happy to walk through what that looks like for your situation during a consultation, so you have real numbers before we begin, not just a range.