As one of the five senses, sound plays a huge role in how we interact with and make sense of our world. Did you know that sound can also be incredibly beneficial in helping to heal the nervous system? The Safe and Sound Protocol uses the science of sound to help promote feelings of calm and contribute to improved emotional and mental health.
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
The Safe and Sound Protocol is a therapeutic intervention based on the principles of Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. Polyvagal Theory outlines how the nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, plays an essential part in regulating our emotional and physiological response to stress. The vagus nerve helps to control body functions like heart rate, respiratory rate, and digestion. When operating optimally, we feel calm and connected to the world around us.
Anxiety, stress, and trauma can cause our nervous system to become dysregulated, sparking the “fight or flight” response. This can lead to challenges in processing emotion, socializing, or feeling safe in our bodies. The Safe and Sound Protocol uses music to stimulate the vagus nerve, shifting the body from a state of dysregulation to one of calm.
How Does It Work?
The Safe and Sound Protocol uses specially filtered music to engage the nervous system. The tracks use specific sound frequencies that correspond to characteristics of a safe human voice, which are believed to have a calming effect on the brain. The client listens to each track through headphones for a total of 5 hours. This time is usually broken up into shorter periods and will be guided by your clinician. You can choose to simply listen to the music during your session, or engage in relaxing activities like stretching, breathing deeply, or drawing.
What Are the Benefits of the SSP?
- Reduced Stress and Anxiety: One of the primary goals of the SSP is to help you feel safer and more relaxed. It calms the nervous system and reduces the constant state of alertness that often comes with anxiety and stress.
- Improved Social Engagement: The SSP stimulates the brain’s ability to recognize and respond to social cues, making it easier to engage in meaningful social interactions.
- Supporting Trauma Work: The SSP has been used as part of the process of recovering from trauma. By decreasing feelings of danger, the protocol allows clients to process and integrate traumatic memories in a safe way.
- Enhancing Emotional Regulation: Many clients who use SSP have reported improvement in their ability to manage intense feelings. This can help with creating a more balanced emotional experience and increase regulation in daily life.
- Help with Sensory Processing: This therapy can help desensitize the nervous system, helping those with sensory sensitivities to feel less overwhelmed by everyday textures, sounds, or environments.
Who is it for?
The Safe and Sound Protocol can be used with any client regardless of age. It has particularly shown promise in helping to reduce symptoms of:
- Stress-related disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Traumatic experiences
- Concentration and attention problems
- Sensory processing problems
- Communication and social interaction issues
- Sleep disorders
The SSP is suitable for clients with various conditions such as ADHD, ASD, SPS, trauma, and PTSD. It may also help with gastrointestinal issues caused by overstimulation of the nervous system.
How to Get Started
It is important to reach out to a trained professional who has knowledge of the Safe and Sound Protocol and how it can help with your unique situation. They will conduct an initial assessment to fully understand your needs and goals, which will be used to create your personalized listening plan. While the SSP has shown promise in several areas, it is essential to determine if it is a good fit for you. Speak to your health care professional about any concerns you have, or if you have any underlying medical conditions.
At Island Clinical Counselling, our clinician April is trained to offer the Safe and Sound Protocol. Please reach out to her with any questions or to set up an appointment.
Written by Cat Zydyk
References:
Safe and Sound Protocol. (2025). Meet the safe and sound protocol (SSP). https://safeandsoundprotocol-ssp.nl/en/what-is-the-safe-and-sound-protocol/
Unyte Health US Inc. (2024). Dr. Stephen Porges’ Safe and Sound Protocol. https://integratedlistening.com/polyvagal-theory/porges/