The Science Behind the Safe and Sound Protocol
If you’ve ever felt like your nervous system is constantly on edge, like you’re stuck in survival mode no matter how much you try to calm down—you’re not alone. And you’re not broken.
Your body might just need a different kind of support.
That’s where the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) comes in—a listening-based nervous system intervention designed to help your body feel safe again, from the inside out.
What Is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the neuroscientist behind Polyvagal Theory, the Safe and Sound Protocol is a five-hour therapeutic music program that’s designed to regulate the autonomic nervous system.
Using specially filtered music, SSP helps tone the vagus nerve—the communication superhighway between your brain and body. This supports your system in shifting out of chronic fight, flight, or freeze and into a state of calm connection.
Think of it as a reset for your nervous system.
How It Works: The Neuroscience of SSP
The SSP uses algorithmically filtered music to target the tiny muscles in the inner ear that are connected to the social engagement system. This matters because:
When your nervous system perceives safety, it allows your body to relax, digest, and connect with others
When it perceives threat, it shuts down those functions to prepare for survival
SSP works by feeding your nervous system cues of safety—literally retraining your body to receive and respond to calm, soothing sounds. Over time, this can:
Reduce auditory sensitivity and sound-related overwhelm
Improve emotional regulation and impulse control
Support greater focus, presence, and connection
And because the vagus nerve connects to the gut, heart, face, and lungs—SSP often brings relief to areas you didn’t even realize were affected.
Who Is It For?
The Safe and Sound Protocol is especially supportive for:
Women with ADHD symptoms and nervous system dysregulation
Highly sensitive or intuitive women who feel emotionally overloaded
Those recovering from rejection wounds or chronic stress
Creatives and entrepreneurs whose nervous systems are maxed out
If you’ve tried talk therapy or mindset work and still feel stuck, SSP may be the missing piece—because it works below the level of cognition, directly with the body.
What Clients Report
Many clients begin to notice shifts even after a few sessions. Common experiences include:
Feeling less reactive or emotionally flooded
Noticing improved sleep or digestion
Becoming more tolerant of everyday noises
Feeling more present, grounded, and socially engaged
These shifts aren’t always dramatic — but they are meaningful. And they build over time.
How I Integrate SSP into Therapy
In my California-based practice, I offer SSP as part of an integrative, holistic therapy approach that includes somatic therapy, EMDR, and other body-based tools.
Sessions are gentle, trauma-informed, and completely tailored to your needs. We work at your pace, with lots of room for integration and support.
Whether you're in Encinitas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Marin County, Carmel Valley, or anywhere in California — SSP can be offered remotely so you can experience this transformation from the comfort of your home.
Work With Me
If your nervous system is craving something deeper than coping skills—if you’re ready to feel safe in your own body again—I’d be honored to support you.
Click here to learn more about the Safe and Sound Protocol or explore the full range of offerings from a holistic psychotherapist in California.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or therapeutic advice. Reading this post does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are seeking clinical support, please visit somaticspiritualtherapist.com for more information about therapy services available to California residents.
