Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is available to both children and adults and can be offered to both ongoing therapy clients and can also serve as an adjunct treatment if you have an existing therapy relationship or wish to engage with the Safe and Sound Protocol without ongoing therapy. This is a listening program that requires downloading specific music over a password protected app and requires the use of over-the-ear headphones. We will help you determine the appropriate pacing of the protocol to your specific needs.
If you are interested in learning more about the SSP, what it is, and how it may be helpful to you or your child, visit www.whatisthessp.com
Who would benefit?
Those with the following features might benefit from using the SSP:
✔ Auditory and other sensory sensitivities
✔ Social and emotional difficulties
✔ Auditory processing difficulties
✔ Anxiety and trauma-related challenges
✔ Inattention
✔ Reactivity
✔ Stressors that impact social engagement
✔ Difficulties in regulating physiological and emotional state
✔ Chronic pain and fatigue
✔ Depression
✔ Difficulty sleeping
✔ Gut issues
✔ Low resilience
Why?
The SSP exercises the neural pathways associated with regulating behavioral state and social engagement. These are aspects of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). And just as the brain is plastic and can change based on experience, the ANS is also plastic. The SSP has been shown in peer-reviewed research to significantly increase vagal regulation of the heart. This has the effect of better control of state.
Behavioral Challenges
Children and Behavior Issues
Kids don’t misbehave in the classroom because they choose to misbehave. Misbehavior is a result of internal frustration from the inability to regulate their state and stop the impulsive behavior. Transitions are challenging, and change is met with resistance. It’s difficult to recover when things don’t go their way.
In most cases, the cause of the behavior hasn’t been identified or addressed. Typically, more time is spent enforcing punishment than finding the source of the struggle. Consequences typically don’t work, and the effort to enforce them is exhausting for parents and teachers. The student is left feeling frustrated and misunderstood. The Safe and Sound Protocol can help promote enhanced regulation.
Adults and Behavior Issues
In adults, the inability to inhibit responses can result in disruptive, broken relationships at home and at work. Reactions to the smallest inconvenience can be overblown and misunderstood. Think about it: if you’re late for something important because of traffic and someone cuts you off, don’t you find that you react more strongly than normal? You’re usually so calm! Do you find yourself trying to box that person out of a lane? You’re not a vindictive person! When you’re angry, isn’t it harder to consider the other person’s perspective? You’re normally very empathetic!
How you feel at any given time – your physiological state – is central to your emotional regulation, behavior, and resilience.