What is SSP?

Developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a five hour, research based, auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, the SSP exerts a calming effect on our physiological and emotional state. This opens the door for improved healing, communication and social ease.

How It Works

Listen to specially mastered vocal music through headphones.. The songs are drawn from well known artists with lots of classic favorites. The music may sound odd at times with changes in volume or direction.. This is designed to exercise the tiny muscles of the middle ear so that they can become attuned once more to the range of frequencies that mammals use for social engagement, which are at a higher frequency band than that which is used for threat monitoring. These muscles have links to the vagus nerve, allowing it to restore normal function and therefore encouraging your nervous system to come out of the fight, flight, freeze response and away from protective vigilance. We experience this vigilance in myriad ways, such as an ongoing feeling of being unsafe. This can express as reactive anxiety and/or anger. Once we are able to let go of this vigilance, we are free to engage in social interaction, resting, healing and enjoying life.

Changes are often seen immediately, but many times gradually unfold over the course of 2 months as a person’s nervous system integrates and engages with the new information that is now available. If you have tried everything and nothing has worked, it could be because your nervous system is in a fight, flight or freeze response. The SSP is designed to help your body shift out of this survival mechanism and orient towards healing.

Research & More Information

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SSP CLICK HERE

FOR RESEARCH CLICK HERE

FOR MORE TESTIMONIALS CLICK HERE

How To Begin

If you are interested in starting the SSP, please call 314-378-5942 or send an email. We will arrange a time to talk and pick a starting day for you to begin the intervention - typically a time when you have a little less going on.

Now available by remote delivery via a downloadable app. All you need is a set of over the ear headphones that are not noise cancelling (or that feature can be turned off).

Cost:

$450/adults $275/children

If you’d like to repeat the program you may do so for a discounted price

Includes access to the app for 2 months and one round of SSP Core.

How We Proceed:

We will have an initial session where we explore what you are looking for from the program and how I can best support you. Together, we will explore the patterns of your individual nervous system and how it adapts to life so that you will be fully prepared to recognize how SSP is affecting you. We will also go over the mechanics of how to use the app, when and where to listen, what to expect, and answer any questions that you have.

Our next session is where we will begin the listening. We will be tracking what you are noticing in your body and emotions as you listen. You may listen for up to 30 minutes or perhaps much less, depending on how the music is affecting you. We will be looking for the “just right” amount for your nervous system. From here we will decide how best to proceed. Some people may then complete some listening on their own before we meet up again around hour 3 of the program. We will also meet during hour 5 and at that point will discuss next steps.

For some people, particularly in cases of trauma, I recommend working more closely together and adding sessions of Somatic Experiencing in order to support what may emerge as part of the listening process. These sessions are billed separately.

Throughout the program I am available to you as needed via text, phone, email or zoom.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Starry to find out more about what your session might look like.