The Nervous System is the key to both our emotional and physical health, and the way that we respond and perceive the world around us. Find out how, through the use of the SSP, a proven integrated listening system, alongside other therapeutic support, you can balance and regulate your autonomic nervous system to achieve greater health and happiness.
What is SSP – Safe and Sound Protocol?
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a powerful and innovative listening therapy that is designed to regulate the autonomic nervous system through acoustic stimulation of the Vagus nerve, helping to shift the nervous system out of a chronic state of defence into a safe and social state. This ultimately retunes the autonomic nervous system to be more connected and resilient, better able to respond to life’s challenges.
The SSP was developed by Dr Stephen Porges Ph.D. a leading neuroscientist and psychiatrist, and the author of the Polyvagal theory. The Polyvagal Theory being a long recognised model demonstrating the significance of the vagus nerve, in it’s primary role of regulating our autonomic nervous system, through communicating safety or more importantly danger between our brain and our body, and our body and our brain. The nervous systems
The SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones, alongside a provider, either in-person or remotely. The music in the SSP highlights the middle frequencies of sound that typically make us feel safe, filtering out the high and low frequencies that alert us to danger. Middle frequency sound found in everyday sounds include leaves rustling in the wind, water flowing, musical instruments, humming and the calming tone of speech, lullaby or cooing that a mother might use to a baby to sooth it.
Some peoples nervous systems have a harder time interpreting safety on their own, this can include (though is not limited to) those that have experienced difficult life events, childhood trauma, live with or have experiences illness or injury, those with sensory processing difficulties such as in the case of autism or ADHD. The SSP can help restore this ability by sending cues of safety directly to the nervous system. The result being the person feels calmer, more engaged and balanced.
The SSP music although initially listened to in a therapeutic setting, can as the client progresses, be listened to while engaging in other nervous system balancing activities such as breathwork, walking, stroking a pet or mindful drawing, preparing or eating a meal and even play. This makes completing the programme very accessible and achievable.
The core programme of SSP is 5 hours of music, with the music broadening in frequency with each hour of listening. For maintenance the client can then move onto the balance programme, which is filtered to the same level as hour 5 in the core section. After completing the programme beneficial changes to the nervous system may continue to develop for several weeks to come.
Alexa Warner is our Trained & Certified SSP provider
Our clinic owner and therapist Alexa is a trained and certified SSP provider.
Alexa has been a qualified Counsellor, Coach and Hypnotherapist since 2011 and has a particular interest in the many ways that we can support and balance our internal environment to be the healthiest and happiest versions of ourself.
She uses the SSP as an integral part of her Healthful Mind Programme as it can not only reach the parts other therapies struggle to reach, it makes the other therapies faster and more effective.
To book an appointment to discuss how SSP or Alexa’s other therapies can help you, please contact Alexa using the button below.
Who can benefit from SSP?
The SSP is safe and effective for all ages and many conditions. It has already helped over 100,000 children, adolescents and adults in over 70 countries
SSP for Children
Using SSP can be highly effective for children as a solution focussed approach, bypassing the need for the child to understand on even talk about what has created their distress.
The work done within a therapy session can with the guidance shared with the child’s family or caregiver be continued on at home, linked with play and other safe and social exercises.
SSP for Young Adults
Growing up, leaving school, going to University or starting out in the work environment can be challenging at the best of times, let alone if you have already experienced difficult home or school situations, struggle with anxiety or with conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism or ADHD.
Using the SSP alongside other coaching and self regulation techniques, will boost your confidence, focus and resilience, setting you on a pathway to success as you increase your ability to adapt and thrive through these milestones.
SSP for Increased Health & Happiness
You do not have to be in a state of crisis to benefit from SSP, in fact the better your starting point the easier it to achieve a state of resilience, health, balance and harmony in both mind and body.
This in turn will not only support a good quality of life, but may prevent the onset of illness. However should life throw you one of it’s curveballs, you will be in the best place to deal with it.
