07/29/2020
Safe and Sound Protocol
The Safe and Sound Protocol benefits people with:
Social Engagement difficulties
Auditory Hypersensitivities
Anxiety
Trauma
PTSD
Depressed Mood
Mood Dysregulation
Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADD, ADHD
Selective Mutism
Auditory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder
Emotional Regulation difficulties
The Safe and Sound Protocol is an auditory intervention that reduces stress and calms the physiological and emotional state. It resets the Nervous System to be more resilient and enables social engagement. It was developed by Dr Stephen Porges based on his Polyvagal Theory and the neuroplasticity of the Nervous System.
The music acts as a portal to the vagus complex that controls our physiological state. Once one’s state is regulated, one is better able to engage and learn. It can enhance further more active treatments (speech therapy, Occupational Therapy, school learning, counselling).
The music trains the auditory pathway to focus on the frequencies related to human speech not other irrelevant sounds. These other frequencies can be associated with threat. As one is better able to process speech related sounds they activate the facial and the vagus nerve. In conjunction these nerves create social engagement and a self-soothing regulated state. One feels safe, calm and is able to engage and learn.
What to Expect
Clients will be lead through a series of sessions where they will be listening to 5 to 8 hours of music processed specially to retune their nervous system. The sessions length will vary based on response commonly 5 consecutive days of 1 hour sessions, two 5 consecutive days of 30 min sessions (10 thirty min sessions over 2 weeks) or one hour per week for 5 weeks.
Results vary from:
Greater sense of safety and sense of calm
Enhanced ability to socially engage
Better understanding of human speech and the emotional meaning of language
Enhanced ability to learn and self regulate
