WHAT
The Safe and Sound Protocol is a 5-hour auditory intervention developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and based on his highly researched Polyvagal Theory. The filtered vocal music helps to retune your nervous system. The SSP is available on your phone and delivered over headphones.

Dr. Porges created the SSP in his lab using filtered music with people with Autism. The SSP was launched in 2017 by Unyte-iLS (formerly iLS), best known for the Total Focus system. We were trained shortly after it became available.

WHY
The SSP is relatively new and differs from other listening/sound therapies in a few key ways – only 5 hours, all vocal music, directly affects the vagus nerve and the social engagement system.

We have administered the SSP over the past 3+ years to children and adults in office, home and remotely. Changes include decreases in auditory sensitivity and emotional reactivity, and increases in self regulation, social engagement, attention, language and resilience.

WHO
This group series is an easy and affordable way for therapists to experience the SSP.  Listening together provides the opportunity for co-regulation which impacts the social engagement system.

The focus of this group is on the experience not on the didactic.  However, we will touch on the basics of Polyvagal Theory within the context of the SSP and through our sensory processing lens.  We will provide links to articles, podcasts and books about the Polyvagal Theory and the SSP.

ABOUT US
Abbey and Carrie have joined together to offer this experiential SSP group. We each have 30+ years experience as occupational therapists – predominantly in pediatrics but also with adolescents and adults. We are both a bit obsessed with sensory processing and the Safe and Sound Protocol.  We attended the very first SSP conference with Dr. Porges in 2019. Abbey participated in a panel discussion about therapist experiences with children. We met an international group from the fields of OT, Speech, Audiology, Psychotherapy and Somatic-Experiencing. Dr. Porges, along with the staff at Unyte-iLS and the diverse group of providers add to our continued feeling of excitement to be a part of an ever-evolving therapeutic modality.