What to expect from Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
When you choose SSP, specially filtered music is played through over-ear headphones which gradually expose the auditory system to different sound frequencies of the human voice. You can choose to listen to either the child or adult play list of well known music. The volume and clarity of the music varies in specific filtering and is pleasant to listen to, although a little strange to begin with.
The special filtering of the music encourages better function of the tiny muscles in the middle ear that are attached to the eardrum. This then sends different nerve impulses through to the vagus nerve which gently helps the brain-body connection move out of defensive ‘fight, flight and freeze’ responses, and into a calmer healthier ‘rest and digest’ state. This gives the opportunity to develop improved concentration and better connection with others.
If you commonly experience of hyper-vigilance, characterised by agitation or anxiety, SSP can help you with being able to access more relaxed states; whereas if you tend to feel depressed or shutdown, with stated of dissociation, SSP can help release the freeze ‘handbrake’ for you to access more freely your vital energy. A great benefit is that the focus of effective SSP delivery is on the response of the individual’s system to the sound rather than on any particular diagnosis or history. It is not a ‘talking therapy’ and helps with self regulation.
The SSP comes in two main programmes, one for adults and one for children. The music is age appropriate.
The special filtering of the music encourages better function of the tiny muscles in the middle ear that are attached to the eardrum. This then sends different nerve impulses through to the vagus nerve which gently helps the brain-body connection move out of defensive ‘fight, flight and freeze’ responses, and into a calmer healthier ‘rest and digest’ state. This gives the opportunity to develop improved concentration and better connection with others.
If you commonly experience of hyper-vigilance, characterised by agitation or anxiety, SSP can help you with being able to access more relaxed states; whereas if you tend to feel depressed or shutdown, with stated of dissociation, SSP can help release the freeze ‘handbrake’ for you to access more freely your vital energy. A great benefit is that the focus of effective SSP delivery is on the response of the individual’s system to the sound rather than on any particular diagnosis or history. It is not a ‘talking therapy’ and helps with self regulation.
The SSP comes in two main programmes, one for adults and one for children. The music is age appropriate.
Benefits of SSP
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Evidence about the benefits of SSP continues to grow as more and more practitioners are offering SSP to their clients and includes those relating to the following difficulties and challenges:
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I was delighted with the results from using SSP. I have had ME/chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia for about 4 years. When I met Ottavia I was suffering from persistent headaches and migraines, pain in my neck, upper back, shoulder. This, along with the fatigue, was severely limiting the amount of time I could spend working on the computer and earning some sort of living, as well as the amount of time I could socialise. I was surprised at how powerful SSP was and I started seeing the impact and improvements early on in the process. By the end of the Core programme I could socialise for longer, and the migraines and pain disappeared. I noticed that my tolerance for stress gradually increased, and in stressful situations I was able to find more possibilities in how to handle it, rather than shutting down. This is something that I think will continue to improve as I use the Balance follow up programme. Ottavia was a very calm and supportive presence throughout. I felt like I was in good hands, and she clearly knew a lot about trauma and the nervous system. I highly recommend. (Kathryn B.) |
Delivery of SSP
The Safe and Sound Protocol comprises 3 parts: Connect, Core and Balance. They are made available to you by the provider through a phone app.
Connect is meant to help people familiarise with the music when there is serious dysregulation of the nervous system. The tracks (5 x 1 hr sessions) are unfiltered.
Core is the main therapeutic part, comprising 5 hours of filtered music, which works as a stimulant of the Ventral Vagus system via stimulation of the middle ear muscle. This protocol must be taken in its entirety (all 5 hours, usually in 30min or shorter slots, depending on the level of resilience and regulation of the listener) as there is a progression throughout the 5 hours of listening. It works on the vagus nerve to improve the sense of connection and safety. Core is a very powerful tool and the provider needs to be present during the delivery (either in person or via zoom) to track what happens with the client and provide help with regulation if needed. The SSP provides almost the final piece of the puzzle, reducing acoustic and other sensitivities, often linked with developmental trauma, shifting the bias from danger to safety.
Balance (5 hrs of partially filtered music) helps consolidating the Core work and can be accessed without the presence of the therapist. I only make this available after having delivered Core, when I am sure that the client's nervous system has enough earned resilience and self-regulatory capacity.
Connect is meant to help people familiarise with the music when there is serious dysregulation of the nervous system. The tracks (5 x 1 hr sessions) are unfiltered.
Core is the main therapeutic part, comprising 5 hours of filtered music, which works as a stimulant of the Ventral Vagus system via stimulation of the middle ear muscle. This protocol must be taken in its entirety (all 5 hours, usually in 30min or shorter slots, depending on the level of resilience and regulation of the listener) as there is a progression throughout the 5 hours of listening. It works on the vagus nerve to improve the sense of connection and safety. Core is a very powerful tool and the provider needs to be present during the delivery (either in person or via zoom) to track what happens with the client and provide help with regulation if needed. The SSP provides almost the final piece of the puzzle, reducing acoustic and other sensitivities, often linked with developmental trauma, shifting the bias from danger to safety.
Balance (5 hrs of partially filtered music) helps consolidating the Core work and can be accessed without the presence of the therapist. I only make this available after having delivered Core, when I am sure that the client's nervous system has enough earned resilience and self-regulatory capacity.