Safe and Sound Protocol

"The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an acoustic vagus nerve stimulator developed by Dr. Stephen Porges based on his Polyvagal Theory. The purpose of this auditory intervention is to help your clients access a physiological state conducive to well-being, positive engagement with others, and growth in learning and therapy."

Safe and Sound Protocol

 

The Porges Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a therapeutic intervention developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, based on his Polyvagal Theory. It is designed to help individuals regulate their nervous system by improving their ability to feel calm, connected, and socially engaged.

What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)?

The SSP is an evidence-based listening therapy that uses specially filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote feelings of safety and connection. By calming the autonomic nervous system, the protocol aims to reduce stress, anxiety, and trauma-related responses.

How Does It Work?

The SSP uses specifically designed audio tracks that filter out certain frequencies. These tracks emphasize the frequency range of the human voice, which engages the ventral vagal system, the part of the nervous system responsible for social engagement, calmness, and connection.

By targeting this system, the SSP encourages the nervous system to shift from a defensive state (fight, flight, or freeze) to a regulated state where social connection and calmness become more accessible.

Key Benefits of the SSP

The protocol has been found to help with:

✅ Emotional regulation

 ✅ Reducing anxiety and trauma responses

 ✅ Improving social engagement and communication

 ✅ Enhancing auditory processing and sensitivity

 ✅ Supporting focus, learning, and cognitive flexibility

 ✅ Improving sleep and digestion through vagus nerve activation

Who Can Benefit?

The SSP is particularly effective for individuals with:

Anxiety disorders

Trauma and PTSD

ADHD and ADD

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Sensory processing issues

Emotional dysregulation

Auditory hypersensitivity

Depression

What Does the Protocol Involve?

The SSP typically involves:

Assessment: A practitioner evaluates your needs and goals.

Listening Sessions: The client listens to specially filtered music through headphones, typically for 30–60 minutes at a time. Sessions may be done in person or remotely.

Integration: Between sessions, clients are encouraged to engage in calming activities to support nervous system regulation.

Post-Protocol Support: Practitioners may recommend continued therapeutic strategies to build on SSP’s effects.

Important Notes

The SSP is delivered by trained professionals, often in combination with other therapies such as EMDR, IFS, or somatic therapy.

The experience can sometimes bring up emotional discomfort as the nervous system reorganizes. A skilled practitioner will guide the pacing to ensure a positive experience.

Why is it Grounded in Polyvagal Theory?

Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory highlights how the vagus nerve is key in regulating our sense of safety and connection. By improving the function of this system through SSP, individuals are better able to shift from defensive states to social engagement states.

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) uses carefully engineered sound frequencies to target specific pathways in the nervous system, particularly the vagal pathways that regulate safety and connection.

Core Frequencies in the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

The SSP is designed to emphasize and stimulate the mid-frequency range — the range of human voice frequencies — which plays a key role in promoting feelings of safety and social engagement.

Mid-Range Frequencies (~500 to 4000 Hz): This range corresponds to the prosodic features of the human voice — the tonal and rhythmic qualities that convey calmness, connection, and social cues.

Higher Frequencies (>4000 Hz): These are filtered out to reduce stimulation that may cause anxiety or hypersensitivity.

Lower Frequencies (<500 Hz): These are also reduced to minimize activating the fight-or-flight system, which responds to deep, rumbling sounds often interpreted as danger.

Why Focus on the Mid-Frequency Range?

Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory highlights the importance of the ventral vagal system in promoting safety and social engagement. The muscles in the middle ear, particularly the stapedius muscle, are tuned to the mid-range frequencies of human voices.

When this system is functioning optimally: ✅ We can better tune out background noise.

 ✅ We become more attuned to social cues and soothing voices.

 ✅ Our nervous system can more easily transition into a state of calm and safety.

How the Frequencies are Used in SSP

The SSP music is digitally processed to:

✅ Emphasize mid-range frequencies.

 ✅ Gradually reduce low and high frequencies to calm the nervous system.

 ✅ Introduce variability in the sound waves to mimic the natural intonation of calm human speech, which enhances connection and relaxation.

Example of Frequency Range Targeting in SSP Tracks

Initial Tracks: Focus heavily on mid-range frequencies, easing the system into a state of safety.

Progressive Tracks: Increase complexity by introducing slightly broader ranges to challenge the nervous system's flexibility.

Final Tracks: Reintegrate a fuller spectrum of sound to help the client maintain calm in real-world environments.

Why Does This Work?

Overstimulation of low and high frequencies can put the nervous system in a hypervigilant state, mimicking the perception of threats (e.g., rumbling footsteps, sharp noises).

By filtering out these extremes, the SSP helps the body perceive safety and enter a ventral vagal state, fostering calmness and social engagement.

 

Body Mind Spirit Success
How to be successful in a body, using energy psychology.
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Jane Leu Rekas, LCSW