A gentle, evidence-based listening program to support calm, connection,
and nervous system regulation.
When Your Nervous System Feels Stuck in Survival
Sometimes stress, trauma, or constant demands leave your body feeling like it’s always “on.” Maybe you feel jumpy or on edge, easily overwhelmed by noise or emotion. Or maybe you’ve gone the other way—numb, disconnected, or shut down.
The Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) helps your nervous system shift from protection into connection.
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, founder of Polyvagal Theory, the SSP uses specially filtered music to send cues of safety to your body—helping you feel calmer, more present, and more connected.
At Valley Art Therapy, we are certified SSP providers and have supported both adults and children through this process. Whether you’re managing anxiety, sensory sensitivities, trauma, or emotional regulation challenges, the SSP can help you feel more grounded and connected in daily life.
Why You Might Need the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Sometimes, no matter how much we talk, rest, or try to “think our way through,” our bodies still don’t feel safe. You might feel calm for a moment—then get pulled back into anxiety, tension, or shutdown.
That’s because healing doesn’t happen through effort alone—it happens when your nervous system truly feels safe. Even when you know you’re safe, your body may still be misreading the signals—stuck in old patterns of protection that were once helpful, but no longer needed.
Through gentle, specially filtered music, the SSP sends cues of safety to your vagus nerve and middle ear muscles—helping your body move out of protection and into connection.
When your nervous system feels safe, everything else—therapy, learning, relationships—starts to work better.
Who the SSP Is For?
The Safe and Sound Protocol is gentle, body-based support for anyone whose nervous system has been “on alert” for too long.
It’s designed for both children and adults who find it hard to feel calm or connected, even when things seem okay on the surface.
You might benefit from the SSP if you experience:
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Chronic stress, anxiety, or burnout that doesn’t ease with rest
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Sensory sensitivities to sound, light, texture, or movement
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Trauma or PTSD, especially when talk therapy alone feels overwhelming or stuck
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Emotional highs and lows, reactivity, or shutdown that feel hard to control
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Difficulty feeling safe or connected in relationships or groups
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ADHD, Autism, or other forms of neurodivergence—to support regulation, focus, and ease in daily life
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Sleep problems, fatigue, or irritability related to chronic stress or overstimulation
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Children who struggle to settle, transition, or co-regulate with caregivers
If you’ve tried other approaches and still feel stuck, the SSP can help shift your nervous system out of survival mode, opening space for calm, connection, and healing to take root.
What Clients Often Notice or Struggle With Before SSP
When your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, it can feel like there’s no real relief—no matter how much you rest, talk, or try to push through. Everyday stressors start to feel amplified, leaving you tense, reactive, or completely drained.
You may know you’re safe, but your body hasn’t caught up. You want to feel calm, focused, and connected—but you can’t seem to make the changes you want, no matter how hard you try.
If you’ve ever felt like this, you’re not alone:
“I can’t relax, even when I’m exhausted.”
“Everything feels too loud, too bright, or too much.”
“I’m anxious all the time, even when things are fine.”
“I’m quick to anger or frustration, especially when I’m tired.”
“It feels like I’m always on alert, waiting for something to go wrong.”
“I can’t focus or stay present—my mind is constantly scanning or drifting.”
“I swing between being wired and completely shut down.”
“I’ve tried so many things to feel better, but nothing seems to change.”
These can be signs of a nervous system that’s been on alert for too long.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) helps your body remember what safety feels like again, so calm, focus, and connection become possible.
What People Often Notice After SSP
The SSP can be a foundational piece that helps other therapies, coping tools, or daily routines finally start to work.
It’s not about becoming someone new; it’s about helping your body and brain finally feel safe enough to rest, connect, and regulate.
Clients that have completed the SSP share experiences like:
“My child is able to handle frustration better, and our evenings feel calmer.”
“I have so much less tension in my body, and have finally started to relax.”
“I notice I’m more patient—with my kids, my partner, and myself.”
“The constant sensory overload has eased. It feels easier to be in the world now.”
“For the first time, I can actually feel calm in my body.”
“My thoughts aren’t racing all the time. I can focus and follow through.”
“I feel closer to my child. There’s more connection and less conflict between us.”
After completing the SSP, people often notice:
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More calm and emotional balance throughout the day
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Less sensory overwhelm and reactivity
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Improved focus, attention, and communication
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Deeper sleep and smoother mornings
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Easier connection and co-regulation between parent and child
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A greater sense of safety and trust in their body and relationships
The Safe and Sound Protocol helps your nervous system shift from protection to connection.
When your body feels safe, it becomes easier to focus, sleep, learn, communicate, and connect.
That’s the heart of this work—not “just listening to music,” but creating the conditions for your brain and body to feel safe enough to thrive.
How the SSP Works
The SSP is not a “quick fix” — it’s a gentle process that helps your body remember what safety feels like.
You’ll listen to filtered music through headphones (in-office or at home) using the Unyte-iLs app. This music gently trains your nervous system to recognize cues of safety, regulate emotions, and connect more easily with others.
Research shows the SSP can support:
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Improved emotional regulation and focus
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Reduced anxiety and sound sensitivity
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Increased social engagement and presence
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Greater capacity for connection and resilience
The SSP is not a stand-alone therapy. It works best when integrated alongside other modalities such as counselling, therapy, art therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, or EMDR. By supporting regulation and safety, it helps create the internal conditions where deeper healing and growth can occur.
At Valley Art Therapy, SSP is available both to our current clients and to those receiving services elsewhere. We often collaborate with other healthcare and wellness providers to ensure the SSP process complements your existing supports.
Our Three SSP Pathways
1. SSP Connect — Gentle Introduction
A soothing, unfiltered listening experience designed to help you prepare for deeper nervous system work.
This pathway helps you develop familiarity with the SSP process, creating safety and comfort before starting the Core protocol.
It’s ideal if you:
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Feel anxious, tense, or overstimulated
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Need a slower, gentler introduction
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Want to support your body’s sense of safety before Core listening
Includes:
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Monthly subscription
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Unlimited access to three 5-hour playlists
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One 30-minute consultation to get started
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Optional family add-ons
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Regulation resources and ongoing support
You can begin SSP Connect on its own or as part of your therapy at Valley Art Therapy.
2. SSP Core — Foundational Program
The heart of the Safe & Sound Protocol.
SSP Core delivers five hours of specially filtered music that stimulates the middle ear muscles and vagus nerve, promoting emotional safety, connection, and balance.
This process supports your nervous system in moving out of fight, flight, or freeze—and toward calm and regulation.
Your SSP Core package includes:
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Initial assessment and individualized listening plan
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Access to SSP Connect for preparation
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Five hours of SSP Core music (at home or in-office)
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Regular provider monitoring and nervous system check-ins
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Tools and resources for daily regulation
Post-completion consultation and access to SSP Balance
3. SSP Balance — Integration and Maintenance
After completing the SSP Core, SSP Balance helps sustain your progress and continue strengthening regulation and connection.
This pathway includes unfiltered playlists that you can use anytime you need to re-ground or reset your system.
Includes:
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One-month access to Balance playlists through the app
Guidance on how to integrate SSP into your daily life
Why Choose Valley Art Therapy for SSP
Our therapists are certified SSP providers who integrate this work within a trauma-informed, polyvagal, and relational framework.
We understand that every nervous system is unique, and we tailor your listening plan to your comfort, pace, and capacity.
You’ll be supported every step of the way—with careful monitoring, regulation tools, and a focus on helping you feel safe and empowered throughout the process.
Whether you’re an adult seeking calm and clarity, or a parent supporting your child’s regulation, our team can guide you through this gentle, evidence-based approach to nervous system healing.
Access & Rates
The Safe & Sound Protocol can be accessed through Valley Art Therapy as a stand-alone service or integrated within ongoing therapy.
SSP Connect Subscription: $50/month
Includes access to three playlists, a 30-minute consultation, and regulation resources.
Additional family listeners can be added for $30/month.
SSP Core Program: $750
Includes assessment, access to Connect, Core, and Balance programs, regular check-ins, and post-completion consultation. Payment plans are available.
SSP Balance Subscription: $50/month
Includes access to three playlists and regulation resources.
Additional family listeners can be added for $25/month.
Ready to Begin?
You don’t have to stay in survival mode.
The Safe & Sound Protocol offers a gentle, effective way to help your nervous system find safety again—so you can feel calmer, more connected, and more at ease in your body and relationships.
Book a free consultation to explore how the SSP can complement your therapy or support your family’s wellbeing.
📞 204-842-3869 | ✉️ care@valleyarttherapy.com