Listening Therapy

I work with Divergent Life as a licensed practitioner to provide a state of the art listening therapy called the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). 

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The (SSP) is a therapeutic listening intervention developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, a neuroscientist known for his work on the Polyvagal Theory. The SSP is designed to improve social engagement, emotional regulation, and physiological states by using specifically filtered music to engage the vagus nerve, a key part of the autonomic nervous system. it is a gentle yet powerful modality designed for children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing any of the following:

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• Anxiety

• Trauma related conditions

• Auditory sensitivities

• Auditory processing difficulties

• Inattention

• Misophonia

• Depressed mood

• Emotional Dysregulation

• Social communication difficulties

• Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Irritable bowel syndrome

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The SSP has been created as a technology that promotes a sense of safety, calmness, emotional regulation, enhanced sleep and improved social engagement, among many other benefits.

What is the (SSP)?

The SSP uses specialised sound frequencies to stimulate the vagus nerve and support the nervous system in returning to a state of safety and balance. It's designed to be a tool for improving social engagement, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. 

It works through...

1. Filtered Music: The SSP consists of a series of therapeutically modified music tracks. These are not just ordinary music; they have been specially processed to filter out certain frequencies that might be too stimulating or jarring for people who are sensitive to sound or who have dysregulated autonomic nervous systems.

2. Targeting the Vagus Nerve: The filtered music is specifically designed to engage the auditory pathways that influence the vagus nerve. The idea is that by listening to this particular type of sound, it helps reset the body’s autonomic nervous system, allowing it to shift from a defensive state (fight/flight/freeze) to a more balanced and relaxed state.

3. Social Engagement: The ultimate goal of the SSP is to enhance the listener's ability to engage in social interaction by improving emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and fostering a sense of safety in relationships. It's especially helpful for individuals who have difficulty with social communication or emotional regulation due to trauma, sensory processing issues, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, or other challenges.

How do I use the SSP?

The protocol is typically administered over a series of sessions:

• Duration: The SSP usually lasts for several days to a couple of weeks, with each session lasting about an hour as I support you with a gentle coaching approach to ensure a safe environment for the listener

• Listening Conditions: It is often done in a comfortable, quiet setting with headphones, with my guidance until you get used to it and can use it by yourself if preferred.

• Customised Approach: The protocol can be adapted to meet the needs of specific individuals, especially those who are more sensitive to sound or have a history of trauma.

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