The Safe and Sound Protocol in Cary NC

The Safe and Sound Protocol is designed for a child or adult who may have sensitivities to noises or sensory inputs, exhibits anxiety, inattention, sleep issues, emotional regulation difficulties, misses social cues or can be known to be “on edge” in their own environments.

Delivered as a stand-alone service to complement the work a child or adult is already doing (or will be doing in therapy), or interlaced into their current therapy sessions while at DTA. The Safe and Sound Protocol can help create a Safe and homeostatic foundation needed to progress with social skills, emotional regulation, sensory processing and well-being.

Woman Using The Safe &Amp; Sound Protocol On A Child

What is The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)?

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a 5-hour, evidence-based, listening therapy. It is designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation, and social engagement behaviors. The therapy is administered through filtered music via headphones alongside a provider, in-person or remotely. Based on Dr. Porges Polyvagal Theory, the SSP acts as a non-invasive, acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to provide a calming effect on our physiological and emotional state to better support connection, collaboration and resilience for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

Individuals who are affected by any of the the following may benefit from SSP:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Auditory Sensitivities
  • Inattention and Focus
  • Behavioral Regulation and Resilience
  • Physical Coordination and balance
  • Reading and Auditory Processing
  • Sleep Difficulty
  • Stress, Anxiety and Trauma related challenges
  • Speech and Language Disorders
  • Social and Emotional Difficulties
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Stressors Impacting Social Engagement

How Does SSP Work?

First, it is important to understand that the feelings of “safety” is not a cognitive process because safety comes from our autonomic nervous system. When our nervous system is feeling safe, our bodies are able to engage with others socially and can fully connect with others. When our nervous system detects “danger” it will activate our sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for “fight-flight” or it will activate our parasympathetic nervous system or “freeze”. These systems are in place to help people quickly respond to dangerous situations in their environment and if the escape was not possible, we go into “freeze” mode. Going into the modern world, these different systems for survival are not helpful to us in non-life-threatening situations

For people who have been affected by trauma, sensory difficulties, anxiety, ADHD and chronic stress, our bodies have difficulties moving out of these activated survival states even when the perceived danger has passed which causes these systems to be chronically activated. This can cause difficulties with social engagement, emotional regulation, connectedness and overall well-being. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder, often can display imbalance towards the sympathetic system instead of the parasympathetic systems. Research has shown that the Safe and Sound Protocol can help people with autism or sensory sensitivities get out of the sympathetic system so they are able to feel calmer, increase their communication and engagement and connectedness with others.

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Safe &Amp; Sound Protocol

How is SSP Delivered?

The SSP is delivered through an app-based platform which can be available on IOS and Andriod devices which creates the most convenient method of receiving this evidenced based therapy tool. For those going through the SSP program, you would have an in-person intake session with the therapist where they would go over the assessments you filled out, look at your autonomic mapping results and prepare a delivery titration that would be custom to your unique system for the best results. The program would be completed in the safety of your own home or chosen environment through over-the-ear headphones conveniently connected to the Unytle-iLs app. The provider will have access to the clients online platform where they will monitor listening and access to the programs.

Is SSP a 1-Time Treatment?

Many clients have completed the SSP program 1x and their results have been sufficient without needing another round depending on the severity of their sensitivities, trauma level, or neurological mapping. Some clients have found great success with completing the SSP program again after their nervous system had time to retune and adjust around 8 weeks post-delivery to further enhance their results.

Contraindications:

SSP is not appropriate to be administered at for adults or children going through:

  • Active Psychosis
  • Active or Uncontrollable Seizures
  • Active Tinnitus
  • Mood Disorders, Trauma and PTSD without having been seen by a mental health therapist
  • Experiecing intentional self harm or active reports of suicide.

For information about delivery, pricing, or to schedule an SSP evaluation, please call our Cary office at 919-465-3966 or contact us online.

Contact Us To Learn If The Safe And Sound Protocol Is Right For You

If you are looking to schedule an appointment or evaluation for The safe & Sound Profocol in Cary NC, contact Developmental Therapy Associates. Our listening therapists use “The Listening Program” to help improve brain function among adults and children with listening disabilities. At DTA we also provide a number of other therapy services such as: Speech Therapy , Occupational Therapy , Autism Services , Reading Therapy , Handwriting Programs , Bike Riding Lessons , Safe & Sound Protocol , Therapeutic Listening , Irlen Screening and Feeding Therapy. While The Safe & Sound Protocol is only available in Cary, most of our service area available at any of our offices in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, which means we work with students all over the Triangle, from cities and towns like Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Clayton, and the surrounding area. Give us a call at any of our locations to schedule an initial evaluation or with any questions you may have.