Sometimes our bodies forget how to rest. Whether you’re an adult who can’t seem to turn “off,” a teen feeling constantly on edge, or a parent watching your child struggle to find calm, living in a state of high alert can be exhausting.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) offers a gentle, sound-based way to help the nervous system remember what safety feels like making space for more connection, focus, and ease in everyday life.
Let’s break this down for you…
What Is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a form of listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory, a framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges that helps us understand how our nervous system responds to safety, danger, and connection.
At its core, SSP uses specially filtered music to gently stimulate the vagus nerve (the pathway connecting our brain and body) to help shift us out of states of fight, flight, or shutdown, and back into a sense of calm and safety.
As Emily Hennes, PA-C and SSP facilitator with Sound Mind Solutions, explains,
“It’s sound therapy that helps retune your vagal nerve so you can move out of constant activation and back into safety — the space where real change and growth can happen.”
How SSP Works
Through a series of short listening sessions using over-the-ear headphones, SSP gradually introduces filtered frequencies of sound designed to mimic the soothing tones of the human voice. The first sound we ever hear in utero.
Each listening round includes five hours of music, completed in small segments (often 3–15 minutes) over days or weeks. This slow progression helps the nervous system re-tune gently, without overwhelming the listener.
People typically listen from a comfortable, quiet place. Maybe sitting with a pet, walking outside, or resting on the couch while focusing on the music. Some may also choose to sit with their SSP facilitator or a therapist for additional support. The goal isn’t perfection or productivity. It’s presence.
Why Nervous System Regulation Matters
When we’ve experienced chronic stress or trauma, our body can start to misread everyday events as dangerous. The fight-or-flight system stays “on,” even in safe situations. Over time, this can lead to anxiety, exhaustion, irritability, or shutdown. What Polyvagal Theory calls the dorsal vagal state.
SSP works to bring the nervous system back to what’s known as the ventral vagal state. The state of calm, safety, and connection where healing and engagement become possible.
“When your body learns to tell the difference between real and perceived threat,” Emily says, “you can think more clearly, connect with others, and feel grounded again.”
Who Can Benefit from SSP?
SSP can be helpful for children, teens, and adults — especially those who experience:
-
Anxiety or chronic stress
-
ADHD or difficulty focusing
-
Sensory sensitivities (sounds, textures, or crowds)
-
Trauma or emotional overwhelm
-
Disconnection or difficulty feeling safe in relationships
-
Sleep or digestion issues related to stress
Emily notes that the protocol has been powerful for both her own family and her clients:
“It gave us back a functioning human being,” she shares. “My daughter could finally separate real threats from perceived ones and re-engage in life again.”
For adults, SSP can prepare the nervous system for deeper trauma work such as EMDR, Brainspotting, or Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Many clients report better sleep, more patience, easier digestion, and a greater ability to stay present.
Gentle and Gradual: What to Expect
Unlike quick-fix approaches, SSP’s changes unfold slowly over time. The effects may be subtle at first: less reactivity in traffic, fewer shutdowns after a long day, or an easier time calming after stress.
Clients often repeat SSP sessions throughout the year, as the protocol is accessible for 12 months after purchase. “Slower is better,” Emily says. “It’s about helping the body remember safety at its own pace.”
A Safe Environment Matters
Safety is the foundation of the Safe and Sound Protocol. At Denver Metro Counseling, SSP is facilitated in collaboration with Sound Mind Solutions, LLC. Sessions are supported by trauma-informed clinicians who help you move through the process at a pace your body can tolerate.
For individuals with significant trauma histories or strong sound sensitivities, SSP may start with shorter, gentler listening periods to help the nervous system acclimate before moving deeper.
“It’s called Safe before Sound for a reason,” Emily reminds. “We always start from safety.”
Getting Started with SSP in Denver
You don’t have to be a current therapy client at Denver Metro Counseling to access SSP. It’s available to anyone curious about nervous system regulation. We offer a free 15- to 20-minute consultations are available with Emily, our contracted SSP facilitator, to help determine fit and answer questions. SSP can be completed virtually or in person and is accessible for a full year.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule your consultation to find out whether this might be a good step for you in your journey to better self-regulation and calm.
