Safe & Sound Protocol Therapy
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an evidence-based listening therapy designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation, and social engagement behaviors through filtered music. As a practical application of Polyvagal Theory, the SSP acts as a non-invasive, acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to re-tune the nervous system to better support connection, collaboration and resilience. The SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones alongside a provider, in-person or remotely. Suitable for children and adults, the SSP has demonstrated benefits for individuals with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences and more.
How does the use of Art Therapy to enhance the SSP experience?
With the help of an experienced art therapist seasoned in somatic and trauma informed work, the client is gently guided through the reconfiguring of the nervous system by art experientials. The art allows the experiences that occur while listening the SSP to become external factors in the therapeutic process and it deepens the healing process for brain and body integration. The type of art materials and timing of art directives is important as we work to unfold the client’s presenting reasons for therapy.
Highlights of the SSP:
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A five-hour auditory intervention developed and patented by Dr. Stephen Porges, author of the Polyvagal Theory.
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Designed to reduce sound sensitivity, and improve auditory processing and behavioral state regulation.
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Activates the client’s social engagement system, helping to accelerate and enhance therapeutic outcomes.
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Supports physiological state regulation, allowing for greater resilience.
Polyvagal Theory: the Science of Feeling Safe
Developed by world-renowned researcher and Unyte’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system, and explains how our sense of safety, danger or life-threat can impact our behavior. Understanding Polyvagal Theory gives us a scientific framework that can be applied through physiological, or “bottom-up” therapies, to help change and improve how we feel, think and connect with others.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRmkGSdN_0 About Unyte
About Our Partner Unyte
Unyte is a category-creating neuro-tech company with proprietary, clinical-grade solutions and a loyal (and growing!) provider community of 3,000+ mental health and neurodevelopmental professionals with a shared mission to help people become more aware, regulated, and resilient so they can better respond to life’s challenges.
Focus System Protocol
Neurons that fire together, wire together.
The Focus System is based on the fact that we can change our brain – we can re-wire it through specific and repeated stimulation, a concept known as neuroplasticity. As in building strength and endurance with physical exercise, we are able to build neurological pathways and synaptic activity at any age.
How the Focus System Works
Ideal for clients that have difficulty concentrating or with executive functioning concerns. The Focus System programs provide simultaneous multisensory input to help develop new, and reinforce existing, neural pathways governing organization of the body and brain function.
Specially-treated music is delivered via air and bone conduction headphones, providing auditory input to the brain and sensory input to the body. Movement activities using the integration kit, customizable for all levels, provide additional sensory and motor input for body organization.
Finally, cognitive activities, added later, challenge the brain to process multiple pieces of simultaneous information, which is reflective of demands required of the brain in our day-to-day world.
The Focus System includes the following programs:
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10-hour Calming Program
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60-hour Sensory & Motor Program
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40-hour Concentration & Attention Program
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40-hour Reading & Auditory Processing Program
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Two 24-hour Optimal Performance Program
Outcomes
The Focus System develops a foundation that may never have been fully developed or was interrupted due to an event. With appropriate stimulation, the brain’s ability to successfully process and retain information leads to:
- Improvement in concentration and memory
- Better academic outcomes including improvement in reading comprehension
- An increased ability to control impulses and self-regulate behavior
- Appropriate social engagement with others
- Less stress and anxiety
- A happier disposition
Research:
A Pilot Study of Integrated Listening Systems for Children With Sensory Processing Problems
Early Intervention: a longitudinal study of reading and reading-related achievement of 64 students in kindergarten through second grade enrolled in the alpha program