Do you feel stuck in your healing journey? Do you continue to experience triggers, even though you are working hard in your recovery journey?

The safe and sound protocol is a tool that the clinicians at Relationship Enrichment Center incorporate into our client’s treatment plans when appropriate.

In the first phase of our treatment model, our clinicians support our clients in creating safety for themselves in their own bodies as well as in their environment and in their relationships. Oftentimes, people are coming into therapy and they do not have a felt sense of safety in their bodies; this might be because of a recent event they experienced or it may even be because they haven’t ever had a felt sense of safety. Before doing any kind of trauma healing, it is very important for one’s nervous system to experience what it feels like to be safe. Without this sense of safety, trying to heal trauma can actually create more distress for a person.

The safe and sound protocol is a tool that was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, who also developed the Polyvagal Theory. This theory helps us understand how our nervous system shifts between stress responses: if the nervous system detects something in our environment as being threatening or dangerous to our safety, it is going to shift out of the “rest and digest” state and into sympathetic activation (fight or flight) or dorsal vagal activation (fawn or freeze). What can often happen when we experience trauma, is our nervous system gets confused and begins to detect or code stimuli in our environment as being dangerous, but these stimuli aren’t actually dangerous. The nervous system loses its ability to accurately discern between what is dangerous and what is not.

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How does SSP help?

The safe and sound protocol helps to re-calibrate the nervous system. Through specially filtered music, the SSP sends cues of safety to your nervous system, building the foundation for awareness, embodiment and resilience. The high and low frequencies of the music are removed and the client is only hearing the middle range frequencies. To the body, the high frequencies would be interpreted as being similar to that of a siren or an angry person yelling and the low frequencies would be interpreted as similar to an animal growling or thunder rumbling. When we take away these frequencies, the nervous system is able to relax into the soothing frequencies.

There are many behavior challenges that can result from one’s nervous system being tuned to feel unsafe. In relationships, this might show up as being defensive, avoidant, dissociated, controlling, feeling the need to be right, difficulty being vulnerable with others, using numbing and medicating behaviors, and many others. Because these behaviors are rooted in the nervous system feeling unsafe, a client will experience a decrease in the frequency and intensity of these behaviors when completing the SSP.

Key Benefits of the Safe and Sound Protocol

1. Enhanced Emotional Regulation

One of the primary benefits of SSP is its ability to enhance your emotional regulation. The vagus nerve plays a critical role in modulating your physiological state, influencing how you respond to stressors and emotional stimuli. By engaging your vagus nerve, SSP helps you achieve a state of calm and safety, making it easier to manage your emotions. Upon completion of the SSP, our clients often report feeling more balanced, less reactive, and better equipped to handle daily stressors.

2. Improved Social Engagement
SSP has been shown to improve social engagement and communication skills. The Polyvagal Theory suggests that a well-regulated autonomic nervous system supports healthy social interactions. By promoting a sense of safety and reducing hyperarousal, the SSP enables individuals to experience deeper connection with others. This is particularly beneficial if you experience social anxiety, are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, or experience trauma-related difficulties.

3. Reduction in Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety and stress are pervasive issues that can significantly impact your quality of life. SSP has demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress by fostering a state of relaxation. The soothing effects of the specially filtered music help to downregulate your sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the fight-or-flight response) and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes rest and recovery.

4. Support for Trauma Recovery
Trauma can leave lasting imprints on your nervous system, leading to dysregulation and chronic stress. SSP offers a gentle yet effective approach to trauma recovery. By creating a sense of safety and calm, the protocol helps you process traumatic experiences without becoming overwhelmed. It provides a foundation for other therapeutic interventions, such as psychotherapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Somatic Experiencing, Transforming Touch, and Inner Child Work to be more effective.

5. Enhanced Focus and Attention

Many individuals struggle with difficulties in focus and attention, often linked to underlying nervous system dysregulation. SSP can improve these cognitive functions by stabilizing the autonomic nervous system. Our clients have shared that they experience better concentration, increased productivity, and improved academic or work performance after undergoing SSP.

6. Better Sleep Quality

Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, yet many people experience sleep disturbances due to stress, anxiety, or trauma. SSP can positively impact sleep quality by promoting relaxation and reducing hyperarousal. Clients often notice improvements in their ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, leading to more restful and restorative sleep patterns.

7. Boosted Resilience

Resilience, or the ability to bounce back from adversity, is crucial for mental health. SSP helps build resilience by strengthening the autonomic nervous system's capacity to regulate itself. This enhanced self-regulation allows individuals to cope more effectively with life's challenges and recover more quickly from stress and setbacks.

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How SSP is Utilized at the Relationship Enrichment Center

At Relationship Enrichment Center in Matthews, North Carolina, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health services to individuals, couples, and families. The integration of SSP into our treatment model demonstrates our commitment to using evidence-based practices that support our clients in reaching their goals.

1. Initial Assessment and Customization

The journey with SSP at the Relationship Enrichment Center begins with an initial assessment. Your therapist will evaluate your unique needs, challenges, and goals to determine if SSP is a suitable intervention. This personalized approach ensures that the protocol is tailored to address concerns that are specific to you, whether it's anxiety, trauma, social difficulties, or emotional dysregulation.

2. Guided SSP Sessions

You will participate in guided SSP sessions, typically conducted over a series of several consecutive weeks and delivered in session. Each session involves listening to the specially filtered music for up to 30 minutes. During these sessions, your therapist provides support and monitors your responses, ensuring that the experience is comfortable and beneficial.

3. Integration with Other Therapies

SSP is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities at Relationship Enrichment Center. For example, clients receiving individual experiential therapy, EMDR, Transforming Touch, or couples therapy can benefit from the synergistic effects of combining these approaches with SSP. The protocol creates a foundation of safety and regulation, enhancing the effectiveness of other therapeutic interventions.

4. Ongoing Support and Follow-Up

After completing the initial SSP sessions, you will receive ongoing support and follow-up care. Our therapists at Relationship Enrichment Center monitor progress, address any emerging issues, and provide additional SSP sessions if needed. This continuity of care ensures that clients continue to experience the benefits of SSP over the long term.

5. Client Education and Empowerment

Education is a cornerstone of Relationship Enrichment Center's approach. You are empowered with knowledge about the Polyvagal Theory, the workings of your own autonomic nervous system, and how SSP facilitates healing in your story. This understanding fosters a sense of agency and self-awareness, enabling you to actively participate in your recovery journey.

Real-Life Success Stories

The transformative power of SSP is best illustrated through real-life success stories. At the Relationship Enrichment Center, numerous clients have experienced profound changes in their lives after undergoing SSP.

Case Study 1: Overcoming Social Anxiety

A young adult female struggled with debilitating social anxiety that affected her ability to form relationships and pursue her career goals. After participating in SSP, and other experiential enactments in the first phase of treatment at REC, this client reported feeling more at ease in social situations. She was able to engage in conversations, attend social gatherings, and even present at work without the overwhelming fear that had previously held her back. The combination of SSP and ongoing therapy helped this client build confidence and improve her quality of life.

Case Study 2: Healing from Trauma

A middle-aged man with a history of childhood trauma, had been in therapy for years but still experienced flashbacks and hypervigilance. When his therapist at Relationship Enrichment Center introduced SSP, the client was initially skeptical. However, after completing the protocol, he noticed a significant reduction in his trauma-related symptoms. The client felt calmer, more present, and better equipped to process his traumatic memories. SSP provided a crucial turning point in his healing journey.

Case Study 3: Enhancing Emotional Regulation in Children
A young boy, age 7, struggled with emotional outbursts and difficulties in school. His parents sought help from Relationship Enrichment Center, where therapists recommended SSP as part of his treatment plan. Over the course of the sessions, the young boy’s teachers and parents observed remarkable improvements in his behavior. He was better able to manage his emotions, focus in class, and interact positively with peers. SSP played a key role in helping him thrive both at home and in school.

The safe and sound protocol is effective in supporting the management of symptoms related to anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, substance use disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, and more.

To get started with the Safe and Sound Protocol, you can click the “start today” button below or call our intake coordinator at 704-804-0810.

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