Biofeedback
I am excited to offer as part of my treatment plan the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). SSP is an adjunct therapy designed to ease the nervous system out of this defensive state and into a regulated state of feeling safe and calm. In this regulated state, the nervous system is better able to participate in treatment, potentially improving its efficacy and carryover into daily life. Below is more information about this simple process of using music to reset your energies. It almost seems too simple that listening to music one hour per day, for 5 consecutive days can have such a tremendous impact on PTSD and ADHD symptoms. I have witnessed first hand through my own nervous system and those of clients that it does!
You can read more about the SSP here: https://www.whatisthessp.com/ https://integratedlistening.com/porges/?_kx=HB_6rRxKQDDMurBwpBPpPWdBf8_mZ6NNILty5iWzLM4%3D.JMDgaq
You can read more about recents studies here:https://www.lifeworksofmaine.com/blog/2019/8/3/the-safe-and-sound-protocol-eighteen-months-on
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) ?
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the SSP is a five-day intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. By calming the physiological and emotional state, the door is opened for improved communication and more successful therapy.
The SSP is a research-based therapy showing significant results in just five days in the following areas:
Social and emotional difficulties
Auditory sensitivities
Anxiety and trauma related challenges
Inattention
Stressors that impact social engagement
Emotional and physiological state are critical to how we approach the task at hand. So when a client has better state control, not only can they be more socially engaged, they are more open to therapy. Better state regulation improves therapeutic outcomes.
This non-invasive intervention involves listening to music that has been processed specifically to retune the nervous system (regulating state) to introduce a sense of safety and the ability to socially engage. This allows the client to better interpret not only human speech, but, importantly, the emotional meaning of language. Once interpersonal interactions improve, spontaneous social behaviors and an enhanced ability to learn, self-regulate and engage are often seen.
How does it work?
Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, the program is derived from nearly four decades of research on the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and social-emotional processes. It is designed to stimulate nervous system regulation by exercising and systematically challenging the auditory system with specifically processed music.
The music trains the auditory pathways by focusing on the frequency envelope of human speech. As the client learns to process these speech-related frequencies, they improve the functioning of two cranial nerves that are important for promoting overall social behavior. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve) helps clients focus on human voice and tune out irrelevant frequencies. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve) enables self-soothing and autonomic regulation.
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA AND PTSD
Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. While there are no objective criteria to evaluate which events will cause post-trauma symptoms, circumstances typically involve the loss of control, betrayal, abuse of power, helplessness, pain, confusion and/or loss.
When symptoms of trauma last more than a month and seriously affect the person’s ability to function, the person may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD can escalate to panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts and feelings, drug abuse, feelings of being isolated and not being able to complete daily tasks.
Experiencing trauma can push the nervous system into a chronic state of defense (fight or flight, freeze or shutdown). In this state, the individual seeking treatment for trauma symptoms or PTSD may not be able to easily turn off their nervous system’s perception and interpretation of stimuli as threatening, including stimuli experienced during treatment. This could potentially limit the efficacy of therapy and prolong treatment.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an adjunct therapy designed to ease the nervous system out of this defensive state and into a regulated state of feeling safe and calm. In this regulated state, the nervous system is better able to participate in treatment, potentially improving its efficacy and carryover into daily life.
The SSP uses the auditory system and its direct connection to the nervous system to help calm the body’s physiological response to stress. By reducing the body’s defense response, people experiencing trauma or PTSD can be more available to participate in other types of therapy.
Safe and Sound Protocol Package
In the comfort of your home, interested participants will commit to five (5) consecutive days of listening to the 60-minute sessions (which can be broken up into two 30-minute sessions with a short break in between, if necessary). The cost of the 5-day intervention is $1,000 and includes access to the protocol for a 6 month period plus two 50 minute sessions to educate you on techniques to self regulate.