Panimus Integration

What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

What you hear, and how you hear it, influences how the body responds.

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, is a non-invasive application of Polyvagal Theory designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience.

The SSP is designed to help the nervous system receive, process and respond to the cues and signals from the world around us more effectively. This helps us learn how to more easily and consistently feel better regulated in the face of life’s challenges.

Listening is connected with the vagus nerve, the body’s internal control center for processing and responding to cues and signals from the world around us.  The SSP uses specially-filtered music to train the neural network associated with listening to focus on the frequency range of the human voice.

We look, speak and listen with the same system. When the voice changes, the body responds. As we learn to focus on the sound frequencies of human speech through the SSP program, the vagus nerve becomes stimulated and the state of feeling more safe and calm becomes accessible.

The proof is in the playlists. Specially treated music playlists are part of the SSP program and all help ‘prime’ the nervous system by exposing it to different sound frequencies. Listening to these playlists through over the ear headphones helps the nervous system to more readily achieve balance, or “homeostasis.”

There are 3 ways I administer the program, based on the level of support needed, which is based on your reactivity to the Program.  The three ways are Standard Support ($650), Minimal Support ($495), and Maximum Support ($895).  Most will likely fall in the Minimal or Standard Support category.  

The SSP fee through Panimus Integration includes access to the full listening program for 60 days using a custom mobile device app. For continued access beyond 60 days there is a fee of $25 per month. The program is typically completed in 30 to 45 days. 

SSP Intake Form

What Headphones Do You Recommend for SSP?

While SSP Core is the only one of the Pathways that requires headphones, we recommend purchasing headphones that will suffice for Core and then use them for Connect and Balance when headphones are used.

Recommended headphones for SSP Core
  • Over-the-ear (circumaural) headphones because they allow for an immersive sound experience
  • On-ear headphones and earbuds are not recommended
  • Avoid noise-canceling headphones (unless noise-canceling can be turned off)
  • Avoid headphones with a bass boosting feature, or turn it off.
  • Bluetooth headphones are approved as long as the distance between the headphones and the device is kept to a minimum so as to not disrupt the music.
Why Should I use Over-Ear Headphones?
Even inexpensive headphones can effectively deliver the mid-frequency sounds of the SSP.  While high-quality headphones are better for full-frequency music, don’t feel like you need to purchase the best headphones you can find. Unyte-iLs original SSP headphones are available for purchase through Panimus Integration. ($69 plus tax and shipping)

 

Headphones with Apple Phones
Because Apple devices do not have a headphone jack, iOS users will need a lightning to 3.5 mm adapter in order to use typical headphones.  A dongle can be purchased at Best Buy, Target or the Apple Store.

 

For more information and to consider working using this healing intervention please contact Paul at paul@panimus.net Paul is trained in the delivery of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) through ILS, Integrated Listening Systems.

Therapeutic Considerations

Those with the following features might benefit from using the SSP:
  • Social and emotional difficulties
  • Auditory and other sensory sensitivities
  • Auditory processing difficulties
  • Anxiety and trauma-related challenges
  • Inattention
  • Reactivity
  • Stressors that impact social engagement
  • Difficulties in regulating physiological and emotional state
  • Chronic pain and fatigue
  • Depression
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Gut issues
  • Low resilience
    Why? The SSP exercises the neural pathways associated with regulating behavioral state and social engagement.  These are aspects of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). And just as the brain is plastic and can change based on experience, the ANS is also plastic.  
    The SSP has been shown in peer-reviewed research to significantly increase vagal regulation of the heart. This has the effect of better control of state.
    State is critical to how we approach the task at hand.  So when we have better state control, not only can we be more socially engaged, we are more open to therapy.  Better state regulation improves therapeutic outcomes.

    Regardless of diagnosis, clients have seen improvements in the features mentioned above. See our Clinical Results and Case Study pages for examples of the kinds of results you may see.
    SSP Intake Form