NOW OFFERED REMOTELY or IN OFFICE

  • Are you or your child on high alert much of the time?

  • Are you struggling with anxiety or depression?

  • Could your family use a nervous system reset?

CONSIDER ADDING THE SAFE AND SOUND PROTOCOL TO YOUR FAMILY TOOLBOX!

What is the SSP?

smiling woman and child with headphones upside down on couch

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a music-based listening therapy designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing feelings of safety, connection and regulation. According to Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, when our physiological state is re-tuned toward safety, the door is opened for improved communication, a greater ability to (co)regulate and more successful therapy (beginning counseling, play therapy, occupational therapy, school or other transitions).

 

The SSP is a research-based intervention showing significant results in the following areas:

  • Emotion regulation

  • Connectedness (to self and others)

  • Stress resilience

 

Felt safety is a completely subjective inner sense of safety. It’s needed for relating, learning, healing and thriving. Emotional and physiological state are critical to how we think, perceive, and respond to the environment around us. And many things can shift our nervous system toward protection mode (reaction to perceived threat) including early trauma, a sensitive nervous system, having a different neurotype while living in a neurotypical world, and health challenges being just a few. The catch 22 is that in order to heal, our nervous system needs to have access to our connection mode (rest and digest). Experiences that help settle our nervous systems can help us begin to create space for healing. The Safe and Sound Protocol is one way of offering safety and access to our connection mode (rest and digest) without having to “do anything” beyond listening and enjoying. When a person has a greater sense of felt safety (not 100% of the time because our nervous system still needs to respond to danger!) it often leads to a wider window of stress tolerance with greater flexibility and control over their state. This can lead to a greater tolerance for stress and change, more comfort around social interactions and greater accuracy in reading cues from others. It also creates a nervous system that is more open, open to whatever might be next!

This non-invasive, passive intervention involves listening to filtered music that has been processed specifically to re-tune the nervous system to introduce a sense of safety and an increased ability to engage with self and others. This allows the person to better handle change/stress, have more comfort in social interactions, greater access to language for their experiences, and accuracy in reading cues from others. Spending more time in connection mode (rest and digest) can also shift the body toward health and healing, settling the immune system and inflammatory processes.

It is especially useful for those with:

  • Symptoms of anxiety and depression

  • Sensory processing differences

  • Neurodevelopmental differences

  • Symptoms following toxic stress or trauma.

 

Support Will Include:

  • assessing the best pacing (1 -> 30 minutes/listening session) and pathway (Connect, Core, Balance)

  • preparing you, and your family members, for the listening protocol

  • education around your nervous system, additional exercises and tools for supporting your nervous system, and how to begin to build awareness and track your state

  • creating a quiet, enjoyable space and routine for listening

  • offering co-regulation, support, engagement and activities during your first listening sessions.

 

SSP is now available in two formats:

1) For adults with vulnerable nervous systems or chronic health conditions, it can be best to go slow, as our bodies have been carrying stress and tension for many years. The introduction of “felt safety” must be slow, gentle and well supported. The SSP is meant to be a safe, connected experience. This is best done with a practitioner available for co-regulation and support. As you become familiar with the listening, develop nervous system tools and grow your capacity for safety, you may be able to listen outside of session as well. Each nervous system is unique!

In this case, a pay-as-you-go model can be most flexible. Regular session rates apply.

2) For families with young children, we often recommend that at least one parent complete the SSP prior to or along with their child.

In these situations, a package rate may be most helpful.

The SSP package includes:

  • Free 30-minute virtual discovery session to answer questions and assess goodness of fit.

  • Initial consultation to assess and provide nervous system education.

  • 1 additional consultation per family member to provide support, nervous system education and co-regulation for listening. The Family Package includes 3 consultations beyond the initial consultation which can be divided into shorter sessions.

  • Regular (weekday) email, voice, or messaging support while you are doing the independent, remote portion of your listening.

  • Access to the appropriate SSP pathways (Connect, Core, Balance) for six months.

Pricing:

Duo $579 | Family (more than 2 family members) $779

The SSP is most effective when a parent starts the protocol first or listens with their child.

*Payment plans are available. Please message me for details or to set up a free discovery session to talk further!

**Sessions may also be billed to insurance for those with Aetna (I am an in-network provider) or other behavioral health benefits (out of network).

Additional consultations are billed at $140/hour, $70/half hour.

***For those working with me via therapy or coaching, the SSP is available as an adjunct to therapy with minimal additional cost. Fees vary depending on how it is being used.

 

Learn More:

The SSP is helping nervous & trauma exposed pets too (w/o the headphones)!

 

Click the button below to visit my Contact page where you can request a FREE 30 minute discovery session with me to discuss the SSP and how it may benefit you, your child or family.

“My stomach has a bit of a smile, with eyes that blink very happy. That’s why I am very happy. I feel free.” – Bente, 6 year old girl

Jeri Lea Kroll is a psychotherapist specializing in early childhood, parenting, trauma, attachment and adoption using a lens informed by attachment theory and the relational neurosciences. She is also a Being With coach and advanced practitioner and facilitator of Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors: A Course for Parents (created by Robyn Gobbel, author of the book by the same name) and a Safe and Sound Protocol provider. Jeri Lea brings her lived experiences as an adopted person and adoptive parent to her work as well. She provides relationship-focused therapy and coaching to individuals, parents and families virtually and in-person from her offices in Brighton and Ann Arbor, Michigan.