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Safe and Sound Protocol

Promoting Calm and Connection

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an innovative therapy designed to support individuals in improving their emotional and physiological well-being. By using specially designed music and sound frequencies, the SSP helps to calm the nervous system, improve social engagement, and enhance emotional regulation. This approach is particularly beneficial for individuals with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing challenges, or autism spectrum disorders.

At WHR Allied Health, we offer SSP as part of a holistic therapy plan, tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. With a focus on creating a sense of safety and calm, the Safe and Sound Protocol is a powerful tool that can make a real difference in enhancing mental health and improving overall quality of life.

Who it's for

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Available at

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Funding

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About

The Safe and Sound Protocol

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that uses acoustic vagal nerve stimulation designed to:

  • Reduce stress and auditory sensitivities,
  • Enhance social engagement, and
  • Build resilience.

SSP is grounded in Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, which explains how our nervous system processes feelings of safety, danger, or threat and how this impacts behaviour.

The SSP uses filtered acoustics to stimulate the vagus nerve, fostering a sense of safety and to help shift the nervous system into a Ventral Vagal state supporting emotional and physiological regulation.

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Programme Costs

Existing Clients

18.5 hours of occupational therapy (OT initial assessment phase already completed).

Total Cost: $3,588.81

New Clients:

23.5 hours of occupational therapy, including the OT initial assessment phase.

Total Cost: $4,558.76

Additional Costs:

  • Access to SSP: $100 per course for one week. Some clients may be recommended to complete the SSP Balance Program after 6 weeks, which incurs an additional $100 fee. (For clients with an NDIS plan this can often be claimed AT level 1 budgets).
  • Travel Charges: For face-to-face sessions, travel costs will apply based on the client’s location.
Good to know

Key Information about the SSP

Duration: The program consists of five hours of listening, which can be completed in various ways. While it can be delivered over five consecutive days with one hour of listening per day, sessions can also be as short as 10 minutes per day. This flexibility allows individuals to progress at their own pace based on their nervous system’s needs.

Activity: Clients listen to filtered acoustics while engaging in quiet, relaxing activities. To maintain a “Rest and Digest” state, stimulating activities and talking are avoided during listening.

Equipment: The program is accessed via a client portal and listened to with over-the-ear headphones.

Person of Safety: A trusted person (caregiver, parent or friend) is present during listening sessions to provide additional cues of safety.

At WHR Allied Health, SSP is part of a broader therapeutic toolkit used to help clients achieve their goals. This bottom-up approach supports improved sensory and emotional regulation, laying a foundation for therapeutic progress. SSP is recommended by a qualified occupational therapist (OT) following a thorough assessment of the client’s individual needs.

1. Intake Session:

A comprehensive assessment is conducted to understand the client’s functional performance, goals, and autonomic nervous system traits.

2. Education Sessions (2 sessions)

Preparation for SSP includes:

Education about the nervous system and Polyvagal Theory.

Completion of baseline outcome measures to track progress.

3. Delivery of SSP (5 listening sessions).

The delivery method is tailored to the client’s needs, determined during the intake session:

Face-to-face delivery with a WHR OT and/or remote delivery.

Listening is completed across a minimum of 5 days and may be extended depending on the client’s nervous system response.

4. Post-SSP Follow-Up

Reassessment using outcome measures 2–4 weeks after SSP completion

Completion of a Summary Report with recommendations for ongoing support.

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