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    • Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

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    Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

    When your nervous system has been stuck in survival mode—because of trauma, chronic stress, or overwhelm—it can feel impossible to fully relax, feel present in your relationships, or even feel safe in your own body.

    The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a gentle, evidence-based intervention that goes beyond talk therapy to calm the nervous system and support emotional regulation from the bottom up, so you can begin to feel safer, more grounded, and better able to engage in life.

    At New Moon Psychotherapy, we offer SSP as part of our commitment to trauma-focused care, helping our clients move beyond insight alone and into felt safety and connection.

    What Is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and How Does It Help with Nervous System Regulation in Toronto?

    Person listening to Safe and Sound Protocol music during a nervous system regulation session at New Moon Psychotherapy in TorontoSSP is a five-hour auditory intervention developed and patented by Dr. Stephen Porges, the neuroscientist behind Polyvagal Theory—often called “the science of feeling safe.”

    This isn’t just music. SSP uses specially filtered sound to gently stimulate the vagus nerve, helping shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into a state of safety, calm, and connection. It acts as a non-invasive, acoustic form of vagal nerve stimulation that supports greater resilience and emotional flexibility.

    SSP is delivered with support from a trained therapist, remotely, and tailored to your nervous system’s pace and needs.

    Over time, it can help you feel more grounded, respond to stress differently, and re-engage in relationships and daily life with greater ease.

    Why Does Feeling Safe Matter?

    As humans, we’re wired for connection—but feeling safe isn’t just emotional, it’s biological.

    Your nervous system constantly scans the environment for cues of safety or threat—tone of voice, facial expressions, body language. If you’ve lived through trauma or chronic stress, your system may struggle to read those cues accurately, staying stuck in states of hypervigilance or shutdown even when you’re not in danger.

    This can affect how you show up in relationships, how easily you bounce back from stress, and whether you feel at home in your own body.

    The Safe and Sound Protocol helps recalibrate this system, so your body can more accurately detect safety and respond with calm rather than defense. That shift often opens the door to deeper healing, better relationships, and a renewed sense of self-trust.

    Ontario

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    Is SSP Right for Me?

    If your nervous system often feels stuck in overdrive—or you struggle to feel calm or connected even when things are going well—SSP might be a fit.

    You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit.

    Book a Free Consultation

    Who Can Benefit from Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) in Toronto?

    SSP can be a helpful tool for both adults and teens who experience:

    • Anxiety or chronic stress
    • Sensory sensitivities or overwhelm
    • Trauma symptoms or PTSD
    • Emotional dysregulation
    • Disconnection or shutdown
    • Difficulty feeling safe in relationships
    • Challenges with auditory processing or sound sensitivity

    What Can I Expect from the Safe and Sound Protocol?

    The SSP program involves five hours of specially filtered music, designed to support nervous system regulation through the auditory system. 

    Listening is done through headphones in short, manageable segments—typically 10–15 minutes at a time—tailored to your needs through a combination of virtual sessions with a certified SSP therapist and independent listening between appointments. 

    In Session Listening
    With a SSP Certified Therapist

    During scheduled virtual sessions, your therapist will:

    • Guide you through the listening experience
    • Provide psychoeducation to help you understand your nervous system, the SSP program, and your responses to the music
    • Support co-regulation using gentle somatic (breath and body movement) and mindfulness-based strategies
    • Offer space for check-ins and debriefing

    Independent Listening
    On Your Own

    Between sessions, you'll continue listening at your own pace to strengthen the effects of the protocol. 

    During this time, you’ll:

    • Complete short listening segments on your own

    • Practice regulation tools introduced in therapy

    • Track your responses and experiences to bring back to your next session

    SSP is delivered virtually by a certified SSP provider, making it accessible wherever you are. While it was originally designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, it has also been shown to support emotional regulation and social connection, particularly for people with trauma histories or neurodivergent experiences. 

    Why We Offer SSP at New Moon Psychotherapy

    At New Moon Psychotherapy, we understand that trauma doesn’t just live in your thoughts—it lives in your body. While talk therapy can bring clarity and insight, nervous system-based interventions like SSP help you feel safe enough to believe what you know.

    We integrate SSP as part of a holistic, body-informed approach to healing because we know that deep change requires more than words.

    Meet Shanen — Your Safe and Sound Protocol Therapist

    Hi, I’m Shanen, a Registered Psychotherapist who’s passionate about helping people feel safe, connected, and empowered.

    I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when clients begin to understand their nervous systems and learn to work with them instead of fighting against them. This is why I trained in the Safe and Sound Protocol. It’s a beautiful, neuroscience-backed tool to help your body shift out of survival mode—gently, at your pace.

    Whether you’re navigating trauma, anxiety, or just feeling like you’re always “on,” I’m here to support you in creating more ease, regulation, and connection in your life.

    What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)?

    SSP is a five-hour, evidence-based listening therapy that uses filtered music to calm the nervous system and improve regulation. It’s based on Polyvagal Theory and available virtually through New Moon Psychotherapy in Toronto.

    Is SSP therapy available online?

    Yes! At New Moon Psychotherapy, we offer SSP remotely across Ontario. This means that you can receive support from a therapist who is trained and certified in the Safe and Sound Protocol, regardless of where you’re located.

    Who might benefit from SSP?

    SSP may help with trauma, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, PTSD, emotional dysregulation, or feeling stuck in survival mode. No diagnosis is required.

    Do I need to be in therapy to do SSP?

    No. While SSP works beautifully alongside therapy, it can also be accessed as a stand-alone nervous system intervention.

    Can I do SSP with my own therapist if they’re not trained in it?

    No. SSP must be delivered by a certified provider. The protocol requires attunement and support that only trained practitioners can offer. However, with your consent, we’re happy to collaborate with your existing therapist.

    How much does the Safe and Sound Protocol cost?

    $150 one-time access fee + $180 per session. Most clients complete it in 3–5 sessions, with pacing based on your individual needs.

    What does an SSP session look like?

    SSP sessions are gentle and structured to support safety, regulation, and connection. You’ll listen to specially filtered music through headphones in a calm, quiet space. Listening sessions typically last 10–15 minutes, depending on your needs and pace.

    Some of your listening will take place during scheduled sessions with your therapist (typically an hour long), who will guide you through the listening experience, check in regularly, and help you stay grounded. This might include guided breathwork, gentle movement, visualization, or other mindfulness-based and somatic strategies. Your therapist will also offer psychoeducation and time to reflect on what you’re noticing—emotionally and physically.

    The rest of the listening will happen between sessions on your own, allowing you to move through the program at a pace that feels right for you. During this time, you’ll continue to practice the regulation tools introduced in session and track your experience to share in your next appointment.

    There’s no need to revisit past memories—SSP is focused on helping your nervous system feel supported and safe in the present moment.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) in Toronto

    Use the tabs to the right to explore frequently asked questions about the Safe and Sound Protocol and how it is offered at New Moon Psychotherapy.

    If your question is not answered here, please schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Shanen Smith, a therapist trained and certified in the protocol.

    Banner showcasing that Shanen Smith from New Moon Psychotherapy in Toronto is a trained and certified provider of the Safe and Sound Protocol

     

    Curious if the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is Right for You?

    We’re here to answer your questions and help you figure out if SSP is a good fit for you.

     

    Located in Toronto or anywhere in Ontario?

    Book a free 15-minute consult to explore whether SSP is right for your needs and how it can support your healing.

     

    Already seeing a therapist at New Moon?

    Let them know you’re interested and we’ll coordinate care.

     

    Still unsure if SSP is right for you?

    Reach out and tell us a bit about what’s going on—we’ll let you know if it’s a good fit.

     

    416-800-3361

    [email protected]

    By submitting this form via this web portal, you acknowledge and accept the risks of communicating your health information via this unencrypted email and electronic messaging and wish to continue despite those risks. By clicking "Yes, I want to submit this form" you agree to hold Brighter Vision harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means.

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