More Safety.
More Calm.
More Yourself.
At-home listening support, attuned to your nervous system.
Picture your nervous system letting go of its quiet, constant signal of “danger” — even when everything around you is, objectively, fine. Not through willpower. Not through insight. Simply by listening to specially processed music, at home, in your own time. For many people, that is what the SSP makes possible.
- Certified Unyte Provider
- 1,100+ guided online SSP programmes
- Clinical oversight by a Dutch-registered GZ psychologist
- Outcomes data available (Unyte, 2024)
Before you begin — please read this
The SSP is a non-invasive listening programme, not a medical treatment. Please speak with your GP, therapist or healthcare provider before starting if you are in acute crisis, experiencing psychosis, having active suicidal thoughts, living with unmanaged epilepsy or severe dissociation, or if your home does not yet feel like a safe enough place to listen. This service is delivered remotely from the Netherlands. Got questions? We’re happy to talk it through →
Who uses the Safe and Sound Protocol
The SSP may support adults, adolescents and children navigating a wide range of nervous system challenges.
- Anxiety & chronic stress
- PTSD & Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
- ADHD — focus & emotional regulation
- Autism spectrum conditions (ASD/ASC)
- Sensory processing sensitivities
- Social anxiety
- Long COVID / vagal dysautonomia
- ME/CFS & chronic fatigue
- Recovery from burnout
- Sleep difficulties
- Children with behavioural challenges
- Hypervigilance & freeze responses
The SSP is also widely used as a preparatory programme alongside other therapies. When the nervous system has more room to regulate, EMDR can move more smoothly, somatic work can reach further, and cognitive behavioural therapy tends to land more easily. Many therapists recommend the SSP before or alongside their own work — especially for clients who feel stuck.
What clients say after listening
Real experiences, in their own words, shared with permission. Names changed for privacy. Individual outcomes may vary.
“One of the first changes I noticed was in my thoughts. Even in the middle of an incredibly stressful season of life, I could access more regulated, open and curious thoughts, almost as though there was space between a trigger and my reaction. That pause has been a gift. The second change has been deeply personal. This programme helped me shift out of a long-standing freeze state that had affected my relationships for 17 years. I have been able to be present and emotionally connected in a way I had not experienced in nearly two decades.”
“I continue to be amazed by the difference. The depression I had struggled with for 10 years is nearly completely gone. I am sleeping better and waking up rested, which had not happened in over 6 years. I feel more patient and calm. I don’t have to act calm anymore. I actually feel it.”
“It has made a world of difference. For me, my partner and even our dog. Your support for the hypersensitive client was exactly right. I couldn’t go beyond 10 seconds for quite a while. Then my system suddenly responded and I was able to follow the full schedule. I intend to continue every year.”
How the Safe and Sound Protocol works
Unlike talk therapy, the SSP works directly with the brainstem — the evolutionarily oldest part of your brain. No talking required. No insight required. Just listening.
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Specially filtered music reaches your middle ear The SSP uses music processed to emphasise frequencies between 500–4,000 Hz — the exact range of a calm human voice. A lullaby. The reassurance of someone you trust.
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Your middle ear muscles get a gentle workout The SSP gently invites the middle ear muscles to do their job: tuning the auditory system towards cues of safety. Over time, this may help the nervous system tell the difference between a genuine threat and an everyday sound.
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A safety signal travels through the brainstem Those trained middle ear muscles send a signal via the brainstem to the ventral vagal complex — the most evolutionarily advanced branch of the vagus nerve, associated with social connection, learning and calm.
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Your autonomic nervous system may begin to shift Heart rate variability can rise. The social engagement system can become more accessible. The chronic background hum of fight-or-flight can quieten. Not by willpower, but by biology — at the pace your nervous system chooses.
Why “bottom-up” changes everything
When your nervous system is in defence mode, the prefrontal cortex partly goes offline — and that is the seat of insight, language and reason. Talk therapy, mindfulness and cognitive tools can only reach you once your system feels safe enough to listen. The SSP may help create that more regulated starting point, which is why other therapeutic work often feels more accessible afterwards.
The three SSP programmes
SSP Connect
A gentle introduction with unfiltered music. Prepares your nervous system for the active programme to come. Especially recommended if you are highly sensitive or simply prefer to ease in.
~1 hour · Optional but recommendedSSP Core
The active neural programme. Gradually filtered music guides your middle ear muscles through their full training. This is where the main shift can take place.
~5 hours · Spread over days or weeksSSP Balance
The integration phase. Lighter filtering helps maintain and deepen the changes made during Core. You can return to it whenever life places fresh demands on your system.
Ongoing · As neededThe “Day 4 effect” — what we prepare every client for
Around Day 4 of SSP Core, we regularly see a brief window of heightened sensitivity — sometimes irritability, sometimes emotional rawness. This is not a setback. It is the auditory system recalibrating. For some clients, what follows is a noticeable increase in calm or emotional spaciousness. For others, the change arrives more gradually. We prepare every client for these possible shifts in advance, so nothing comes as a surprise.
What actually happens when people listen
These are not survey figures. They are outcomes from validated clinical scales, gathered from real clients completing the Safe and Sound Protocol. All figures represent self-reported improvements. Individual outcomes may vary.
The figures behind the shift
Anxiety scores fell by an average of 6.0 points on the GAD-7 (14.6 → 8.6). Trauma symptoms improved by 16.3 points on the PCL-5 (45.4 → 29.2). Depression scores dropped by 5.5 points on the PHQ-9 (15.3 → 9.8). More than half of clients in the clinical range moved into the non-clinical range — all after the 5-hour Core programme. In 2024, the US Department of Defense awarded nearly $3.8 million through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program for a double-blind RCT on SSP for PTSD. Individual outcomes may vary.
1,100+ Guided Programmes. Every One Online. Every One Real.
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Certified Unyte Health Provider Officially certified by Unyte/iLs to deliver SSP and RRP. Unyte is the organisation that works with Dr Stephen Porges to bring the protocol to its global provider network.
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Clinical oversight by a Dutch-registered GZ psychologist Shahera el Katib holds GZ psychologist registration in the Netherlands (BIG: 89919609425) — the Dutch state registry for licensed health professionals. GZ psychologist (Gezondheidszorgpsycholoog) is a protected title in the Netherlands, requiring a master’s degree and a regulated two-year postgraduate clinical training. This is not HCPC registration, and this service does not constitute HCPC-regulated UK clinical psychology practice. Every programme runs under her professional oversight, at Dutch clinical standards.
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Remote experience since 2010 — serving UK clients online With 14+ years in mental health and 5+ years of online SSP delivery, we have refined our remote protocol for sensitive nervous systems — clients across the UK, the Netherlands, the US, Germany, Australia and beyond.
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An individual written intake — for every client, every time We read every intake carefully. What you share shapes your starting duration, the order of your programmes and how often we check in. Every programme is different, because every nervous system is different.
Officially certified Unyte Health Provider — Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP)
Your home is your safe space. Our entire programme is built around that.
Available across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We are based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and serve UK clients entirely remotely through the Unyte app. Here’s what that means in practice:
- Delivered through the Unyte app — available in the UK
- No video sessions required
- No NHS referral needed
- No GP referral required
- We do not bill NHS or private UK health insurance
- A receipt is provided after purchase
- Not an HCPC-registered UK therapy service
- UK GDPR-aware data handling · EU servers · privacy policy available
What happens after you sign up?
- You sign upYou’ll receive your order confirmation, with access to the next step ready straight away.
- You receive our written intake formComplete it at your own pace. No rush, no deadline.
- We build your personalised listening scheduleBased on your intake: starting duration, programme order and notes tailored to your nervous system.
- You download the free Unyte appOn your phone, tablet or laptop. A regular pair of stereo headphones is all you need.
- You listen at home, in your own safe spaceOn the sofa, in your favourite chair. No camera. No scheduled appointments.
- You send us an optional written updateAfter sessions, drop us a message: what you noticed, how you felt. No obligation — just an open door.
- We respond and adjust as neededIn writing, in English, professionally. For the full 12 months.
- Micro-dosing protocol We never start with 60-minute sessions. Depending on your intake, your first session might be 10 seconds. With nervous system work, slow is almost always faster. We have refined this approach over 200+ programmes with highly sensitive clients.
- Written support — not surveillance No video calls. No watching you listen. Asynchronous, professional, available — without the pressure of a camera or fixed appointment times.
- Depth through repetition With 12 months’ access, you can return to the programme whenever your system is ready. The benefits often build gradually with each pass. Our longest-running clients have completed 5+ rounds.
How we do it differently
Many SSP providers work with per-session billing. We chose a different model. Nervous system regulation takes time and repetition, not a fixed handful of appointments.
| Aspect | Session-based offering | SSP at SoundTherapy |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | Often brief or generalised | Thorough written intake — tailored to your nervous system, sensitivities and daily life |
| Protocol | Standard for everyone | Micro-dosed and adapted to your system |
| Support | During sessions only | Written support throughout — for 12 months |
| Video required | Often | No — low-demand, autonomy-based |
| Environment | Clinical setting or fixed video call | Your home — your safe space |
| Pricing model | Per-session billing | One price, 12 months’ access |
When high achievers discover the SSP
Not everyone who comes to the SSP is in crisis. A growing number of our clients are executives, athletes and high achievers who function brilliantly under pressure — but at a cost. Their off-switch is broken. The SSP trains the ability to move fluidly between states of demand and states of rest. In elite sport, that’s called Autonomic Agility — not a relaxation technique, but a performance skill.
All-inclusive. One price. One year.
No hidden costs. No per-session billing. Just you, the music and time.
- SSP Connect — all versions
- SSP Core — all versions
- SSP Balance — all versions
- All music programmes
- Personal written intake
- Personalised listening schedule
- Written support throughout — 12 months
- Bonus Polyvagal course
After signing up, you’ll receive your personal intake form. From your answers, we’ll build your listening schedule. Then you download the Unyte app and begin when you’re ready — at home, with a regular pair of stereo headphones. Throughout your 12 months, you can repeat the protocol as many times as your system needs. The benefits often build gradually with each round.
One-time payment — no subscription, no auto-renewal. Because this is a digital programme with immediate access, refunds aren’t offered after activation. Your £250 covers 12 months of repeat access plus written support throughout — designed so you can return to the protocol as often as your system needs, with no second purchase required.
Ready when you are.
No rush, no pressure. Sign up and we’ll take it from there.
You’ll receive your written intake straight after sign-up. Complete it at your own pace — there’s no deadline. From your answers, we’ll build your personalised listening schedule.
What SoundTherapy clients say
Experiences from our own programmes, shared with permission. Names changed for privacy. Individual outcomes may vary.
“Within two weeks, our son was willing to try new things — slides, climbing, playing with friends. After four weeks, he was a completely different child. He started asking for cuddles. The occupational therapist is so impressed with his progress that she wants to learn more about SSP herself. My husband thought this was a ridiculous idea. Now that he’s seen the change, he’s completely convinced.”
“I noticed I no longer had sweaty palms, that queasy feeling in my stomach, or the heat rising in social situations. My boyfriend called me ‘a different person’. At work, on public transport, in restaurants — the anxiety was simply gone. I now easily start conversations with strangers, something I would never have dared before.”
“Everyone with ME/CFS should know about this. After being almost completely bedridden since October, I can do small exercises again — qigong, a bit of yoga. My nervous system has definitely improved. It is bringing me back to life.”
Your questions, answered
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a non-invasive, 5-hour listening programme developed by Dr Stephen Porges and rooted in his Polyvagal Theory. It uses specially filtered music to give the middle ear muscles a gentle workout, which may help the nervous system — via the auditory pathway and brainstem — move towards greater regulation and a felt sense of safety.
Many clients describe less overwhelm and more capacity for calm and connection. It can be done entirely at home, at your own pace. The SSP is not a medical treatment and does not replace care from your GP or a registered UK healthcare provider.
Is the SSP evidence-based?
The SSP is grounded in over 40 years of peer-reviewed research in autonomic neuroscience by Dr Stephen Porges. Polyvagal Theory is one of the most influential frameworks in modern trauma neuroscience.
The evidence base includes two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) covering a combined 146 children through the Listening Project Protocol — the direct scientific predecessor to the SSP. Real-world data (Unyte/iLs, 2024): 85% of 752 clients reported reduced anxiety (GAD-7); 87% of 390 clients improved on the PCL-5; 81% of 543 clients reported reduced depression (PHQ-9). All figures represent self-reported improvements and do not constitute a guarantee of results. Individual outcomes may vary.
Is this available through the NHS?
No. SSP at SoundTherapy is a private, self-funded listening programme delivered remotely from the Netherlands. No NHS or GP referral is needed or possible, and we don’t bill NHS or private UK health insurance.
We can send a receipt after purchase, which some clients pass on to their GP or therapist for information. Please check with your insurer whether listening therapy is an eligible expense under your policy.
How does the SSP actually work?
The SSP filters music to emphasise the frequency range of the human voice (500–4,000 Hz). This invites the middle ear muscles — the stapedius and tensor tympani — to actively tune in, which sends a signal via the brainstem to the ventral vagal complex, the branch of the vagus nerve associated with safety, social engagement and regulation.
Think of it as gentle physiotherapy for your nervous system’s safety signal. You just listen — your nervous system sets the pace.
Who is the SSP intended for?
The SSP may support adults, adolescents and children navigating anxiety, PTSD, C-PTSD, ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, sensory sensitivities, social anxiety, burnout, Long COVID, sleep difficulties and chronic stress.
It is also used alongside other therapies such as EMDR, somatic therapy or CBT. It is not a medical treatment and does not replace care from a registered UK provider.
What is included in the £250?
For £250 you receive 12 months’ full access to all three SSP programmes (Connect, Core and Balance) in every available music version via the Unyte app. Included:
Personal written intake · your personalised listening schedule · written support from us throughout your 12 months · our bonus Polyvagal course (entirely optional).
No hidden costs. No per-session billing. You can listen once or repeat the protocol several times — the benefits often build gradually with each round.
Is it safe to do the SSP remotely, without face-to-face guidance?
Yes — and for many clients, home is actually the better setting. You’re in your own space, with your own anchors, without the social demands of a clinical environment.
Our remote protocol includes a thorough written intake, a personalised listening schedule, written support throughout, and clear guidance for the more sensitive phases. Please speak with your GP or healthcare provider before starting if you are in active crisis or have a serious mental health condition.
How long before I notice results?
Many clients notice something during or just after the first few sessions — a subtle change in energy, sleep quality or emotional response. Real-world data shows 85% of clients reported improved anxiety symptoms after completing the 5-hour Core programme (Unyte/iLs, 2024). Individual outcomes may vary.
For deeper or more lasting benefit, we recommend completing the programme at least once in full. Your 12-month access is designed for exactly this.
What if I am highly sensitive or found the SSP too intense before?
This is exactly what we specialise in. During your intake we assess your nervous system’s starting tolerance. For highly sensitive clients, we sometimes begin with sessions of just 10 seconds. Yes — seconds, not minutes.
Our Micro-Dosing Protocol, refined over 200+ programmes with highly sensitive clients, lets the nervous system adapt at its own pace. With nervous system work, slow really is faster.
Can I combine the SSP with my current therapy?
In most cases, yes — and combining is often beneficial. Many therapists use the SSP as preparation for, or alongside, EMDR, somatic therapy or CBT. The SSP may help your nervous system reach a state in which other interventions feel more accessible.
Please let your current therapist or GP know you’re starting the SSP. We can provide a brief information sheet for therapists on request.
Is the SSP safe for my child?
Yes — the SSP is widely used with children for autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, attachment challenges and behavioural difficulties. Real-world data shows 84% of children showed psychosocial improvement (PSC, n=219). Individual outcomes may vary.
For children, we build an adapted programme with shorter sessions and gradual progression. Parents receive clear guidance on how to keep listening sessions relaxed and calm.
What if I miss a session or need to take a break?
No problem — that’s exactly why you have 12 months’ access. The SSP is not daily homework that fails if you miss a session. Your nervous system finds its own rhythm.
If you get stuck or need a pause, just send us a message. We’ll adjust your schedule and make sure your programme stays manageable.
What headphones do I need?
Always use over-ear stereo headphones — the kind where the ear cups fully cover your ears. In-ear earbuds are not suitable for the SSP.
Wired or wireless makes no difference. Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) are fine to use, as long as you fully switch off the ANC and any other sound-processing features during your session. If those features can’t be turned off, please use a different pair.
Ready to begin your SSP programme?
Your nervous system doesn’t need more willpower. It needs space.
Sign up, complete your intake at your own pace, and we’ll take it from there. Written support, clinical oversight by a Dutch-registered GZ psychologist, 12 months’ access.
The Safe and Sound Protocol:
From Brainstem to Gene Expression
Nine chapters. Thirty-one peer-reviewed sources. Seven case studies documented along the way — including a psychiatric inpatient facility, foster care, elite sport and a rescue dog named Daisy.
This information is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The Safe and Sound Protocol is a non-invasive listening programme and not a medical treatment. This service is delivered remotely from the Netherlands and is not regulated by the HCPC or any other UK regulatory body. It does not replace care from your GP, therapist or registered UK healthcare provider. All real-world outcome data represents self-reported improvements on validated clinical scales (Unyte/iLs, 2024). Individual outcomes may vary. Always consult your GP or registered healthcare provider if you require medical or mental health assistance.
Scientific references & sources
The Safe and Sound Protocol is grounded in peer-reviewed neuroscience. The sources below support the claims and clinical evidence on this page.
Polyvagal Theory — Fundamental research
- Porges, S.W. (1994). Orienting in a defensive world: Polyvagal Theory. Psychophysiology, 32(4), 301–318. polyvagalinstitute.org
- Porges, S.W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory. Norton & Company.
- Porges, S.W., Bailey, R., & Dugard, J. (2023). Reconciliation: Replacing Stockholm Syndrome as a definition of a survival strategy. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(1). tandfonline.com
- Polyvagal Theory: Current Status and Clinical Applications. PMC, 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Polyvagal theory: a journey from physiological observation to neural innervation. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2025. frontiersin.org
- When a critique becomes untenable: a response to Grossman et al. PMC, 2026. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
SSP — Clinical & scientific basis
- Neurophysiological background of the Safe & Sound Protocol. Unyte. SSPScience.pdf
- Safe and Sound Protocol: A practical application of Polyvagal Theory. Action Trauma. actiontrauma.com
- Utilising non-invasive vagal neuromodulation: HRV biofeedback and SSP. Spandidos Publications, 2025. spandidos-publications.com
- Unyte / iLs Real-World Data Report (2024). GAD-7, PHQ-9, PCL-5, PSC. integratedlistening.com
Psychoneuroimmunology & Epigenetics
- From molecules to meaning: neuropeptides, sociostasis and the brain-heart axis. MDPI, 2026. mdpi.com
- Epigenetics and psychoneuroimmunology. PMC / NIH. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- HRV biofeedback and SSP for autonomic regulation. PMC, 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Validated clinical assessment tools
- GAD-7: Spitzer, R.L. et al. (2006). Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097.
- PHQ-9: Kroenke, K. et al. (2001). Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613.
- PCL-5: Weathers, F.W. et al. (2013). PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. National Center for PTSD.
- PSC: Jellinek, M.S. et al. (1988). Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 142(10), 1110–1116.
Scientific references are provided for informational and transparency purposes. The SSP is a non-invasive listening programme and not a substitute for professional medical or psychological care.