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.
✓ Cancel within 14 days — as long as the music hasn’t started yet
- Certified Unyte Provider
- £250 · 12 months’ full access
- 1,100+ guided online SSP programmes
- Clinical oversight by a Dutch-registered GZ psychologist
- Outcomes data available (Unyte, 2024)
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 CBT 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. More experiences on our experiences page.
“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.
- Specially filtered music reaches your middle earThe 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.
- Your middle ear muscles get a gentle workoutThe SSP gently invites the middle ear muscles to tune 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.
- A safety signal travels through the brainstemThose 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.
- Your autonomic nervous system may begin to shiftHeart rate variability can rise. The social engagement system can become more accessible. The chronic background hum of fight-or-flight can quieten — 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.
Why you may feel more socially connected
The SSP doesn’t just train calm. It may also restore your capacity to feel safe with other people.
Dr Stephen Porges discovered that our nervous system sends and receives signals of social safety through six interconnected functions — from our facial expressions to the way we hear voices. He called this the Social Engagement System.
When chronic stress, trauma or overwhelm suppresses this system, social situations become exhausting. Eye contact can feel overwhelming. Self-regulation around others becomes difficult — even when you deeply want to connect.
The SSP uses filtered vocal music to train the middle ear muscles — exactly the muscles involved in distinguishing human voices from background noise. As those muscles strengthen, the nervous system may automatically re-engage the broader Social Engagement System. Not through exercises. Through biology.
- You may understand tone of voice and emotions more easily
- Social situations may cost less energy
- You may feel safer around others — and within yourself
- Eye contact may become less overwhelming
- You may co-regulate more naturally with the people around you
- Conversations may feel more natural — less masking, more presence
The three SSP programmes
SSP Connect
A gentle introduction with unfiltered music. Prepares your nervous system for the active programme. 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. 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. We prepare every client for these possible shifts in advance, so nothing comes as a surprise.
A programme with a reach that goes far beyond “feeling a bit calmer”
Five hours of listening. An impact that may touch far more than stress levels. Individual outcomes vary.
Sensory processing
- Reduce sound sensitivity
- Improve auditory processing
- Higher sensory tolerance
Behaviour & emotion
- Better behavioural regulation
- More emotional balance
- Deeper capacity to relax
Connection
- Greater social ease
- Better connection with yourself
- More authentic contact with others
Safety
- Support neuroception
- Deeper felt sense of safety
- Body and mind in ease
Energy & recovery
- Better sleep
- More energy during the day
- Less chronic fatigue
Synergy
- Strengthens EMDR and somatic work
- Improves therapy readiness
- HRV and heart coherence
What actually happens when people listen
These are not survey figures. They are outcomes from validated clinical scales, gathered from real clients. 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. In 2024, the US Department of Defense awarded nearly $3.8 million 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). GZ psychologist (Gezondheidszorgpsycholoog) is a protected title, 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 14+ years in mental health and 5+ years of online SSP delivery. We have refined our remote protocol for sensitive nervous systems across the UK, Netherlands, 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 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 protocolWe 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. Refined over 200+ programmes with highly sensitive clients.
- Written support — not surveillanceNo video calls. No watching you listen. Asynchronous, professional, available — without the pressure of a camera or fixed appointment times.
- Depth through repetitionWith 12 months’ access, you can return to the programme whenever your system is ready. The benefits often build gradually with each pass.
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.
| 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.
* Cancel within 14 days — as long as the music hasn’t started yet.
✓ Cancel within 14 days — as long as the music hasn’t started yet
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.
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.
✓ Cancel within 14 days — as long as the music hasn’t started yet
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. Specially filtered music may help the nervous system 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.
Can I cancel within 14 days?
Yes. You can cancel within 14 days of purchase, as long as the music hasn’t started yet. Filled in your intake but haven’t listened? The cancellation window still applies.
Send us a message and we’ll process your refund promptly.
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.
Is the SSP evidence-based?
The SSP is grounded in over 40 years of peer-reviewed research by Dr Stephen Porges. The evidence base includes two randomised controlled trials with 146 children through the Listening Project Protocol — the direct 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.
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 to actively tune in, which sends a signal via the brainstem to the ventral vagal complex — 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.
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.
What if I am highly sensitive or found the SSP too intense before?
This is exactly what we specialise in. 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.
Can I combine the SSP with my current therapy?
In most cases, yes. Many therapists use the SSP as preparation for, or alongside, EMDR, somatic therapy or CBT. 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 throughout.
What if I miss a session or need to take a break?
No problem — that’s exactly why you have 12 months’ access. Just send us a message if you get stuck. 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, as long as you fully switch off the ANC and any other sound-processing features during your session.
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.
✓ Cancel within 14 days — as long as the music hasn’t started yet
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.
✿ Transparency & Honesty
A few things we believe are important to tell you upfront.
Not a medical treatment
The Safe and Sound Protocol is a non-invasive listening programme. It is 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. Many people use it alongside professional care — and that is exactly what it is designed for.
When to speak to your GP first
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. Please get in touch before signing up. We will think it through with you honestly.
You will always receive a full refund if the intake shows that the SSP is not the right fit for you right now.
For sensitive nervous systems
We start slowly. Shorter sessions, more pauses, a gentler build. Your pace is part of the programme. There is no schedule you have to meet. Not sure? Send us a short message — honest advice, no pressure.
Experiences are personal
The accounts on this page come from our own clients, shared with permission. All names have been changed for privacy. How your nervous system responds is unique. All outcome figures represent self-reported improvements on validated clinical scales (Unyte/iLs, 2024). Individual outcomes may vary. These statements do not constitute a guarantee of results.
Not sure if the SSP is right for you? Send us your situation → We listen, think it through with you, and give honest advice.
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. This service is not regulated by the HCPC.