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safe & Sound protocol in scotts valley, ca +

online across California & ORegon

Tune in. Feel safe. Connect deeper.

Specialized, trauma-informed therapy

You Weren’t Meant to Live in Fight-or-Flight

Your nervous system is always scanning your environment, picking up on subtle cues from other people: the tone of a voice, the look on someone’s face, the way they hold their body. These signals help your brain decide, “Is it safe to connect?”

But if you’ve been through tough stuff—whether it was big-T trauma, long-term stress, or just growing up in an environment where you had to stay hyper-aware to get by—your system might misread those cues. Even when you're objectively safe, your body might stay in high alert or totally shut down. That constant sense of tension? The trouble connecting? The exhaustion from always "managing it all"? That might not just be "in your head."

This is where the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) can help.

A science-backed way to help your nervous system feel safer

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a gentle, evidence-based listening intervention. Using specially filtered music, SSP supports better regulation of your nervous system so you can respond more calmly, think more clearly, and engage more easily with the world around you.

  • Rooted in Polyvagal Theory, the SSP works by stimulating the vagus nerve through sound. This helps tone the part of your nervous system responsible for calm, connection, and emotional balance.

    Created by Dr. Stephen Porges, the protocol helps you shift out of states of chronic survival—like shutdown, hypervigilance, or people-pleasing—and into a more flexible, resilient state.

    SSP is not a quick fix or replacement for therapy, but it can lay the groundwork for deeper therapeutic change. Effects may be felt right away or gradually unfold over weeks and months.

  • You might benefit from SSP if you often deal with:

    • Low frustration tolerance or emotional outbursts

    • Feeling anxious, withdrawn, or stuck in people-pleasing

    • Trouble focusing or sitting still

    • Hypersensitivity to sounds or feeling startled easily

    • Feeling unsafe in your body or around others

    Most clients complete the 5-hour listening protocol over multiple sessions. Many choose to repeat it seasonally for ongoing support.

  • SSP can be done in-person or remotely, whatever feels right for you. I’ll guide you every step of the way, making sure your system is ready before you even start listening.

    Sessions are simple: you’ll wear over-ear headphones and listen to the music. I’ll be there to help you notice and make sense of any sensations or emotions that come up. We might also add light movement, breathwork, or creative expression tailored to you.

    Your pace matters. We’ll go slow if needed, or move more steadily if that’s what your system can handle. My role is to help you feel supported, seen, and safe throughout the process.

Based on Polyvagal Theory, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) uses gentle, non-invasive listening to calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and strengthen social connection.

What changes when your nervous system finally feels safe?

More ease in your body and mind

Regulating your nervous system can lead to better sleep, digestion, focus, and emotional balance. You may find yourself responding to life’s stressors with more calm and clarity.

Greater emotional flexibility

When your system isn’t stuck in fight, flight, or freeze, you can move through challenges without being overwhelmed or shutting down.

Stronger relationships

SSP supports your ability to feel safe in connection, making it easier to engage, express, and build meaningful bonds with others — without anxiety or self-doubt getting in the way.

who it’s for

safe and sound protocol is for you if you…

  • Have experienced chronic stress, burnout, or trauma

  • Feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode

  • Struggle with low mood, brain fog, or disconnection

  • Notice physical symptoms like digestion issues, neck tension, or chronic cough

who it’s not for

safe and sound protocol is not for you if you…

  • Have a history of seizures

  • Are in an unsafe home or work environment

  • Are actively misusing substances

  • Are experiencing suicidal thoughts or crises

  • Are not in ongoing therapeutic support

Ready to explore a different kind of healing?

If you’re tired of managing symptoms and want to shift things from the root, the Safe and Sound Protocol might be exactly what your system has been waiting for.

Schedule your free 20-minute consultation to explore whether SSP is the right fit for you.

  • If you’ve made progress in talk therapy but still feel “stuck,” SSP might be the missing piece. Talk therapy is powerful but if your nervous system is dysregulated, your body may still be stuck in protection mode. SSP works with your body to shift that baseline and amplify the effects of other healing work like Brainspotting or EMDR.

  • You’ll download the Unyte app and log in to your secure account. You’ll need a pair of over-the-ear headphones (not noise-canceling). Listening is done in 30-minute sessions, ideally on consecutive days around the same time. I’ll guide you every step of the way and adjust as needed.

  • $250 for a 50-minute intake and three to six 15-minute check in sessions throughout the duration of your listening ($187.50 - $375).

    The 15 minute check in sessions may be eligible for reimbursement via your out-of-network benefits.

    This can be done virtually or in person.

  • Book a free 20-minute consultation to see if SSP is a good fit for your needs. We'll talk about your goals, your nervous system, and your options.

frequently asked questions