Safe and Sound Protocol in the UK
For anxiety, trauma, AD(H)D, ASD and more…
If your nervous system often feels stuck on high alert, or suddenly drops into shutdown, the coping tools you know can feel out of reach. You might understand the skills that help, yet struggle to use them when you need them most.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a non-invasive listening therapy designed to aid emotional regulation. Developed by Dr Stephen Porges, whose polyvagal theory has radically shifted how we think about trauma and anxiety, SSP is designed to help re-set the nervous system and return it to feeling safe, so that your mind has room to engage.
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through over-ear headphones. The music gradually exposes the auditory system to different sound frequencies and trains the auditory pathways to focus on the frequency band of the human voice. It also stimulates the middle ear muscles, which help the autonomic nervous system to regulate, improving concentration and social engagement.
By improving the nervous system’s ability to detect cues of safety, the body often shifts towards a calmer, more socially engaged state. Think of it as gym work for the neural circuits that help you orient, connect and regulate. When those systems are steadier, it often becomes easier to sleep, concentrate, cope with everyday stress and benefit from talking therapies.
What SSP is, and what it is not
SSP is designed to work alongside other therapeutic approaches. It is not a cure-all, and it is not a replacement for trauma therapy or medical care. It is best thought of as a physiological support that can make other work more accessible.
What does the research say?
Emerging research and clinical observations suggest benefits for people with anxiety, trauma-related dysregulation, ADHD traits, autistic profiles and sensory sensitivities. Reported changes include improved emotional regulation, reduced auditory defensiveness, steadier mood and more capacity to engage with others. As with any intervention, outcomes vary from person to person.
Who is SSP suitable for?
- Anxiety, hypervigilance or frequent overwhelm
- Trauma-related dysregulation, including complex trauma histories
- ADHD traits, such as distractibility and difficulty settling
- Autism spectrum profiles, sensory processing differences or sensory sensitivities
- Chronic stress, burnout or disrupted sleep
Who should wait, or avoid SSP?
- An unstable medical or psychiatric condition
- Unmanaged seizures
- An acute crisis or a current safeguarding risk
- No safe environment in which to pause and ground
Access SSP face-to-face or via the app
The programme can be accessed through in-person sessions or by using a smartphone app, depending on your needs. Every programme begins with a clinical assessment, and you have ongoing support from your clinician throughout, including check-ins between sessions.
In person
We offer SSP face-to-face at our offices in Oundle and York.
Remotely, with clinician support
SSP can also be delivered online with clinician oversight. We set you up on a secure platform, confirm your headphone quality and listening environment, and agree a communication plan. We monitor your progress through:
- Brief check-ins before and after listening, by message or short call
- Tracking of sleep, energy, mood and sensory load
- Adjustments to the pace and timing of listening, based on your responses and commitments
Support for parents, carers and partners
Parents, carers and partners can be coached to support co-regulation at home. We encourage shared notes, so that everyone can see how things are progressing.
For further information or to book an appointment, contact us.
What does an SSP programme look like?
Every programme is personalised. SSP is usually completed in short blocks of listening across several days or weeks, rather than all in one go. A typical first week might look like this:
- Days 1 to 2: short listening segments, for example 5 to 15 minutes, with a focus on comfort, hydration and gentle movement or stretching afterwards.
- Days 3 to 5: if this is going well, building towards 20 to 30 minutes, while we keep track of sleep, mood, sensory load and daily stress.
- Rest days: used whenever activation rises, schedules are tight or life stress is high.
While you are listening, we suggest keeping other activities low-demand where possible, and avoiding intense exercise or emotionally charged events straight after a session.
People with a history of trauma or sensory sensitivities often benefit from a slower, more gradual approach. Your clinician will agree a plan with you at the outset and adjust it as you progress. The number of sessions varies from person to person.
Are there any side effects?
- Tiredness or sleepiness
- Mild headaches
- Short-lived sensitivity to noise or light
- Emotional shifts
- Temporary activation, such as restlessness or irritability
How we manage them
We use careful pacing, starting with brief listening segments, adjusting the environment, pausing when needed and using simple grounding practices. You will be guided to notice early signs of activation and to tell us about any changes between sessions.
If you feel overstimulated at any point, your clinician will adjust the pacing, reduce session length, switch to calmer tracks, add regulation exercises, or hold off for a day or two. They keep an eye on patterns so that the process stays safe and sustainable.
How SSP fits within the Transform Programme
At Octopus Psychology, SSP is one part of a broader, person-centred plan. Within our Transform Programme, we combine:
- Clinical assessment, goal setting and skills for self-regulation
- SSP listening, tailored to your tolerance and life rhythm
- Psychotherapy or coaching, to help you turn gains into everyday life
- Optional complementary neurotechnology, such as NeurOptimal brain training, to reinforce flexibility and recovery
This integrated approach helps turn physiological shifts into practical change, such as clearer thinking at work, steadier family interactions and better sleep routines. To learn more about our wider approach, see About Neurotechnology.
Safeguarding, consent and suitability screening
We take safeguarding seriously. Before you start, you will receive clear information about the aims of SSP, its potential effects and the alternatives. We gain informed consent, confirm that you have a safe space to listen, and agree how to pause if you need to.
Our screening covers your health and medical history, including any seizure history and significant hearing conditions, as well as medications, sensory profile, trauma history and current stressors. We also check for severe sound sensitivity and complex dissociation, and make sure basic regulation skills, such as breathwork, orienting and boundary setting, are in place first.
Where there are current risks, we co-develop a safety plan and, with your permission, liaise with relevant professionals. For young people, we obtain parental consent and make sure delivery is age-appropriate. We also encourage you to keep your GP or NHS clinician informed, particularly if you have complex needs.
Is the Safe and Sound Protocol available on the NHS?
NHS provision is very limited and varies significantly by region. Some specialist neurodevelopmental, child development or sensory integration services may offer listening therapies, but SSP is not widely commissioned across the UK. Most people access SSP through a private provider.
If you would like to explore NHS routes, ask your GP or local mental health team about sensory integration or neurodevelopmental services. If you already have an NHS clinician, we are happy to liaise with them so that your care stays joined up.
Client feedback
Don’t take our word for it.
Have a read of just a snapshot of some of the other testimonials Octopus Psychology has received.
I wanted to write to tell you how therapeutic I have found the music treatment on Safe and Sound . I have concentrated on the classical music option and have found it greatly helps my mood and also helps me to sleep at night if I do half an hour session whilst in bed. In particular I find the music of Mozart very helpful. It is beautiful and playful and carefree to listen to in the evening. Thanks so much for recommending this program it has been most helpful to my mood. It has taken my mind away from the trauma I suffered as a child.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Safe and Sound Protocol
What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
SSP is a clinician-guided listening programme that uses specially filtered music to support the autonomic nervous system and social engagement. Many people find it helps with tolerance of stress, sleep and connection with others, although outcomes vary.
Who is the Safe and Sound Protocol suitable for?
SSP can benefit adults and children who experience anxiety, trauma, ADHD, autism spectrum profiles, sensory processing differences or persistent stress. It is particularly helpful for people who feel stuck in fight, flight or shutdown, and for those who want a body-led approach to complement talking therapy. Suitability is always confirmed through clinical assessment.
Who should wait or avoid SSP?
People with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions, unmanaged seizures, acute crises, or no safe environment in which to pause and ground may need a different starting point. If you are pregnant or have an active ear infection, please seek medical advice first. Where there is a current safeguarding risk, we prioritise stabilisation and safety planning.
How is SSP delivered at Octopus Psychology?
We offer SSP in person at our offices in Oundle and York, and remotely via a smartphone app. All programmes begin with a clinical assessment to check suitability and tailor the pacing to your nervous system. You have ongoing support from your clinician throughout, including check-ins between sessions and symptom tracking.
How many sessions does it take?
This varies from person to person. Listening is spread across days or weeks rather than delivered in one block, and sessions start short and build gradually. People with a history of trauma or sensory sensitivities often benefit from a slower approach. Your clinician will agree a plan with you at the outset and adjust it as you progress.
Are there any side effects?
Some people notice temporary effects as the nervous system adjusts, such as tiredness, mild headaches, emotional shifts, restlessness or short-lived sensitivity to noise or light. These usually pass within hours to a couple of days. If you feel overstimulated, your clinician will adjust the pacing, shorten sessions or add grounding practices.
Is SSP available on the NHS?
NHS provision is very limited and varies by region, and SSP is not widely commissioned across the UK. Most people access it through a private provider. If you have an NHS clinician, we are happy to liaise with them so your care stays joined up.
How do I get started?
We begin with a complimentary conversation to understand your goals and answer any questions. If SSP looks like a good fit, we will design a personalised programme that may also include therapy or other tools from our MindGym. Get in touch to arrange your initial conversation.
Ready to explore SSP?
If you are looking into the Safe and Sound Protocol in the UK and want a tailored, ethically delivered option, our clinicians can help you decide whether it fits your goals. If you would prefer to speak first, we offer a complimentary conversation about suitability and next steps.