At Potomac Behavioral Health, we specialize in therapies that help rewire the nervous system for safety, resilience, and healing. One of the approaches we offer is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a cutting-edge, evidence-based intervention designed to support regulation, connection, and emotional healing by working directly with the body’s nervous system.

What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?

The Safe and Sound Protocol is a therapeutic listening program developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the neuroscientist behind Polyvagal Theory. It uses filtered music to gently stimulate the vagus nerve, the body’s “social engagement system”, helping to shift the nervous system out of chronic fight, flight, or shutdown responses.

Through listening to specially engineered music in a calm, supportive setting, clients can begin to feel safer in their bodies, more connected to others, and more capable of managing stress.

How Does it Work?

Polyvagal Theory teaches us that the nervous system is constantly scanning for cues of safety or threat. For people who have experienced trauma, anxiety, or chronic stress, the nervous system often gets “stuck” in survival mode.

The SSP helps by:

• Training the nervous system to detect safety in sound and tone.

• Activating the ventral vagal state, which supports calm, connection, and regulation.

• Resetting patterns of hypervigilance so the body can relax and heal.

Think of it as exercise for your nervous system—gradual, gentle, and strengthening over time.

Who Can Benefit?

The SSP has been shown to help children, teens, and adults with a wide range of concerns, including:

• Trauma and post-traumatic stress

• Anxiety and panic

• Emotional dysregulation

• Misophonia

• Autism and sensory sensitivities

• Social withdrawal or difficulty connecting

• Sleep challenges

While it is not a “quick fix,” SSP often lays the groundwork for other therapies—like EMDR, CBT, or talk therapy—to be more effective, because the body feels safe enough to engage in the work.

What to Expect in a Safe and Sound Protocol session

The Safe and Sound Protocol is delivered through over-ear headphones in a quiet, supportive environment. Sessions are guided by a trained therapist who helps regulate pacing and provides grounding support if emotions arise.

Typically, the program consists of five hours of listening, divided into short sessions spread out over several days or weeks. The pace is individualized, based on your needs and your nervous system’s responses.

Why We Use the Safe and Sound Protocol at Potomac Behavioral Health

Many of our clients come to us feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected after years of stress or trauma. The Safe and Sound Protocol offers a gentle, body-based way to begin shifting out of survival mode, shifting into experiences of safety and connection, and leading to greater availability and openness. This greater capacity allows for new insights and perceptions, awareness, and resilience. By combining SSP with therapies like EMDR and mindfulness, we help clients create lasting changes in how they feel and how they connect with the world.

Ready to Explore the Safe and Sound Protocol?

If you’re curious whether the Safe and Sound Protocol might be right for you, we’d love to talk. At Potomac Behavioral Health, we offer individualized, evidence-based care for trauma, anxiety, and stress in a calm, supportive setting.

📍 Located in Chevy Chase, MD, with telehealth available across Maryland and Virginia.

👉 Book Now to schedule a consultation and learn how SSP can support your healing journey