Polyvagal Theory, pioneered by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a profound understanding of the intricate interplay between our nervous system and social behaviour.
It looks at how our physiological responses are deeply intertwined and influenced by the state of our autonomic nervous system, primarily the Vagus nerve which is one of the largest parts of our nervous system running from our ears to our gut. Through this lens, Polyvagal Theory provides valuable insights into how our bodies navigate stressors and regulate social interactions, ultimately shaping our experiences of safety and connection in the world.
One of the main elements of Polyvagal Theory is the idea of an ‘autonomic ladder’, that our nervous system has three key states and that we are generally going to be in one or a combination of those states. They are:
Ventral Vagal - In which we would feel safe, social and engaged
Sympathetic - Fight or flight state, feeling stressed, angry, defensive
Dorsal Vagal - A freeze state, numb, dissociated, depressed
The advent of this theory has allowed for the development of new scientifically researched therapeutic interventions such as the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), also developed by Dr Porges. This is a revolutionary auditory-based technique which aims to regulate the nervous system by engaging the middle ear muscles through specially filtered music. By targeting frequencies within the human voice range, the SSP stimulates neural pathways associated with social engagement and safety, fostering a sense of calm and connection. It is essentially activating and bringing us back to the Ventral vagal nervous state.
Implemented through a series of personalised listening sessions, the protocol gradually guides individuals towards a more regulated state, addressing a wide range of challenges including anxiety, trauma, sensory processing difficulties, and communication disorders (it is even being studied currently for it’s ability to help with long Covid). Through its innovative approach, the Safe and Sound Protocol offers a holistic pathway to well-being, harnessing the power of sound to promote emotional resilience and social connection.
The protocol can act as an additional benefit to users in conjunction with therapy, increasing the capacity of its users to access and deepen the benefits of therapy. It can also act as a useful tool to help users in between sessions of therapy or coaching and has a number of benefits for people who may struggle with more traditional talking therapies, offering a number of the same benefits through a different medium. It is beneficial for anyone struggling to regulate themselves and studies show positive results for all age groups including children.
A typical experience would involve a client being introduced to the protocol (which is app based on a smart phone) by one of our specifically trained and certified therapists. The onboarding process is likely to take between one and two sessions. The beauty of the protocol is it’s flexibility, it can be utilised in a number of different ways depending on client need. Many users will then access and use it daily for short periods from their own homes, but it is also possible to use it with a therapist in cases where this is more likely to be more beneficial. All you need are some over the ear headphones.
To find out more about the link between trauma, the nervous system and what Polyvagal Theory is, this short video is a really interesting and easy to access explainer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdIQRxwT1I0&t=14s
For more information on the Safe and Sound Protocol please visit this website:
