Safe and Sound

A Polyvagal Approach for Connection, Change, and Healing
Audio - Preorder (Available April 22, 2025)
$20.99
Audio - Preorder
$20.99
Available April 22, 2025
Digital goods limited to 1 product per purchase
In this work from Polyvagal Theory pioneer Dr. Stephen Porges, you’ll find not only the origin and best practices of a groundbreaking new listening therapy—the Safe and Sound Protocol—but also real-life stories of transformation and healing on topics including addiction, COVID recovery, living with Parkinson’s disease, neurodivergence, and more.
Full Description

From Polyvagal Theory pioneer Dr. Stephen Porges comes a new resource sharing the origin and best practices of his groundbreaking new protocol, and highlighting real-life stories of transformation and healing.

We all want to live and share our truth, but when we don’t feel safe, it can be impossible to fully express or even know who we really are. The nervous system impacts daily well-being, to our benefit or detriment. Understanding how may be key to truly knowing yourself and better supporting the challenges holding you back. “When the nervous system regains its capacity to feel safe,” say Porges and Onderko, “individuals can express themselves genuinely, engage comfortably with others, and embrace a life of greater openness and ease.”

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a groundbreaking therapy based in Polyvagal Theory, which looks at the role the autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve play in regulating health and behavior. SSP involves listening to music that’s been filtered to prioritize frequencies of human speech, providing auditory input that enables the nervous system to reset to its homeostatic state.

Porges and Onderko offer a glimpse into this innovative approach, highlighting not only the origin of SSP and its best practices but also real-life stories of transformation. They showcase clinical evidence demonstrating SSP’s impact on emotional dysregulation, social interaction difficulty, and auditory sensitivity, providing a comprehensive understanding of its therapeutic potential. Some features and conditions addressed include:

  • Depression
  • Perfectionism
  • Addiction
  • Suicidal ideation
  • COVID recovery
  • Navigating gender identity
  • Living with Parkinson’s disease
  • Hypermobility
  • Autism
  • ADHD
  • Dyslexia

Whether patient, family member, friend, or clinician, you’ll find a deeper understanding of the nervous system and tools for a more resilient experience. Illustrating the incredible range of application and how autonomic regulation can lead to significant improvements—from stress and anxiety to grief and trauma—Safe and Sound demonstrates how SSP can promote a state of safety and calm, facilitating the foundation for long-awaited healing.

Format Details
Audio - Preorder (Available April 22, 2025)
Contents Digital Audio (9 hours, 2 minutes)
Product Code AB06876W
ISBN Number 978-1-64963-238-8
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Stephen Porges PhD

About Stephen Porges PhD

Stephen W. Porges, PhD, is author of The Polyvagal Theory and creator of SSP. He is professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He lives in Atlantic Beach, Florida. More at stephenporges.com.

Karen Onderko

About Karen Onderko

Karen Onderko, a cofounder of Polyvagal Institute, helped transition the Safe and Sound Protocol from the research lab to clinical practice, collaborating with Dr. Stephen Porges and providers to evolve its guidelines, training, and resources. 

Author photo © Marea Evans Photography

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