Online Trauma Therapy for clients in Ontario, Canada and internationally
No direct billing to insurance providers
— the approach
How the Safe and Sound Protocol works.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the founder of the Polyvagal Theory. It is a five-hour auditory intervention using music that has been specifically processed and filtered.
The music provides targeted signals of safety to the nervous system and engages our social engagement system. Within a supportive environment experienced as safe, this listening can help the auditory system focus less on low frequencies associated with danger, and instead perceive higher frequencies more clearly—such as those found in the human voice.
The muscles in the middle ear play a major role in this process. They help us perceive voices and other sounds from our environment and better filter out background noise. The SSP uses music to support this natural ability of the auditory system.
Listening to the 5-hour playlist can be spread over weeks or months, depending on how your nervous system responds. Individuals with highly sensitive nervous systems sometimes take more than a year. There are several pathways: for getting acclimated (SSP Connect), for supportive continuation (SSP Balance), and the core program (SSP Core). The Safe and Sound Protocol can be used alongside psychotherapy or as a standalone intervention.
— how it works
The most important information at a glance.
What to expect
You will listen to the music through headphones, and I will be there to support you. How much you listen to and when we take breaks will depend entirely on your nervous system.
Duration
A complete course consists of 5 hours in total and is spread out over weeks or months, depending on your individual needs.
Location
In person at my practice in Dresden, or online. In most cases, you can also continue this work independently at home between sessions.
May be suitable for
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increased sensitivity to noise and other sensory stimuli
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Sensitivity or High Sensitivity
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— BODY-ORIENTED APPROACHES
SSP as part of psychotherapeutic support
If you are primarily interested in psychotherapeutic work with me and would like to go through the SSP as part of our sessions, please let me know. We can integrate this right from the beginning or start using it in the course of our work together.
A session never consists solely of listening to the SSP. Especially with sensitive nervous systems, a large part of the process involves carefully pacing the experience, noticing and supporting the nervous system's responses, and creating space for processing and integration.
The combination of SSP and Somatic Experiencing can complement each other very well in therapeutic work.
Price:
€140 app access for one year, €95 per session (60 min)
Interested? If so, I look forward to hearing from you.
Guided SSP facilitation without ongoing therapy
The Safe and Sound Protocol can also be used on its own, without ongoing psychotherapy sessions with me.
A good fit for you if
You do not want ongoing psychotherapy, or you are already receiving psychotherapeutic support and would like to specifically go through the SSP.
How it works
We start with an onboarding session (in person or online), where I will guide you through the process and you will begin listening. We will explore your nervous system's responses to find the right pace for you. After that, you will continue listening on your own based on my recommendations, supported by email contact and up to 2 additional sessions (if desired) with me.
Price: $485
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One-year app access
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Up to 3 sessions (30-60 mins per session) + email support
If you would like to listen to the entire playlist with my guidance, the base price is €395 plus my regular hourly rate. For shorter sessions, the hourly rate will be charged on a pro-rata basis.
Interested? If so, I look forward to hearing from you.
— A few thoughts
The Safe and Sound Protocol and Co-Regulation
Safety and co-regulation play an essential role in the Safe and Sound Protocol. The word "Safe" in the name also refers to this. That is why it is recommended that during the listening sessions, a person is close to you who can act as an anchor point.
For the listening sessions that you do not spend together with me, this can be a trusted person from your family or circle of friends - someone who is simply quietly there, remains approachable, and can provide emotional support if needed.
However, I have also experienced that this is not always possible. The course of the process and the type of support that is needed or possible vary greatly. Sometimes it feels safer to listen alone, or with a pet, to connect with a trusted person before or after, or to think of a trusted person while listening.
— prefer online?
Safe and Sound Protocol Online.
If the journey to my practice is too far or too exhausting, or if you simply feel more comfortable at home, we can also work together online. In fact, online therapy is the most frequently chosen option by my clients.
Here is what you will need for our online sessions:
A quiet place
where you feel comfortable and won't be disturbed
Laptop or tablet
with camera and microphone
SSP app on your smartphone or tablet
to listen to the music
Headphones without noise-cancelling
for the effective impact of the SSP
Stable internet connection
for an uninterrupted session
— Welcome to my practice
It's wonderful to have you here.
I am Susanne Reinhold.
I am Susanne Reinhold, a psychotherapist and trauma therapist with my own private practice in Dresden Neustadt.
“Only when we are in a calm physiological state can we convey signals of safety to another person.”
— STEPHEN PORGES
— Questions and Answers
Perhaps you are wondering...
Do you have a question that hasn't been answered here yet? Please feel free to reach out to me using the contact form.
Do I need to be in therapy to use the Safe and Sound Protocol?
I am already in psychotherapy. Can I listen to the SSP during sessions with my therapist?
Can the Safe and Sound Protocol also be done online?
What are the potential benefits of the Safe and Sound Protocol?
Do I need special headphones?
How long does a complete course of therapy take?
Will my health insurance cover the costs?
