Evidence-based and backed by decades of scientific research, the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest & Restore Protocol (RRP) use filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve.
Music therapy is one of our most effective tools in helping our clients reach their mental health goals.
The vagus nerve is one of the largest nerves in the body. It plays a vital role in many of the body’s functions.
It starts in the brainstem and travels down through the neck and into the chest and abdomen. It is involved in regulating important functions including breathing, heart rate, digestion, and immune response.
It also plays a major role in controlling mood, emotions, and social behavior.
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, the patented music therapy is based on Polyvagal Theory, which helps us understand how our body and brain work together.
Designed to be used alongside mental health coaching and CBT, music therapy helps greatly accelerate impactful and long-lasting results compared to using individual approaches alone.
Mended Mind’s Music Therapy Program
Mended Mind’s music therapy program consists of an introduction group session followed by individual listening of the protocols.
The introduction session includes autonomic mapping, which will help you to understand how your own nervous system works and which state your nervous system is in. You will be taught how the music therapy works and how to carry it out.
We will also help you with the technical aspects – setting up your device with the program, sound checks, etc.
From this point you’ll be all set up to listen to the program on your own.
Two weeks after you have completed the music therapy, you will be sent a post-assessment to complete.
Requirements
You will need a quiet, calm area where you can be completely undisturbed during the program.
Hardware:
- A iOS or Android device capable of downloading and running the Unyte-iLs app
- Over-ear high-quality headphones that do not have boosted bass or noise cancelling features, or that these features can be disabled. They will also need to be able to connect to your mobile device to play the audio.
- An activity that requires minimal attention is preferred by many that take this treatment. For example, an adult coloring book and pencil crayons. Other activities include stretching, sewing, knitting/crocheting, etc.
What are the costs?
To start music therapy, you’ll book an introduction session. This costs $185 and can be booked here.
Note: Due to licensing fees, the introduction session is non-refundable.
There is also a monthly subscription for access to the filtered music. It costs $65/month, and we offer discounts for additional members of the same household.
You can subscribe for music therapy access here:
Types of Music Therapy
Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) focuses on enhancing social engagement and emotional regulation. It primarily supports co-regulation and connection with others. SSP targets the ventral vagal complex (green state) and the social engagement system, and is particularly helpful for individuals with sound hypersensitivity.
SSP has been used to treat clients of all ages experiencing the following challenges:
- Anxiety
- Inattention and focus
- Auditory sensitivities
- Behavioral regulation and resilience
- Physical coordination and balance
- Reading and audio processing
- Sleep
- Speech and language
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Trauma and PTSD
- Stressors that impact social engagements
Rest & Restore Protocol (RRP) supports self-regulation and connection to the self. It can help our nervous system function better by helping it to find the ideal rhythm that matches our environment.
RRP was designed to help clients experiencing challenges such as:
- Chronic stress
- Trauma
- Functional disorders (seizures, movement disorders, persistent perceptual postural dizziness, functional cognitive disorder, etc)
- Mental health challenges
- Sleep issues
- Digestive issues
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Chronic Pain
If you would like to know more about our music therapy, please request more information from your coach.