How the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Can Enhance EMDR Therapy
When it comes to healing from trauma, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every nervous system is different—and that’s why integrative, personalized care is so important. At Lokahi Wellness Collective, we often combine different evidence-based therapies to support deeper healing. One powerful pairing that many clients benefit from is EMDR Therapy alongside the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP).
Both are highly effective therapies on their own, but together they can create a more regulated foundation for healing - especially for individuals with complex trauma or nervous system sensitivity. Let’s explore how these two modalities can work in harmony.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, 8-phase therapy that helps people process and rewire distressing memories. Originally developed for PTSD, EMDR has grown to help clients with anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, attachment wounds, and more.
Through bilateral stimulation—like eye movements, tapping, or audio tones—EMDR helps the brain “unstick” traumatic memories and reprocess them in a safer, less emotionally charged way. Over time, clients often report feeling less triggered, more grounded, and better able to integrate the past.
What Is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)?
The Safe and Sound Protocol is a listening therapy developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the creator of Polyvagal Theory. The SSP uses specially filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve and help regulate the autonomic nervous system.
This isn’t just music for relaxation. The Safe and Sound Protocol is designed to help shift your nervous system from a state of hypervigilance, shutdown, or chronic stress into a more connected, calm state. The SSP can be especially helpful for people who struggle with:
Feeling stuck in fight, flight, or freeze responses,
Sensory sensitivity or overwhelm,
Anxiety and emotional dysregulation, or
Difficulty with connection or safety in relationships.
SSP can be done remotely or in-person and is delivered in small doses to help the nervous system adapt gradually.
Why Use SSP and EMDR Together?
Prepares the Nervous System for EMDR: For clients with complex PTSD, early attachment trauma, or nervous system dysregulation, EMDR can sometimes feel too activating at first. SSP can be used as a preparatory tool to create a more regulated baseline. When the nervous system feels safer, EMDR often becomes more effective and tolerable.
Supports Integration Between Sessions: After an EMDR session, it’s common to feel emotionally raw or activated. SSP can help soothe and regulate the nervous system in the days following processing work. It acts like a soft landing, helping clients integrate what came up in session.
Enhances Access to Core Emotions and Connection: When the nervous system feels safe, it becomes easier to access the deeper emotional content that EMDR works with. SSP helps clients shift out of survival mode, making it easier to connect with themselves and their therapist. This deepens the therapeutic relationship and allows more authentic processing to unfold.
Supports Polyvagal-Informed Healing: Both EMDR and SSP are rooted in an understanding of the nervous system and how trauma impacts brain-body connections. When used together, they support healing not just cognitively, but physiologically. This is key to trauma recovery, especially for people who may feel “stuck” in talk therapy alone.
What a Combined Approach Might Look Like
Every client is different, but here’s an example of how these two therapies might work together in a trauma-informed setting:
Phase 1: SSP for Regulation – Begin with 5–10 minutes of SSP listening a few times per week to help the nervous system begin shifting toward safety.
Phase 2: EMDR Preparation & Resourcing – Start EMDR prep, including identifying safe spaces, inner resources, and establishing dual awareness.
Phase 3: EMDR Processing – Once resourcing is in place and the nervous system is more regulated, begin EMDR trauma processing. SSP can continue alongside as needed to support integration and calm.
Phase 4: Integration & Maintenance – After significant EMDR work is complete, SSP can be used intermittently to support nervous system resilience and emotional flexibility.
Is This Approach Right for You?
If you’ve tried therapy before but felt too overwhelmed, disconnected, or dysregulated to fully engage—or if you know your nervous system tends to get flooded easily—this combination might be worth exploring.
At Lokahi Wellness Collective, we offer both EMDR and SSP in a gentle, client-centered way. You won’t be rushed. You’ll be supported in listening to your body and pacing your healing process in a way that feels right for you.
Curious About EMDR or SSP?
If you’d like to learn more or explore whether this approach could support your healing journey, I’d love to connect. You can book a free consultation or reach out with any questions.
Together, we can work toward a sense of safety not just in your mind, but in your body and relationships, too.