Safe & Sound Protocol

The SSP’s positive impact on sensory integration and behavioral state regulation in 6 year old female with ASD.

Presenting Problems

• * Gravitationally insecure, extremely over-responsive to vestibular sensory input
• * Difficulty in auditory and visual sensory processing
• * Poor behavioral and state regulation (emotional outbursts, screams, hyper-silly behaviors)
• * Difficulty transitioning
• * Poor eye contact, poor visual tracking and hand-eye coordination
• * Delayed gross motor and bilateral motor planning skills
• * Reversed letters and numbers, writing is larger in size

PJ presents with ongoing anger issues and has an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. He was homeschooled from seventh grade through high school. He has relationship issues with family members and broke up with his girlfriend of three years two months before beginning treatment. He has feelings of remorse and regret about the recent breakup. 

Matthew is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An only child, he lives at home with his mother, his father, and their two cats. His SSP provider, Allison Hunt, describes Matthew as a very friendly child with excitement for life. He is currently in the first grade and has been participating in occupational therapy (OT) services for about a year and a half.

HM presents with misophonia and social anxiety with specific sensitivities to loud chewing and noises. She lives with her mom and two sisters in a supportive environment and was very open to trying the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). She has tried multiple different treatments prior, mainly cognitive therapies. Treatment goals included going to school without the use of headphones, better noise toleration, and sitting through three meals a week with no issues.

Lucy reported a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as anxiety and some depressive features. She was experiencing distress at home, at work, and socially.

Lucy was living with her biological parents after years of drug use, homelessness, domestic violence, and having to put a child up for adoption. She remembers receiving therapy during her teen years and early adulthood for panic attacks and anxiety but didn’t recall it being helpful.

Lucy was hoping to “be less reactive” (experience fewer OCD and anxiety symptoms), and to feel calmer and happier with her life. She felt improvement with medication hand-in-hand with her sobriety but was still anxious, on edge, and feeling incapacitated when around those in positions of authority or perceived authority. This left her unable to advocate for herself in a toxic work environment and continually feeling victimized by her parents’ behaviors at home.

Joana presents with PTSD, and has a long history of trauma dating back to childhood and continuing throughout her life. She was raised by a parent with narcissistic personality disorder and suffered a lot of abuse as a child. Abuse continued to be present in her relationships moving forward. 

Joana has never been in therapy before. At the start of treatment, she had taken the steps to get out of her 22-year marriage, which was a physically and emotionally abusive and dangerous relationship. Her husband had been incarcerated for abuse and threats toward Joana. Because of the abusive relationship, she had lost many friends, family and her job. She currently lives with her son, who also struggles with his relationship with his dad. 

Ola is a medical emergency worker. She is healthy, lives near the forest and works various shifts. However, she is often suddenly called to work, where she encounters human suffering every day. Meanwhile, at home, Ola’s son explodes with anger every morning, often refusing to get dressed and is shy at school. Ola is anxious and in constant mobilization, and says that there is a lot of arguing happening in the home.

Ola sought help from Magda, her provider, because she wanted to help her son be calmer.