Listening therapy · In-person in Toronto and Online across Ontario
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) & Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP)
Sometimes we understand why we feel anxious, overwhelmed, shut down, or on edge – but our body has not yet received the message that it is safe. Listening therapy offers a gentle, body-first way of working with the nervous system through music and sound. At Ivana Psychotherapy in downtown Toronto, we offer the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) – structured listening programs designed to support nervous system regulation, connection, rest, and recovery. These programs can be used independently or alongside psychotherapy, somatic therapy, EMDR, Gestalt therapy, and other therapeutic approaches.
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
The Safe and Sound Protocol, or SSP, is a structured listening therapy developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and offered through Unyte Health.
The program uses specially filtered music designed around principles of Polyvagal Theory. Listening is introduced gradually and adapted to each person’s nervous system rather than rushed through on a fixed schedule. SSP may be helpful for people experiencing:
- chronic stress or hypervigilance
- anxiety
- difficulty settling after stressful experiences
- sensory sensitivity or overwhelm
- difficulty feeling safe or connected with others
- difficulty being present during psychotherapy
The SSP can be integrated into therapy to help create the physiological conditions that may make other therapeutic work more accessible, or you may choose to complete the protocol independently.
Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP)
The Rest and Restore Protocol, or RRP, is another listening therapy developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and composer Anthony Gorry. While SSP focuses particularly on safety and social connection, RRP is oriented toward restoration, down-regulation, settling, and physiological balance. RRP uses purpose-composed, rhythmically structured music rather than ordinary relaxation music. The listening experience is designed to offer predictable and supportive rhythmic cues that can help the body move away from prolonged activation and toward rest and restoration. RRP may be particularly supportive when you experience:
- chronic stress
- difficulty slowing down/li>
- exhaustion or burnout
- feeling constantly “on”
- difficulty transitioning out of survival mode
RRP is delivered gradually and can be incorporated into psychotherapy or other nervous-system-focused work.
What Does Listening Therapy Feel Like?.
Your therapist may invite you to notice:
- your breathing
- sensations in your body
- changes in energy
- sensations in your body
- impulses to move
- feelings of connection or distance
- signs that your nervous system has had enough for the moment
Starting therapy
Choose a therapist and appointment time that works for you. You can meet in person in Toronto or virtually across Ontario.
Your first session is a chance to talk about what brings you to therapy, what you hope will feel different, and what support might be most helpful.
Begin at your own pace
Together, we’ll build a therapy process that feels collaborative, thoughtful, and responsive to your needs..
Listening Therapy in Downtown Toronto
Ivana Psychotherapy offers nervous-system-informed psychotherapy in downtown Toronto, including the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP). Our work integrates contemporary trauma therapy with attention to the body, nervous system, relationships, and lived experience. If you are curious about whether polyvagal-informed listening therapy could complement your psychotherapy, we can explore that together. Book a consultation to learn more about SSP and RRP.
People with impaired social engagement systems are prone to misinterpret safety as a threat and objective danger as safety. Their visceral feedback system fails to protect them, or prevents them from engaging in the fullness of what life has to offer.
—Stephen Porges
Listening therapy in Toronto and online across Ontario
You are beautiful
Trauma therapy for adults Safe and Sound & Rest and Restore Protocol In-Person and Online