Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy

Welcome to episode 29. I am so thrilled to share my conversation with Christine Dickson. Get ready to be inspired; hopeful, and think deeply about your Pathway in Life.
"Christine Dickson is a Transformational Mentor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Equine Assisted Coach. She works with people to map out their vision and reframe their limiting belief systems to create radical shifts in their lives.
She has a solid background in working with people moving away from addiction and pathological relationships, supporting their quest to live a more free and purposeful life. Her ideal client is a fellow traveler who has come to a crossroads and dares to walk in the direction of their hearts longing.
A self-described “Late Bloomer”, she traveled a slow but steady path to rewrite her subconscious conditioning and take responsibility for her own life. By becoming more self-aware and intentional she was able to propel herself into taking meaningful action and change course. Now, she helps others do the same. What does your heart long to bring forth into the world? When that small inner voice whispers to you what you know to be true, do you listen?"
Some key topics, quotes, or points:

• Everything you have done in life is building toward something
• Childhood adaptive brilliance- living inside other people's nervous systems for survival- a way of "being" to stay safe
• Being primed for repeating non-adaptive behaviours
• Everything that happens to you is an opportunity to see......What is the Gift within the event.......even if is a traumatic event
• I am responsible for my decisions- it doesn't serve me to not take responsibility
• You have 2 choices- you can either be angry at what happened or you can LIVE....but you can't do both- holding anger will eat away at any future happiness
• Fear- can be a good motivator
• Once you say "Yes" to create a new life- do the work- the Universe sends things your way
• I'm just going to start...what is the worst that can happen
• The dreaded...."I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH"
• Malibu Addiction Centre- what is the root cause of the coping mechanism
• The power of your Mindset- overcoming anxiety, fears, worries
• Just keep showing up.....keep moving forward
• Subconscious mind- the only thing it is afraid of is the UNKNOWN
• The best thing anyone can do is to be really really interested in their own process-observe self from a distance
• Addiction- often a child or partner of someone with a personality disorder or pathological disorder
• "Love Bombing"
• Pathological Relationships- Addiction link- you can leave without "leaving" by drinking or taking drugs
• Addiction in Families- "often a dance of interactions" like a "supporting cast in a movie."
• Christine's Work- "On the Path"- helping people work out their life purpose
• "Survivor......the problem with being a survivor is that you have to create situations you need to survive in order to show your skills."
• I choose to Thrive
• The fear of not stepping fully into being ourselves- always holding a bit back
• Equine work- people typically trust animals quicker than they do humans.
• Horses help us tap into something primal- help us open up more for exploration
• Your Internal Family Systems play out in front of you with the horses- like the embodiment of a part right in front of you.

Books
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
A great podcast with Christine- check out The Journey On Podcast-

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Welcome to episode 31. Today is a very special gathering of fellow iLs instructors to honour the life of Ron Minson, M.D. whose life work impacted so many. iLs systems changed lives from the bottom up. Dr Ron, as we call him, received his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine and is board-certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. His general medical background includes serving as a family physician and health center Medical Director and clinical psychiatrist. Dr. Minson served as Chief of Psychiatry for Presbyterian Medical Center and Director of Behavioral Sciences at Mercy Hospital in Denver.
However, his life took a radical new pathway when he witnessed the successful treatment of his daughter for severe depression and dyslexia from a sound therapy program. He subsequently chose to devote his life to learning about the power of filtred sound in clinical application; developed programs, and taught practitioners so more people could heal from sound and bone conduction therapy. He developed Dynamic Listening Systems (DLS), which he integrated into his psychiatric practice and later, in 2007, iLs was launched to provide a more affordable and multisensory therapy- which is sound combined with visual, vestibular and movement, that could be used in homes and schools as well as therapy clinics.
Dr Minson worked closely with his wife, Kate Minson. Some words from Kate...
“In the time I have been an eye-witness to Dr. Minson’s trajectory in the field of psychoacoustics, the branch of psychology concerned with sound and its physiological effects, I have noted a few common themes that run through his professional life story: a willingness to go boldly into uncharted territory, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and an equally passionate desire to help people.

Please enjoy my conversation with Fellow-iLs trainers, Doreen Hunt; Ann Brownstone; Dillen Hartley and Marianne Judd, all esteemed clinicians, as we honour the memory and work of Dr Minson, sharing his knowledge and the powerful impact of the iLs and Pro system with clients.
You will sense the gratitude we all feel to have been a part of the iLs family and the privilege it was to be able to teach the work.
Some key points- listen in for the details and more...

• iLs is a multisensory program incorporating movement with filtered music and bone conduction
• Dr Ron and Kate- knowledge way before their time
• Power of breath and voice with breath- impact on the nervous system
• Sound as healing
• Study with Dr Tomatis
• The entire body as a vesicle for sound.
• iLs foundation in neuroscience and neurodevelopment
• iLs connecting the sensory-motor system
• inter-uterine listening
• filtered mothers voice
• Pro System- individualized program with higher filtered music and bone conduction
• Dr Ron's legacy- integrating air and bone conduction in a single program; the ear-to-brain connection; bottom-up integration to build a foundation for integration
• Leadership through care- Kate and Dr Ron

I hope you all enjoyed this conversation. For me, it was lovely to connect again with some old friends and share story. There were a couple of other trainers who were unable to attend, Clinicians Mary Jones, Andrea Pointer and Cindy Dawkins who were very much missed. Being an iLs Trainer was a special time in my life.
To find out more about the iLs system or the SSP contact Unyte in Denver, or if you are located in Australia or New Zealand, contact Integrated Listening Australia.
Wishing you all kindness, Joanne.

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Welcome to episode 31. SSP as a Vagal Resonance Field Tuner for Healing with Paula Scatoloni. Today you are all in for an interesting conversation about the SSP and SSP group work; we talk about resonance and coherence in the body and between humans for attuned, present-moment connection.
A little bit of background about Paula.... she has been on a journey to understand the connection between consciousness and embodiment through Western and non-Western perspectives. Paula has a Masters in Social Work and has brought cutting-edge perspectives to institutions such as Duke University and co-developed clinical and training programs such as The Embodied Recovery Institute
As a sound, body, and energy-oriented practitioner, Paula loves to blend movement, sound, and vibration with neuroscience and body-based therapies to offer a holistic approach to support individual and collective nervous system healing.
Some key points you will hear in our discussion:
Supporting practitioners in SSP group learning experience- how to become "Master Regulators"
SSP group experiences for individuals- sound, vibration and movement
Cultivating the practice of witnessing the present moment
Emotion phobic
Working with structures (somatics and subconscious safety) of the early 0-3 years developmental period that may have been impacted by early life trauma
Therapeutic work of "presence" and "touch for trauma healing
Attuned Presence to the body for healing- the body knows how to self-correct
Narratives around relational safety- how Touch work can shift this
Somatic Experience practitioners can sense into the many layers of the body
How do Attachment styles show up in touch, interactions, and communication
Trained Touch Work practitioners work
When our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours are not congruent we are in dissonance- Dan Seigal
Importance of setting intentions
Developmental movement patterns- push-pull-grasp- and subconscious attachment system
Somatic work to help develop body boundaries
Embodied Recovery Program
Integrating Somatic and IFS with SSP
To Contact Paula:https://paula-scatoloni-s-school.teachable.com/
Such an interesting conversation. I am excited to share that I will be experiencing one of Paula's The Healing Power of Sound:Cultivating Body, Mind, Heart Connection Through Self Harmonics - groups in early 2024 and will podcast about my experience.

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Welcome everyone to episode 30.
Today's conversation is focused on the SSP for Kids. In my work supporting families with children who are experiencing challenges, whether that be neurodevelopmental or mental health-related; I have observed significant improvements following the SSP. I am also privileged to receive a lot of feedback from pediatric-focused therapists on the improvements they observe because of the SSP. So I wanted to help build awareness both for practitioners working with children or for any families listening who are experiencing challenges. As you will hear the SSP offers hope and evidence-based improvements across psychosocial-biophysiological systems.

Today I am speaking with two senior-level clinicians, each with over 30 years of experience in pediatric therapy. I am honored to know them both as colleagues and good friends. Doreen Hunt, Occupational Therapist is the co-owner of Children’s Therapy of Woodinville, Seattle USA. Irena Woodward, Occupational Therapist, is the owner of Family Connections in Sydney Australia. Both have extensive training beyond the Safe and Sound protocol and I will include their contact details at the end of the podcast.

Some of the Key Points:

• Doreen discusses the case of an adolescent female who had significant mental health challenges- hospitalized for self-harm and had begun auditory hallucinations- after the first 30 min of SSP, her hallucinations stopped.- Listen in for more to this story.
• Irena discusses a young female with Functional Neurological Disorder and eating disorder- initially on nasogastric tube feedings- over SSP repeats was able to eat regular foods.
• SSP impacting the integrated social engagement system to see improved intake for feeding difficulties
• SSP for infants - micro premi or failure to thrive
• SSP and vagus stimulation and resulting bowl and bladder awareness in a young child
• SSP to improve facial expressivity- connection to attachment
• More harmonious family life after SSP
• SSP and improved emotional intelligence
• SSP and increased feelings of happiness in kids
• SSP and improved vocal quality and inflection
• SSP with improvements in gross and fine motor skills
• We discuss the neurobiology of Safety
• SSP with resulting improvements in family dynamics
• Improvements in global development
• Importance for the family to nourish a sense of safety

I hope you enjoyed this episode and found the information helpful. It would be a great honor if you could share this episode with a colleague, friend, or family member. Knowledge is power and sharing this episode may help someone who is struggling.

A big thank you to those who sent in questions. My apologies if I did not get to yours. We do plan to record a follow-up session in early 2024 targeted to specific questions around SSP implementation so if you have any questions or suggestions please email me [email protected] or message me via the Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast FB group.

Doreen, Irena, and I, support clients globally. I will list contact details in the show notes and our SSP FB page.
But to contact Irena- contact [email protected]
Doreen at- [email protected]
Myself- [email protected]

My next guest is the esteemed Dr Sue Carter, founder of Oxytoxin, the Social bonding hormone and wife to Dr Stephen Porges. I look forward to sharing that with you. Sending you kindness and self-compassion until next time. Take care, Joanne.

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Welcome to Episode 24. I have the pleasure of speaking with Michael Romeo, Clinical Psychologist, about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Michael has been practicing as a Clinical Psychologist for over 20 years. He began his career as an Adolescent Psychologist. He worked in Bali treating ex-patriates experiencing PTSD following the Bali Bombing in 2002. He has worked as an educator and supervisor for most of his career. Michael lectured at Macquarie University for over ten years and was the International Student Counsellor at The University of Newcastle Counselling Service. Most of his career has focused on treating suicidal behaviours and complex trauma with EMDR, Schema Therapy, DBT and other strengths-based approaches. He currently works in private practice, where his primary clinical interest is treating Functional Neurological Disorders.
This is such a rich discussion as not only is Michael an expert on FND but has lived experience. Listen in for a wealth of information pertinent to both the practitioner and the individual who may be experiencing unexplainable neurological symptoms.
Some of the key points covered include:

• What is FND?
• Disconnection between the brain's hardware and the brain's software
• Neurological symptoms- brain stress response
• Why getting an accurate diagnosis is so important
• The diagnosis acceptance process
• Importance of engaging with therapy to reduce negative neuroplasticity
• Need for a team approach for FND- OT, PT, Yoga, Psychology, .......
• Energy Systems Hypothesis for Functional Seizures
• Stress Model and FND
• Children and Adolescents and FND
• Michael's personal journey with FND
• Virtual Reality for FND
• FND Resources
• Managing the boom and bust of FND
• Role of distraction in recovery
• Dispelling negative expectations and recovery
• SSP for FND- Michael's experience with the SSP- improved mood, energy, less brain fog, and a sense of calm.

Resources we spoke about include:
https://www.neurosymptoms.org/en/
https://fndhope.org/
https://fndaus.org.au/
SSP and FND Paper in Harvard Review of Psychiatry tells the story of MT, a 10-year-old girl with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (Rajabalee, et al. 2022).
Neuromodulation Using Computer-Altered Music to Treat a Ten-Year-Old Child Unresponsive to Standard Interventions for Functional Neurological Disorder

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