Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) in Jacksonville Beach
When your body seems stuck in “on” mode (tense, jumpy, overwhelmed by noise, or unable to settle), talking alone doesn’t always reach it. The Safe and Sound Protocol™ (SSP) is a gentle, headphone-based listening therapy that may help your nervous system feel safer, so the rest of your healing work has room to happen.
Most of our SSP clients listen at home through the Unyte app, with a Living Well counselor guiding the process and checking in along the way. The remote program is $375. We’re based in Neptune Beach and serve Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, and the wider Beaches community.
Not sure if SSP is right for you or your child? Call or text (904) 242-6318 with your questions, or book a session to get started.
Call or text (904) 242-6318 · Text us
What Is the Safe and Sound Protocol?
The SSP is a listening therapy developed from Dr. Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory and offered through Unyte Health. You listen to music that has been specially filtered to highlight the frequencies of the human voice, which our nervous system associates with safety.
Polyvagal Theory describes how our nervous system is always scanning for signs of safety or danger, often without our noticing. After stress, trauma, or illness, or with sensory differences, that system can lean toward “danger,” leaving us anxious, shut down, or easily overwhelmed. The SSP is designed to gently send cues of safety through listening, which may help the body shift toward a calmer, more connected state.
The SSP isn’t a replacement for counseling. It’s a tool your counselor uses to support your overall care.
Who the SSP May Help
The SSP is used with people across the lifespan, including children, teens, and adults. It may be worth exploring if you or your child experiences:
- Ongoing anxiety, worry, or feeling “on edge”
- Stress that makes it hard to relax, focus, or sleep
- Sensitivity to sound or other sensory input
- Trauma-related symptoms, such as feeling jumpy, numb, or easily triggered
- Big emotions that are hard to come down from
- Feeling stuck in counseling, where you understand the problem but your body still reacts
The SSP is often used alongside counseling, including CBT and EMDR. Everyone responds differently, and we don’t promise specific results. Your provider will help you decide whether it fits your goals and will pace it carefully.
How the SSP Works at Living Well
- Reach out. Call, text, or book a session. We’ll talk through whether the SSP might help and answer your questions about the $375 remote program.
- Getting set up. Your provider learns about your history, current stressors, and goals, then sets up your listening program in the Unyte app.
- Listening at home, with guidance. You listen with over-the-ear headphones on your phone or tablet at home. Sessions are usually short and paced to how your nervous system responds. Your provider checks in regularly and adjusts the plan as needed.
- Making sense of it together. You’ll talk with your provider about what you notice (sleep, mood, sensitivity, connection) and how it fits with your other goals.
Prefer to listen in our office? In-person SSP sessions at our Neptune Beach office (800 3rd St Suite B) are available by request and are billed at our standard individual session rate of $175.
What a Session Is Like
You’ll settle into a comfortable, quiet spot at home and put on over-the-ear headphones. The music may sound a little “thin” or unusual because of the filtering. You can draw, color, rock, sip water, or simply rest while you listen. For children, a parent runs the session at home with our guidance, and a calm activity on hand often helps.
Your provider will help you know what to watch for and when to take a break. Some people feel relaxed, some feel tired, and some notice emotions come up. All of these are normal and worth talking about at your next check-in. Listening time often starts small and builds gradually.
Your SSP Providers
- David Tolbert, LMHC has been counseling since 1994 and is Gottman-trained. David brings decades of experience helping adults, couples, and families through anxiety, stress, and hard seasons.
- Allison Armstrong, LMHC, NCC is an EMDR Certified Practitioner who helps adults heal from trauma and painful experiences. Allison can integrate the SSP with EMDR when that’s a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to come to the office for the SSP?
No. Most of our SSP clients listen at home through the Unyte app, with David or Allison guiding the program and checking in along the way. If you’d rather listen in our Neptune Beach office, in-person sessions are available by request at our standard individual session rate of $175.
How long does the Safe and Sound Protocol take?
The main SSP program is about five hours of music, broken into shorter listening sessions. Some people move through it in a few weeks; others go more slowly. Your provider will set a pace that fits how your nervous system responds.
Is the SSP appropriate for children?
Yes. The SSP is designed for both children and adults. For kids, David or Allison works with you, the parent, and guides you step by step as you run your child’s listening sessions at home. When you reach out, we’ll talk through whether it’s a good fit for your child’s age and needs.
Who will guide my SSP program?
Your program is guided by David Tolbert, LMHC, or Allison Armstrong, LMHC, NCC. When you reach out, we’ll help you choose the provider who fits best.
How much does it cost? Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Our remote SSP program, guided by David or Allison, is $375. In-person SSP sessions are billed at our standard individual session rate of $175. HSA and FSA cards are accepted. See Rates & Insurance for more details.
Can my counseling include faith?
Yes, if you want it. Faith-informed care is available and never required.
Take the First Step
You don’t have to figure this out alone. If you or your child feels stuck in stress, anxiety, or overwhelm, let’s talk about whether the Safe and Sound Protocol could be part of your next step.
Call or text (904) 242-6318 · Send a text · info@livingwelljax.com
Living Well Therapy & Coaching · 800 3rd St Suite B, Neptune Beach, FL 32266
The Safe and Sound Protocol™ is offered through Unyte Health. Individual experiences vary. The SSP is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is used as part of a broader plan of care.