Join world-renowned neuroscientist Stephen Porges and Safe and Sound Protocol innovator Karen Onderko as they dive into the transformative power of safety in healing. They explore how polyvagal theory reshapes our understanding of trust and emotional connection. Discover the significance of vocal intonation over mere words and the role of the vagus nerve in emotional regulation. With insights on co-regulation, therapeutic sounds, and the impact of bodily sensations, they reveal pathways to self-compassion and societal healing.
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insights INSIGHT
Physiological State Shapes Behavior
Our physiological state mediates how we react and interact with the world.
Being calm or defensive biases our behavior and experiences profoundly.
insights INSIGHT
Evolutionary Hierarchy of Nervous System
The nervous system evolved a hierarchy where newer circuits inhibit older survival ones.
Losing cortical inhibition during stress triggers reactive defensive states like fight or freeze.
insights INSIGHT
Voice Intonation Signals Safety
Our voice's intonation broadcasts our physiological state and trustworthiness to others.
Melodic voices convey safety better than words alone in social communication.
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A Polyvagal Approach for Connection, Change, and Healing
Stephen Porges
Karen Onderko
Safe and Sound explores the groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, and its applications in healing and connection. The book delves into the neurobiology of trust, explaining how our nervous systems communicate safety and threat through various signals. It introduces the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a listening therapy that uses music to regulate the nervous system and promote calmness. The authors detail case studies showcasing the SSP's effectiveness in treating trauma, anxiety, and other conditions. Ultimately, the book empowers readers to understand and regulate their nervous systems, fostering healthier relationships and overall well-being.
In every social interaction, we convey signals of trust and accessibility to those around us. In other words, whatever’s happening within your nervous system is seen and felt by others. Dr. Stephen Porges’s groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory has led to a revolution in mental health, showing us that when you bring conscious awareness to your own inner state, you can choose to self-regulate (and ultimately to co-regulate), stop the cycle of fight-flight-freeze, and become a source of empathic connection and mutual safety for yourself and the people in your life.
Join Tami Simon in conversation with Dr. Porges and Karen Onderko, coauthors of the new book Safe and Sound to learn about: the origins of Polyvagal Theory; the minimization of bodily feelings and emotions in mental health care; the evolutionary hierarchy of our brainstem’s survival mechanisms; the concept of co-regulation; the neurobiology of trust; neuroception and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP); why the intonation qualities of vocalization are more powerful than the words we say; the amazing vagus nerve; applying the SSP for trauma healing; self-compassion and honoring the body’s wisdom; the transformative potential of a felt moment of safety; how to remain open and accessible without becoming overwhelmed by vulnerability; breathwork, qigong, and other neural exercises that facilitate the social engagement system; and more.
Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
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