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About the Provider
Name: Shelly Melroe
Disciplines/credentials: LMFT
Modalities: Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP), Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Client Background
Name: Sadie (pseudonym)
Age and Gender: 36-year-old woman
Program Delivered: Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP), Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Sadie experienced PTSD, relational trauma and sensory sensitivities, and sought out treatment to help her reduce the frequency and intensity of the sensory overwhelm she felt. At the time, her provider, Shelly Melroe, recommended the SSP to address her emotional regulation concerns.
Over time, Sadie revealed that she also experienced pelvic and abdominal tension, as well as a history of medical trauma that made it difficult to address these issues. Shelly then suggested RRP as an avenue for physiological shifts to accompany the SSP’s support in emotional regulatory capacity.
Implementation of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP)
Sadie began with the SSP, participating in two slow iterations first. Then, she transitioned to RRP, completing four iterations. With her provider, she adjusted her listening cadence based on her physiological responses. To help her process more effectively, she added movement to her listening sessions and kept a record of her emotional oscillations.
Response
After completing several sessions with both listening interventions, Sadie noticed several improvements in her day-to-day life.
Physically, she experienced fewer headaches and improved digestion. Alongside the digestive relief, her menstrual cycles became more moderate with overall less pelvic tension. Additionally, Sadie’s sleep quality improved, making her feel more well-rested during the day.
Emotionally, her PTSD symptoms reduced, as indicated in the graphs below. Sadie felt more empowered to advocate for herself, which encouraged her to set healthy boundaries. With this increased emotional awareness, she felt she could “engage more fully in life.”
In her free time, she began ice skating, indicating that she felt more prepared to engage in new social activities. Processing her trauma allowed Sadie to develop emotional stability, physical ease and greater presence in daily life, demonstrating the efficacy of regulation in the healing process.
Discussion
Combining the two modalities helped address different concerns, providing more holistic treatment for Sadie. According to her provider, the SSP reduced her sensory overwhelm and defensive patterns, which created a foundation for deeper physiological shifts during RRP as a result. Together, the SSP and RRP encouraged deeper emotional regulation and body awareness, indicating that some patients may benefit from receiving both systems concurrently.
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