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About the Provider
Name: Peter Mervielde
Disciplines/credentials: Manual therapist specialized in craniosacral therapy
Modalities: Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), craniosacral therapy
Client Background
Name: Carson (pseudonym)
Age and Gender: Adult man
Program Delivered: Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Core
Carson returned to the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) following a several-month-long break. He halted his first attempt at SSP after having recurring, intense dreams rooted in deeply traumatic memories — these dreams dominated both his nights and daily life, making it unsustainable to continue.
During the break between SSP sessions, he took time to process his emotions. The relief and reflection that came from this period allowed him to feel confident in restarting treatment. With his provider, Peter Mervielde, Carson began the process of unpacking his trauma through the SSP.
Implementation of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Carson eased into his listening sessions, starting with 10 minutes a day in person, with his provider seated across from him. After his first session, he experienced the return of his nightmares, so he and Peter took another brief break from the protocol. Carson ultimately completed three 10-minute sessions of the SSP.
Response
After the return of Carson’s nightmares, Peter encouraged him to discuss the contents of these dreams and how they affected him.
Peter noted that the SSP “created a one-on-one connection between his nervous system and [Peter’s] therapeutic input without harming the body.” This allowed Carson to unpack the trauma that still profoundly impacted his mental state without feeling threatened, opening a dialogue that had been difficult to broach in earlier sessions.
While the nightmares were stressful, the SSP created “the perfect conditions to intuitively sense, explain and communicate exactly what the client needed to hear. It wasn’t just about speaking to the client, it was about addressing his nervous system in a way that felt precise and deeply affirming.”
Discussion
Peter believed that the traumatic dreams Carson experienced were an indication that the “SSP was working exactly as intended.” While the dreams were stressful for Carson, they also revealed that the SSP was helping him process these memories subconsciously. Peter noted that these dreams and emotional reactions were signs of the nervous system opening up and processing deep-seated trauma.
As a therapist, Peter described this as a unique opportunity to help a client experience therapeutic breakthroughs. Based on his experiences with Carson, Peter recommended the SSP for patients who are unaware of their core issues or unable to articulate them. The SSP can help reveal information that helps the client and the provider alike moving forward. For Peter, he believes that “the act of listening to the music doesn’t just regulate the nervous system, it opens a pathway for profound therapeutic understanding and connection.”
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