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About the Provider
Name: Kalina Kirilova Petrova-Shanova
Disciplines/credentials: Speech Therapist, Neuropsychologist
Modalities: Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Client Background
Name: Carolyn (pseudonym)
Age and Gender: 36-year-old woman
Program Delivered: Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Connect, Core, Balance
Carolyn was seeking relief from several different symptoms when she connected with her provider. She suffered from poor sleep quality and experienced severely irregular sleep patterns, which resulted in chronic fatigue and low energy. On the AIS sleep scale, Carolyn scored a 9, demonstrating significant sleep issues.
Additionally, Carolyn experienced several physical symptoms associated with anxiety. When stressed, her heart rate would rapidly increase and she would sometimes vomit. She felt anxiety around her relationships and expressed a fear of abandonment. When assessed, Carolyn’s results indicated moderate to severe anxiety with a score of 18 out of 21 on the GAD-7 assessment.
Implementation of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Carolyn listened to the SSP multiple times a week over a four-month period. Initially, these sessions began in person, with provider Kalina present to co-regulate. Gradually, Carolyn began to listen remotely, completing post-listening check-ins with her provider.
Response
In response to the SSP, Carolyn stated, “SSP changed my life for good! I am free from many of the limitations I had. [While] it didn’t change my personality or ‘fix’ me, it prepared me to balance myself more easily.”
After the four-month listening period, Carolyn demonstrated impressive quantitative and qualitative progress. On the GAD-7, her score decreased from 18 to 4. Her AIS score reduced from 9 to 4, demonstrating both decreased anxiety and increased sleep quality. She also showed improved scores on two supplementary scales — the Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ) and the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) — as pictured below.
“I feel more secure and able to get through the day with confidence!” Carolyn said about the daily impacts of the SSP, adding that she felt more relaxed, stable and confident in managing stress. “I am more self-aware of my reactions and emotions — it’s unbelievable!”
Carolyn expressed gratitude for the global nature of the SSP, saying that she “will be forever thankful for the program, my mentor and so much more for introducing the SSP to Bulgaria!”
Discussion
For Carolyn, a deep desire to change, coupled with her provider’s supportive, hybrid delivery, enabled meaningful changes within her nervous system. For those showing active engagement in the recovery process, the SSP can yield profound changes. Strong co-regulation and psychoeducation also serve to deepen the positive effects of listening therapies, allowing for more comprehensive healing.
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