Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Autism, Trauma, and Nervous System Healing with the Safe and Sound Protocol

Courtesy of Finding Hope on the Spectrum

“Trauma therapy should not be traumatic.”

— Laurie Belanger, LCSWR, EMDRIA Approved EMDR Consultant

For many individuals, especially those navigating trauma, sensory sensitivities, or neurodivergence, talk therapy may not be enough to create real, lasting change. What’s often missing isn’t more insight — it’s safety.

In a recent episode of the Finding Hope on the Spectrum podcast, host Brooke Wagner sits down with Laurie Belanger, an expert trauma therapist and Unyte Endorsed Mentor, to explore how the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) can regulate the nervous system and be used as a powerful tool to create the foundation for meaningful healing.

Why the Safe and Sound Protocol Matters

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the SSP is an evidence-based listening therapy designed to shift the nervous system out of chronic defense and into a state of social engagement. Using specially filtered music, it trains the system to detect and respond to cues of safety, laying the groundwork for deeper therapeutic work.

“It is an auditory program of filtered music — it’s five hours of progressively filtered music — that helps introduce safety into the nervous system,” Laurie explains. “It was developed by Dr. Porges, who’s the creator of something called Polyvagal Theory … [which] helps us really understand the way that we’re put together.”

Speaking to her professional experiences, Laurie shares how she combines the SSP with other modalities she uses in her practice, such as EMDR, to support clients in preparing their nervous systems and why this strategy is essential.

“Nine times out of 10, when somebody tells me they had a really bad EMDR experience for trauma processing, it was because they weren’t well enough resourced,” she says. “The SSP is one of the foundational ways that I resource a nervous system — [it] helps support someone bottom-up to help them feel, in a nervous system way, safe enough to be able to handle processing trauma targets.”

By integrating the SSP into her toolkit, Laurie helps her clients build the safety and capacity they need to engage more fully and effectively in other therapeutic approaches.

Key Topics Discussed in This Episode:

• Bottom-up before top-down: Clients can’t think their way out of their challenges when the brain is stuck in a state of defense. Regulate physiologically first by building safety and relationship.
• Safety is a shared experience: Laurie reminds us, “You cannot bring a child to a place that you are not.” Providers and caregivers can help create a regulated environment for children through co-regulation. “If your nervous system is able to project safe, regulated, connected, that does something before any words come out of your mouth.”
• The SSP is adaptable and individualized: “It’s like a workout,” Laurie says. SSP delivery is titrated based on each person’s nervous system, using different playlists and filtration levels to meet their unique needs.
• Technology makes SSP more accessible: With Unyte’s digital platform, Laurie delivers SSP in-office, remotely, or through hybrid models — all while tracking client progress through the online dashboard.
• Clinicians can get mentorship at any time: As a Unyte Endorsed Mentor, Laurie supports other professionals through experiential mentorship and practical integration coaching, especially those combining SSP with EMDR or working with complex trauma.

Whether you’re a clinician exploring bottom-up therapies or a professional currently supporting neurodivergent or trauma-impacted clients, Laurie’s insights offer a roadmap to understanding and regulating the nervous system.

Listen to the full episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum to hear more from Laurie Belanger on how SSP helps untangle trauma, empower neurodiverse clients, and make healing a safer experience for everyone involved.