Mental health awareness is crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where stress, anxiety, and depression are increasingly common. Recognizing the importance of mental well-being helps reduce stigma and encourages people to seek help. Various therapy methods are available, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing negative thought patterns; dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), used for emotional regulation; and art therapy, which provides creative outlets for expression. Mindfulness-based therapies and medication management also play vital roles. Addressing mental health is essential now more than ever, as it promotes resilience, healthier relationships, and improved quality of life in an increasingly complex society.

In today’s book news, “Safe and Sound” is the new book by Dr. Stephen Porges where he addresses Safe and Sound Protocol as another means of therapy.

Safe and Sound Protocol is a groundbreaking therapy based on the Polyvagal Theory developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. Now, together with researcher Karen Onderko, they have written “Safe and Sound: A Polyvagal Approach for Connection, Change and Healing.” (Sounds True, 2025)

In this new book,Porges and Onderko offer a glimpse into this innovative approach, highlighting not only the origin of SSP and its best practices, but also real-life stories of transformation and healing. SSP is backed by neuroscience and this technique aids in stress reduction and mental wellness. It’s gaining traction for its effectiveness in treating various mental health conditions.

Stephen W. Porges, PhD, is author of “The Polyvagal Theory” and creator of the Safe and Sound Protocol. He’s a professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he’s founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium.

Karen Onderko, a cofounder of Polyvagal Institute, helped bring the Safe and Sound Protocol from the research lab to clinicians, who then enabled people to experience the benefits of improved nervous system regulation.

From Polyvagal Theory pioneer Dr. Stephen Porges comes a new resource sharing the origin and best practices of his groundbreaking new protocol, and highlighting real-life stories of transformation and healing.

“Safe and Sound” – We all want to live and share our truth, but when we don’t feel safe, it can be impossible to fully express or even know who we really are. The nervous system impacts daily well-being, to our benefit or detriment. Understanding how may be key to truly knowing yourself and better supporting the challenges holding you back.

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a groundbreaking therapy based in Polyvagal Theory, which looks at the role the autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve play in regulating health and behavior. SSP involves listening to music that’s been filtered to prioritize frequencies of human speech, providing auditory input that enables the nervous system to reset to its homeostatic state.

Porges and Onderko offer a glimpse into this innovative approach, highlighting not only the origin of SSP and its best practices but also real-life stories of transformation. They showcase clinical evidence demonstrating SSP’s impact on emotional dysregulation, social interaction difficulty, and auditory sensitivity, providing a comprehensive understanding of its therapeutic potential.

Some features and conditions addressed include:

• Depression
• Perfectionism
• Addiction
• Suicidal ideation
• COVID recovery
• Navigating gender identity
• Living with Parkinson’s disease
• Hypermobility
• Autism
• ADHD
• Dyslexia

Whether patient, family member, friend, or clinician, you’ll find a deeper understanding of the nervous system and tools for a more resilient experience. Illustrating the incredible range of application and how autonomic regulation can lead to significant improvements—from stress and anxiety to grief and trauma—”Safe and Sound” demonstrates how SSP can promote a state of safety and calm, facilitating the foundation for long-awaited healing.