For deep rest, regulation, and a clearer connection to yourself and your needs.
Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP): A Music-Based Therapy for Nervous System Support
Integrated with Somatic Therapy for Adults in Florida and Illinois
What is the Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP)?
RRP is a listening-based therapy that supports your nervous system through music embedded with natural physiological rhythms—like breath, heart rate, and digestion. It promotes rest, resilience, and regulation without needing to talk through past experiences.
The Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) is a new music-based therapy designed to support your nervous system by promoting deep relaxation and helping your body return to a more restorative state. Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory, and music producer Anthony Gorry, RRP uses specially composed music with rhythms that reflect natural patterns like your heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
RRP was built on the principle of “coherence”—helping different systems in the body work more in sync. This supports not just relaxation but also internal balance across functions like sleep, energy, and digestion.
It’s not about changing the rhythms forcefully, but helping your body recognize safety and settle into a state where healing and regulation are more possible.
This service is currently available to clients who are engaged in weekly or biweekly somatic therapy, so we can move through the RRP process together with the ongoing support your nervous system deserves.
Rest and Restore Protocol Provider in Florida
Hi, I’m Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW.
I’m really glad you’re here.
If you’re dealing with stress, trouble sleeping, chronic pain, or a general sense of overwhelm, it can impact every part of your life. You might feel disconnected, find it hard to focus, or notice that daily tasks and relationships feel more difficult than they used to.
The Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) is a new therapy designed to support your nervous system by promoting relaxation and easing stress responses. While it’s still early in its use, many people report feeling more at ease and better able to handle life’s challenges.
As an RRP Provider, I work closely with my clients to guide the process. Listening can happen during sessions or on your own, and I stay in close contact to help you pace the experience in a way that fits your needs and supports your nervous system.
RRP is still new, and we’re continuing to learn more about how it works best and who benefits most. Early pilot data and provider experiences suggest it offers powerful support for the nervous system, especially when used alongside somatic therapy.
Unlike talk therapy, RRP doesn’t involve discussing past experiences. Instead, it offers your system something different—specially composed music with rhythms that reflect the body’s natural patterns. You listen to five hours of music over time using a smartphone or tablet with over-the-ear headphones. The experience is designed to help your body shift out of stress and into a more regulated, balanced state.
In a recent pilot study with over 100 participants, early findings showed promising shifts in a range of symptoms—from sleep and mood to digestion.
Improve sleep quality
Ease symptoms of anxiety
Reduce symptoms of depression
Support recovery from trauma and overwhelm
In addition to these benefits, many individuals report an overall sense of well-being, greater emotional balance, improvements in digestion, and a deeper connection to themselves as they progress through the protocol.
For more information on research results, click here.
What Early Research Shows About RRP Benefits
RRP involves listening to five hours of carefully composed music through an app with over-the-ear headphones. The music is designed to align with the body’s natural rhythms—such as heart rate and breathing—to support relaxation and nervous system regulation.
The technology behind RRP—called Sonocea®—uses rhythmic patterns rooted in the body’s natural functions to create a calming experience that supports regulation and homeostasis.
One of the core goals of RRP is to support interoception—your ability to notice and understand what’s happening inside your body. When this becomes clearer, it’s easier to respond to your needs, stay connected to yourself, and feel a deeper sense of internal calm.
Because RRP is still in its early stages, we are continuing to learn how it works best for different individuals.
Pacing is a key part of this work—there’s no rush. I’ll help you notice what your system is telling you and adjust accordingly.
For more information on Rest and Restore Protocol, click here.
How Rest and Restore Protocol Therapy Works
Rest and Restore Protocol FAQS
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While both RRP and SSP were developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and focus on nervous system regulation, SSP is designed to improve social engagement, increase the ability to sense safety, and reduce sensory sensitivity, whereas RRP focuses on deep relaxation and restoring internal balance.
For more information on SSP click here. -
Individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, sleep issues, chronic pain, chronic illness, or emotional overwhelm may benefit from RRP. However, because it is still in its early stages, we are continuing to learn about the full range of its benefits.
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RRP isn’t meant to be used on its own—it needs to be paired with another form of ongoing support. I offer somatic therapy, and Somatic Experiencing is the foundation of the work I do. This approach helps clients tune in to their bodies, build capacity for sensation, and stay connected to their experience as they move through the protocol.
That’s why I only offer RRP to clients who are engaged in weekly or biweekly somatic therapy sessions with me. This allows us to stay connected and make adjustments as needed, which is especially important since RRP is still new and we’re continuing to learn how it works best.
For more information about Somatic Experiencing, click here. -
RRP may not be suitable for individuals in acute distress, those with extreme sensitivity to sound, or those currently experiencing severe mental health crises. Precautions should be taken for those who experience tinnitus.
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At this time, RRP is available to two groups:
Current clients
New clients who have weekly or biweekly somatic therapy sessions with me, if RRP is appropriate for their needs
Because RRP is still new, I take a careful approach to ensure I get to know a client’s nervous system and unique needs before starting the protocol. This allows for ongoing support throughout the process, making the experience more effective and safe.
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The cost to begin RRP is $150, which includes app access and email support for the first month. After that, continued access and support is $50 per month.
Email support is especially helpful in the beginning and ensures you have access to me throughout the process if any unexpected responses come up or you have questions about the listening experience.
Please note that these fees are not covered or reimbursed by insurance and are separate from your individual therapy session fees.
Get Help from a Certified Rest and Restore Protocol Provider
When your body is stuck in stress or running on empty, it can be hard to feel connected—to yourself, to others, or to the life you want. RRP offers a gentle, music-based way to support your nervous system and help restore a sense of balance.
By working with your body’s internal rhythms, this therapy supports deep rest, emotional steadiness, and a clearer connection to what’s happening inside you.
If you're ready for a different kind of support, I'd be honored to guide you through the RRP process with the care and consistency your system deserves.
You don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
If you don’t see a time that works—or if you have questions—you’re more than welcome to fill out the form on the Contact page and , let me know what times might work for you, and we’ll find a time together.