Support Emotional Regulation, Sensory Challenges, and Connection with a Music-Based Therapy
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) for Kids and Teens in Florida
Online SSP Support for Children and Teens in Florida and Illinois
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) uses five hours of specially filtered music to help kids feel calmer, more connected, and more confident. By stimulating the part of the nervous system that helps us recognize safety, SSP makes it easier for kids to manage emotions, ease sensory sensitivities, and feel more at ease in daily life.
When Your Child or Teen Might Benefit from SSP
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Sensory Sensitivities
Sensory overwhelm can feel frustrating and exhausting, especially with sounds, lights, or textures.
Safe and Sound Protocol calms your child’s nervous system, easing their response to sensory input and helping them feel more at ease.
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Anxiety
Constant fears and worries can show up as avoidance, emotional outbursts, or physical discomfort.
Safe and Sound Protocol helps your child feel safer, reducing anxiety and making daily life easier to manage.
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Autism or ADHD
Focus struggles, sensory overload, energy swings, and social challenges can feel overwhelming.
Safe and Sound Protocol supports nervous system regulation, helping your child feel more steady and confident.
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Behavioral Challenges
Big reactions and trouble following directions can stem from a stressed nervous system.
Safe and Sound Protocol helps your child feel calmer, making it easier to manage emotions and connect with others.
SSP for Kids and Teens in Florida
Hi, I’m Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW.
I’m really glad you’re here.
Parenting a child who struggles with sensory issues, big emotions, or feeling safe in the world can feel overwhelming. Watching them navigate these challenges and feeling unsure about how to help is hard.
You may feel like you’ve tried everything—or maybe you’re just now realizing it’s time to give your child extra support. It’s not easy to see your child struggling and not know where to turn.
As an SSP provider, I’ve worked with children and teens to ease nervous system dysregulation and build a stronger foundation for emotional and sensory resilience. My role also includes supporting parents by helping you understand your child’s unique needs, notice shifts in behavior, and navigate challenges along the way.
Together, we can help your child and family move toward more ease and connection.
What to Expect: Your Child’s Experience with SSP
Every child is different, and SSP is meant to meet your child exactly where they are. Some kids like to move around while listening, while others enjoy getting cozy with a blanket, their favorite fidget, or even a warm cup of hot chocolate. These preferences might shift as we go, and that’s perfectly okay.
Often, kids feel calm and relaxed while listening, but not always. The range of experiences can be wide, and sometimes your child might feel a little off—like changes in their mood, sleep, or other sensations. This is normal and can often mean we need to slow down or try a different setup. It can also lead to important information when getting curious about these changes.
A big part of SSP is the idea of “Safe before Sound.” It’s so important for your child to feel safe—with who they’re with and where they’re listening. If your teen feels annoyed by a younger sibling nearby or bright lights feel overwhelming, creating a calm and comfortable space—like dimming the lights or finding privacy—can make all the difference.
I’ll be here to guide you through it all and help you find what works best so your child feels supported and confident as they move through SSP.
SSP Listening Options for Kids and Teens
“Safe before Sound” is at the heart of SSP, ensuring your child feels supported and secure every step of the way. Their comfort is the top priority when deciding how and where they’ll listen, and these options can adjust as your child’s needs evolve.
Your child or teen can listen:
In session with me – Best for teens comfortable working directly with me.
At home with you – Ideal for kids who feel safest listening with a trusted caregiver.
A mix of both – Combines home listening and sessions with me for flexible, faster progress.
The goal is to create the right balance for your child and family, ensuring the process feels safe, supportive, and effective.
Pets can be amazing co-regulators while listening to the SSP Music!
Your Role as a Parent or Caregiver in the Safe and Sound Protocol Process
Safe before sound means more than just a calm moment during listening—it’s about the overall environment your child is in. Stress at home, school, or in the community can make it harder for their nervous system to take in the safety SSP offers.
We don’t always know what’s happening in every part of a child’s life, so staying in communication and keeping curiosity open—especially if mood or behavior shifts—is essential. Changes could mean we need to slow the listening pace, adjust the plan, or explore what’s being stirred up. It might also be a sign that more “felt safety” is needed in their environment. We may also need to make thoughtful adjustments to your child’s environment or support system—whether for them, for you, or for your family as a whole—as the process unfolds.
Sometimes, a parent may need to do SSP first or alongside their child. In other cases, we may need to wait or add other supports before getting started. Your regulation, involvement, and honesty all help create the conditions for SSP to truly support your child.
Requirements for Starting SSP with teens and Kids
To ensure SSP is as supportive and effective as possible, a few key pieces need to be in place:
Your child must be receiving support from another provider, such as a therapist or occupational therapist. SSP is not a stand-alone therapy and works best as part of a broader support system.
I will be in communication with that provider and may ask to speak with them before we begin. This helps confirm that SSP is a good fit and allows us to work together effectively.
In some cases, a parent may be asked to complete SSP first or alongside their child. SSP tends to be more effective when at least one caregiver is emotionally regulated while the child’s nervous system begins to take in more safety. It can be helpful to check in honestly about how things are going at home and whether additional support is needed.
These steps help create the foundation your child needs for this work to be successful. It all comes back to the heart of SSP: safe before sound.
Your Investment for SSP
Initial Assessment – $180
A required 55-minute session to understand your child’s needs and create a personalized plan. Sometimes an extra session is needed, or we may decide it’s best for a parent to do SSP first or for other supports to be in place before starting the music.
App Access + Email Support – $150 to Start
Includes the first month of access to the SSP app and ongoing email support as your child begins listening.
Ongoing App Access + Email Support – $50/month
Begins after the first month and continues for the duration of the protocol. Most children need at least 4 months, though it can take longer. The process is individualized for each child.
Monthly Check-Ins – $90 (30 minutes)
Required for families doing at-home listening with caregiver support. These video sessions help track progress and adjust the listening plan.
Optional Support
Listening During Sessions
Some children benefit from listening with me during individual sessions instead of with caregiver at home.
– $90 (30 minutes)/ $180 (55 minutes)
Parenting Support Sessions – $180 (55 minutes)
Optional sessions for parents needing additional support with co-regulation, parenting strategies, or managing their own stress.
Child and Teen SSP FAQs
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To participate in the Safe and Sound Protocol, your child or teen will need:
Non-noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones
These are required to ensure your child hears the music as intended.A smartphone or tablet with the SSP app installed
This is how the specially filtered music is delivered.A quiet, comfortable space
Your child will need a safe, calming environment where they can focus on the music without distractions.Supervised time for listening
Whether your child listens during sessions with me or at home with you nearby, having supportive supervision is essential to the process.
We’ll discuss everything you need to get started in our initial session, and I’ll help guide you in setting up the ideal environment for your child to feel safe and supported during SSP.
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Some children may experience temporary reactions as their nervous system adjusts to the Safe and Sound Protocol. These could include increased anxiety, restlessness, emotional sensitivity, or heightened awareness of physical sensations and triggers.
While often short-lived, these responses can be an important part of the process. They might signal the need to slow down or adjust the plan—but they can also point to something deeper, like a lack of felt safety at home, at school, or in other areas of your child’s life. Rather than assuming SSP isn’t the right fit, we stay curious. These moments can offer valuable insight into what’s been affecting your child and help us get beneath the surface of their symptoms.
Sometimes that means we pause or slow SSP while adding it in for a parent or making thoughtful adjustments in the environment. I’ll be here to guide you through any challenges, helping to make adjustments and ensure your child feels supported along the way.
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SSP may not be suitable for some children with specific health conditions or challenges. For example:
Neurological conditions: SSP is not recommended for children with unmanaged epilepsy or other neurological disorders.
Inner ear or vestibular conditions: If your child has a condition affecting the inner ear or balance, approval from your doctor may be required before starting SSP.
Other considerations: While SSP may help with tinnitus, there’s a chance it could temporarily increase sensitivity to sound. If your child experiences tinnitus, we will approach SSP carefully.
The principle of “safe before sound” guides the use of SSP. This means that certain life or health factors may require us to delay or adjust how we use the protocol to ensure the best and safest outcome for your child. I’ll work with you to assess your child’s readiness and tailor the process to their unique needs.
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Yes, SSP can be integrated with other therapies and is most effective when paired with additional support. It’s not meant to be a stand-alone therapy, so it’s important that your child is being supported by another health professional. This could be a mental health therapist, an occupational therapist, or another provider working with your child.
SSP often enhances the effectiveness of these therapies by improving nervous system regulation. When your child’s nervous system feels more balanced, they may find it easier to engage in other treatments, process emotions, and work toward their goals with greater success.
Get Support for Kids and Teens from a SSP Provider
If your child has been struggling with big emotions, sensory sensitivities, or challenges connecting with others, SSP could be the support you’ve been looking for. By helping your child’s nervous system feel safer and more regulated, SSP makes it easier for them to manage their emotions, build confidence, and navigate daily life with more ease.
You don’t have to face these challenges alone. Let’s work together to create a path toward more calm, connection, and resilience for your child—and your family.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation or send me a message to see if SSP is the right fit for your child. I’d love to help.
Book a Brief Intro Call
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 to let me know what times might work for you, and we’ll find a time together.
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