Regulation as Foundation: Integrating the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) into Trauma Treatment Across the Lifespan

Presenter: Jillian Hosey, Licensed Independent Clinical Social worker- Massachusetts
San Diego District Coordinator: Michelle Foy | michellefoylcsw@gmail.com
COST:  Members - FREE | Non-Members - $35.00  
2 CEUs - this presentation will be recorded

About the Presentation:

This presentation provides a clinically grounded introduction to the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a polyvagal-informed auditory intervention designed to support autonomic regulation, reduce auditory sensitivity, and enhance social engagement. Developed from Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, SSP offers a bottom-up approach to addressing the physiological impacts of trauma that often interfere with engagement, connection, and therapeutic progress.

Participants will explore how trauma can disrupt neuroception and contribute to chronic patterns of hyperarousal, shutdown, and relational disconnection. The presentation will examine how these patterns present across the lifespan and how they may limit access to reflective capacity, emotional regulation, and relational engagement in therapy. The mechanisms of SSP will be reviewed, including its proposed effects on auditory processing, vagal regulation, and the social engagement system. Emphasis will be placed on understanding SSP as an adjunctive intervention that may support readiness for trauma treatment by shifting physiological state rather than directly processing traumatic memory. Clinical applications will be explored across therapeutic modalities, with attention to timing, titration, and integration into trauma-informed care.

Participants will also review key considerations for safe and ethical delivery, including contraindications, high-risk presentations, and the importance of co-regulation and therapeutic context. Case examples will illustrate how SSP may support increased engagement, affect tolerance, and relational capacity in diverse trauma presentations. Practical guidance will be provided for accessing SSP training, integrating it into clinical practice, and supporting clients following completion.

Learning Objectives: 

• Describe the theoretical foundations of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), including its basis in Polyvagal Theory and its role in autonomic nervous system regulation.  
• Explain how trauma-related disruptions in neuroception and autonomic functioning contribute to patterns of hyperarousal, shutdown, and relational disconnection across the lifespan.  
• Apply principles for integrating SSP into trauma-informed clinical practice, including identifying appropriate timing, titration strategies, and relational conditions that support safe and effective use.

Jillian Hosey, Licensed Independent Clinical Social worker- Massachusetts 

Jillian Hosey, MSW, RSW, LICSW, licensed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Canada, brings over eight years of clinical experience as an SSP provider across the lifespan. A former Unyte Health Clinical Advisory Board member and Lead Author of the EMDR + SSP Combined Delivery Guidelines, she is a recognized consultant and presenter on the integration of SSP within trauma and dissociation-focused clinical practice. In addition, Jill has over 16 years of experience specializing in trauma, attachment, and dissociative disorders. She maintains a private practice in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Rhode Island and Massachusetts, serving children, youth, and adults impacted by complex trauma, developmental trauma, and interpersonal violence. Jill’s clinical orientation is grounded in a psychodynamic, phase-oriented, and integrative approach that centers relational safety, mind–body connection, client strengths, and individualized pathways to healing for survivors of acute and chronic trauma. Jill is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and EMDR Trainer, certified in Clinical Hypnosis, and extensively trained in EMDR Therapy, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Ego State Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Polyvagal Theory. She is trained in the Adult Attachment Interview – Dynamic Maturational Model (AAI-DMM) and serves as a provider and Trainer-in-Training of the SCID-D Interview. She is a faculty member and Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), where she contributes to curriculum development, training initiatives, and the advancement of clinical standards in the field. She is an Alumni member of Unyte’s Clinical Advisory Board. Jill is the co-editor and contributing author of the Handbook for Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications and lead author of the SSP & EMDR therapy Combined Delivery Guidelines. Her presentations have been featured at ISSTD Annual Conferences, ISSTD webinars, interdisciplinary clinical dialogues, and global training platforms. Moderator Bio: Michelle L. Foy has been working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California for over 11 years. She is currently working as a Telehealth psychotherapist for Octave Behavioral Health and supervising Associate Social Worker’s through the Conrad Prebys Clinical Supervision Program at San Diego State University. She is a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician and Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist through Evergreen Certifications. Michelle graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Master of Social Work from San Diego State University (SDSU). While attending SDSU, Michelle was active in student organizations where she was awarded the School of Social Work Leadership Award.