How we adapted ssp to help dogs

Hey there, Jules here! 🐾 I’m excited to share how I’ve taken the original Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and adapted it for our furry friends in human-dog partnerships.

As a somatic therapist (among other things), I stumbled upon SSP while searching for new ways to tackle my own anxiety and sound sensitivities. Imagine this: my youngest child’s joyful (but loud) sounds were triggering my fight-or-flight response. I found myself retreating from family time to avoid reacting negatively. It wasn’t that his expressions were aggressive; my body just perceived them that way.

The transformation I experienced was nothing short of miraculous. Within weeks of completing the program, I was no longer shrinking away from my lovely child. Instead, I could embrace his energy and enthusiasm fully.

This led me to train as a Safe and Sound Protocol provider, helping many human clients along the way. My curiosity piqued when I heard other practitioners discussing their success using SSP with their dogs. Naturally, I had to explore this further!

I’ve always been a creative thinker, driven to make a difference. My volunteer work spans various roles: providing EMDR and counselling services to Afghan refugees in Malaysia, fostering over 20 cats and kittens locally, and supporting peers at Thorne Harbour. 

What excites me most about creating K9ease is the mutual benefit for both humans and dogs. There’s a beautiful element of psycho-education that enriches the human experience while helping their canine companions.

SSP requires careful titration in humans, considering both the client’s and provider’s capacities. I applied this knowledge to develop equivalent signs and symptoms of nervous system regulation for dogs. We score it similarly and adjust delivery recommendations to fit canine needs.

During this journey, I discovered Dr. Gregory Burns’ book, What It’s Like to Be a Dog. The similarities between human and dog nervous systems are astonishing. He suggests that a dog’s brain is akin to that of a 3-year-old human, who are often SSP recipients.

People often ask about cats. I’ve just started delivering Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to my anxious little fluff ball, Soot. It’s too early to tell how it will impact him, but I’ll keep you posted!