A foundation for nervous system healing
The Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) is a gentle, sound-based program that supports the body’s natural ability to regulate and return to homeostasis. It helps the nervous system find safety, stability, and connection — creating a foundation for deeper trauma processing and emotional resilience.
In my practice, the RRP is used when clinically indicated, often as a foundation for clients whose systems benefit from additional regulation and stabilization. It may be introduced before or alongside EMDR, depending on readiness and need. For some, it serves as an entry point for learning safety within the body; for others, it may not be necessary.
How it works
RRP uses carefully calibrated auditory input to engage the vagus nerve and support parasympathetic regulation. The sound frequencies are designed to be soothing and repetitive, gently guiding the nervous system toward a state of rest and restoration.
This approach is grounded in Polyvagal Theory, which describes how our nervous system continuously scans for cues of safety or threat. By supporting the ventral vagal system — the pathway associated with calm and connection — RRP helps quiet defensive states like fight, flight, or shutdown, allowing the body to recover and rebalance.
Listening sessions are highly adaptive and paced to each person’s system, ranging anywhere from 1 minute to 30 minutes depending on how the nervous system responds. The focus is not on completing a certain amount of time, but on supporting safety and capacity within the body.
Clinical benefits and experiences
RRP may support improvements in:
• Sleep quality and restfulness
• Digestion and gut regulation
• Reduced sensory overload or reactivity
• Increased safety and comfort within the body
• Greater awareness of body messages such as hunger, fatigue, or the need for movement
• Emotional steadiness and capacity for connection
Clients often describe a growing sense of calm, groundedness, and internal quiet. Over time, this gentle regulation work can help the body relearn how to feel safe, respond flexibly, and rest more deeply.
How it fits within therapy
In EMDR, RRP may be introduced during Phase 2 — preparation and stabilization — or between reprocessing sessions when additional regulation is needed. It supports the nervous system in staying grounded before, during, and after trauma reprocessing.
RRP can be particularly helpful for clients who experience chronic hyperarousal, dissociation, or sensory sensitivity, offering a gentle way to build capacity before deeper work.
Delivery and support
RRP can be completed in-office or at home with my clinical guidance. Listening plans are individualized and responsive to each client’s needs and nervous system feedback.
Most clients begin the protocol within psychotherapy sessions, allowing us to monitor and support how their system responds. Over time, many transition to listening at home — integrating the practice into their daily routine and reflecting in session on its impact and effectiveness.
Sessions are always adapted to your capacity. Some clients listen for just a minute or two at a time; others may comfortably build up to 20 or 30 minutes.
RRP is often integrated within psychotherapy (billed under standard session codes) as part of EMDR or other trauma-focused work. It is also available as a standalone offering for clients who wish to engage in listening therapy separately, either as a package or self-paced option. In those cases, the RRP is offered as a private-pay service outside of insurance.
Restoring the body’s capacity for safety
When the nervous system has space to rest, regulation and connection can emerge naturally. The RRP helps the body rediscover its own rhythm — the quiet confidence that safety can exist inside of you.
