The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) at Empowered Wellbeing

Brain Body Center Sensory Scales (BBCSS) Adult Form Self-Report © Stephen Porges 2012, 2018 The Brain Body Center Sensory Scales (BBCSS) are designed as a general, preliminary assessment of behaviors related to sensory processing profiles, including auditory, visual, and tactile processing, and feeding behaviors. Individual responses to different environmental stimuli vary widely, and learning more about an individual’s sensory processing is an important component of any comprehensive behavioral evaluation. If you are unsure whether you have ever displayed the behavior in question, or if you have NEVER displayed the behavior, please answer Not sure/Not Applicable. BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form Auditory Processing 1. How often do you respond negatively to unexpected or loud noises (for example, hide or cringe at noise from ambulance, train, fire or car alarm, fireworks)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 2. How often do you become distracted, or have difficulty following verbal instructions when there is a lot of noise around?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 3. How often do you hold your hands over or plug your ears?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 4. How often do you not to hear what others say (for example, you fail to pay attention to what others say)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 5. How often do you have trouble working with background noise (for example, air conditioner, traffic noises, airplanes)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 6. How often do you not respond when your name is called, even though you know your hearing is not a problem?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 7. How often are you unusually angry, frightened, or in pain when others cry or scream?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form 8. How often do others have to speak loudly or get very close to your face to get your attention?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 9. How often are you unaware of continuous noise in the environment (for example, TV, stereo)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 10. How often are you overly aware, distracted, or disturbed by continuous noise in the environment (for example, TV, stereo)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 11. How often do you take a long time to respond when spoken to, even to familiar voices?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 12. How often do you startle easily at sound, compared to others, with loud or high-pitched noises (for example, vacuum, blender, fire alarms)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 13. How often are you distracted by sounds not normally noticed by other people (for example, air conditioning fans, trains or planes outside)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 14. How often do you respond negatively (i.e. become distracted or anxious) when entering places with continuous background noises (for example, grocery stores, schools, shopping malls)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form Visual Processing 15. How often are you bothered by bright lights after others’ eyes have adapted to the same light?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 16. How often do you cover your eyes or squint?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 17. How often are you unable to tolerate bright lights?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 18. How often are you unable to tolerate flashing lights?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 19. How often do you get agitated when exposed to bright lights?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 20. How often are you sensitive to bright lights (for example, squint or close eyes)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 21. How often are you sensitive to flashing lights (for example, squint or close eyes)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 22. How often do you hesitate to go outside when it’s sunny?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form 23. How often are you easily distracted by movement only you can see?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 24. How often are you easily distracted by movements of objects (i.e. mechanical objects or repetitive movements)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form Tactile Processing (Touch) 25. How often are you distressed or overly-sensitive to tooth-brushing?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 26. How often are you distressed or overly-sensitive to face-washing?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 27. How often are you distressed or overly-sensitive to fingernail-cutting?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 28. How often are you distressed or overly-sensitive to hair-brushing?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 29. How often do you remove labels or tags from most clothing, or ask that they be removed?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 30. How often do you refuse to wear certain fabrics or find certain fabrics irritating?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 31. How often do you find certain garments are too tight, scratchy or irritating?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 32. How often do you prefer to not wear certain clothing items?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 33. How often do you resist hugging?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form 34. How often do you react negatively or overly sensitively to hand-holding?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 35. How often do you react emotionally or overly sensitively to being touched?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 36. How often do you react emotionally or overly sensitively when touching very cold objects with your hands?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 37. How often do you react emotionally or overly sensitively when very cold objects touch your face?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form Ingestion and Digestion 38. How often do you avoid certain tastes?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 39. How often do you resist certain textures of food?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 40. How often do you avoid certain food smells?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 41. How often do you resist certain temperatures of food?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 42. How often do you gag?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 43. How often do you vomit?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 44. How often do you have acid reflux?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 45. How often do you have excessive intestinal gas?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable BBC Sensory Scales Adult Form 46. How often are you constipated?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 47. How often do you experience stomach or intestinal cramping?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 48. How often do you have difficulty swallowing solid foods?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 49. How often do you suck on objects other than food (for example, pen, lip, own tongue)?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable 50. How often do you eat (or want to eat) significantly less than you think is appropriate for your size or age?      Almost Always Frequently/ Often Sometimes/ Occasionally Almost Never Not Sure/ Not Applicable

If you are visiting this page, because you are interested in the Safe and Sound Protocol, welcome! In my practice, SSP is integrated with other trauma recovery models, particularly Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness support, per the recommendation of iLs, the organization that developed SSP with Dr. Stephen Porges, the main developer of the Polyvagal Theory. To view a complete list of models and training applied at Empowered Wellbeing Coaching to support SSP, please feel free to click the view trainings button here.

Preparing for SSP

In preparation for SSP work, I offer that clients review the information, including research summaries, case studies, diagrams and suggestions posted on the SSP website. If you are seeking more of an understanding of the Polyvagal Theory that the SSP is based off of, you are welcome to research the work of both Dr. Stephen Porges and Dr. Deb Dana, who developed the clinical aspects of the Polyvagal Theory.

Feel free to review that information and take your time—there’s lots to explore. If you are interested to continue with the SSP work together, please feel free to schedule a consultation to ask any further questions.

Location

There’s no need to worry about dealing with traffic or pollution, sessions occur via online video conferencing on the Zoom or other telehealth platforms. Phone sessions are also available, by request. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or laptop and a way to connect to the internet. Clients are encouraged to find a safe and confidential space for logging in to sessions. Once you’re cozy the work can begin.

Please feel free to request more info or schedule a session.