A New Pathway for Regulation: The Rest and Restore Protocol
The Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) is a new tool designed to support nervous system regulation and recovery. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages the cognitive brain, Rest and Restore Protocol works directly with the body and nervous system to promote deep relaxation and restoration.
I’m excited to now offer Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) at Crescent Counseling, integrating it alongside the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Brainspotting to create a personalized therapy experience. Just like no two people are the same, no two nervous systems respond in exactly the same way. This is why having multiple options for nervous system support is essential. Whether we work with Rest and Restore Protocol, Safe and Sound Protocol, Brainspotting, or a combination of all three, my goal is to help you find the right path toward regulation.
How is the Rest and Restore Protocol Different from SSP?
At first glance, the Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) may seem similar. Both are sound-based interventions offered through Unyte, and both work to support nervous system regulation. However, the way they engage the autonomic nervous system is quite different.
Safe and Sound Protocol: Supporting Co-Regulation with Others
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is designed to activate the social engagement system, strengthening our ability to connect with and feel safe with others. It aims to train the nervous system to respond to cues of safety and encourages co-regulation through relationships. Safe and Sound Protocol can be particularly helpful for individuals who struggle with social anxiety or difficulty in social situations, sensory sensitivities, attachment wounds, or difficulty feeling safe with others.
Rest and Restore Protocol: Supporting Co-Regulation with Self
The Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP), on the other hand, focuses on fostering co-regulation within oneself. Instead of primarily engaging the social engagement system, it aims to strengthen interception, or our ability to sense and interpret internal body cues.
Interoception is the way we perceive our internal state, like noticing our heartbeat, hunger, or a sense of calm. Many people with chronic stress, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation struggle with interoception, leading to feeling disconnected from their own bodies or unaware of their needs. Rest and Restore Protoocl aims to help rebuild this internal awareness, supporting biological rhythms and self-regulation rather than relying on external co-regulation.
Restoring the Body’s Natural Rhythms
Another key difference is that Rest and Restore Protocol is designed to bring the body back into biological harmony. Our internal rhythms, like our heartbeat, breath, and nervous system patterns, are embedded in the music of Rest and Restore Protocol. When these rhythms become dysregulated due to stress, trauma, or chronic dysregulation, we can feel disconnected, on edge, or exhausted. Rest and Restore Protocol may help restore balance by gently guiding the bode into alignment with its natural cycles.
Honoring Individual Needs
Both Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) are adjunctive tools to therapy, and they are not entertainment. They are designed with specific therapeutic intent to support regulation.
Safe and Sound Protocol is often associated with increased engagement, social connection, and emotional processing.
Rest and Restore Protocol is often associated with feelings of peace, relaxation, and restoration.
Both honor and respect each individual’s nervous system and can be tailored to fit a person’s unique needs. Research has identified improvements in anxiety, sleep, depression, and PTSD symptoms with Rest and Restore Protocol, making it a great option for those needing a gentler, restorative approach to nervous system regulation.
If you're unsure which protocol might be best for you, that’s where attunement in therapy comes in. Together, we can track your responses and choose the pathway that best supports your journey.
Who Might Benefit from the Rest and Restore Protocol?
The Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) could be for individuals looking to enhance their nervous system regulation, but it can be particularly beneficial for individuals who feel stuck in cycles of exhaustion, stress, or disconnection from their own bodies.
You might benefit from Rest and Restore Protocol if you:
✅ Feel chronically overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally drained: Whether it’s work stress, caregiving burnout, or simply navigating life in a fast-paced city like Dallas, Rest and Restore Protocol may help create a sense of ease.
✅ Experience nervous system dysregulation and have difficulty relaxing: If you struggle to "turn off" at night or feel like you're always in fight-or-flight mode, Rest and Restore Protocol may support autonomic regulation, potentially helping your system shift into a state of rest and repair.
✅ Have trouble sleeping or unwinding at the end of the day: Many people in Dallas push through long commutes, demanding jobs, and constant stimulation. Rest and Restore Protocol may gently guide the body back into its natural rhythms, hopefully improving sleep quality and overall relaxation.
✅ Struggle with chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, or difficulty feeling safe: If you often feel on edge or disconnected from yourself, Rest and Restore Protocol may foster interoception, hopefully helping you tune into internal cues of safety and regulation.
✅ Have poor interoception or a low internal capacity for rest: For some, noticing body sensations feels foreign or even overwhelming. Rest and Restore Protocol may help individuals become more embodied, making it easier to connect with emotions, needs, and physical sensations in a way that feels safe and supported.
✅ Experience chronic pain, fatigue, digestive issues, or sleep disturbances: The nervous system and body are deeply interconnected. Rest and Restore Protocol has helped others improve gut function, support better sleep, and reduce feelings of tension and unease.
✅ Have tried Safe and Sound Protocol but found it too activating: If Safe and Sound Protocol felt too intense or overstimulating, Rest and Restore Protocol may be a gentler first step before revisiting SSP or other deeper processing work.
✅ Want to strengthen their capacity for rest before engaging in deeper therapy work: Rest and Restore Protocol may help lay the foundation for deeper healing by first helping individuals regain access to a calm, regulated state.
Using Rest and Restore Protocol as Part of Therapy
Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) should be integrated into ongoing therapy work. Whether you're working through trauma, chronic stress, or just trying to feel more present in your life, Rest and Restore Protocol may help increase access to your feelings, enhance emotional resilience, and support your body's natural healing rhythms.
Many of my clients in Dallas are high-achieving professionals, caregivers, or creatives who feel like their nervous systems are always running on empty. Rest and Restore Protocol may provide a gentle, restorative reset, making therapy, relationships, and daily life feel more accessible and balanced.
If any of this resonates with you, Rest and Restore Protocol may be the missing piece in your healing journey; a way to not just survive, but truly feel at ease in your own body.
What to Expect in Therapy with Me
Whether we’re working with Rest and Restore Protocol, Safe and Sound Protocol, or Brainspotting, my approach is always centered on attunement and nervous system safety.
🌿 Attuned Support
Your nervous system is completely unique, and I am committed to deeply listening to how your system responds to these interventions. Together, we will determine which pathway (RRP, SSP, Brainspotting, or a blend) will best support you.
🎵 Pacing That Works for You
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to nervous system work. We will go at your pace, tracking how your body and emotions respond to each session to ensure that we are supporting, not overwhelming, your system.
🧠 A Personalized Plan
Your experience in therapy is not just about the sessions. It’s about learning tools and developing resilience for long-term change. As we move through RRP (or any of our other nervous system-based therapies), we will continue adjusting and fine-tuning your treatment to fit your needs.
Getting Started with the Rest and Restore Protocol
If you’re curious about Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) and how it might fit into your healing journey, I offer consultations to help determine the best approach for you.
Sessions can be done in person or virtually, depending on your needs.
We will work together to track subtle shifts in your nervous system, helping you build resilience and a greater capacity for calm.
If you’re interested in RRP, SSP, or Brainspotting, reach out to schedule a consultation. I’d love to help you find the best pathway for your healing.
💬 Ready to explore the Rest and Restore Protocol? Contact me today to learn more!
