TUNING IN | Rykie Smith

Listening that leads to rest

A sound-based program that helps restore a sense of safety, steadiness and self-trust.

THE STRUGGLE

Life’s struggles are often carried silently, hidden from view.
For some of us, it shows up as restlessness or racing thoughts.
For others, it’s the constant sense of being on guard
- unable to truly relax, even when nothing is wrong.

These patterns are not flaws.

They were the nervous system’s way of protecting us in times when it needed to keep you safe.

But over time, those protective habits can become exhausting.

THE GOOD NEWS

The nervous system can learn a new way

The good news is that the nervous system can also learn a new way of being - one that makes space for rest, steadiness, and trust in yourself.

THE SOLUTION

Our TUNING IN program works with your nervous system, helping it relearn safety and balance through the simple act of listening.

Using specially filtered music that sends cues of safety to the body, the program helps your system find a quieter baseline - so you can meet daily life with more calm and connection.

As you listen, your body begins to release its defences.You may find yourself breathing more easily, sleeping more deeply, connecting more openly, and feeling more at home in yourself.

The process is paced and supported - it doesn’t erase life’s challenges, but it equips you to meet them with steadiness and strength.

Instead of living in constant vigilance, you can move toward genuine calm. Instead of shutting down, you can show up more fully in your own life.

When your body feels safe, everything changes.
Conversations flow, rest becomes restorative, stress softens, and connection feels possible again..

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

What the TUNING IN program could mean for you

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What you might notice

Clients who participate in the program often describe:

Sounds or environments feeling less overwhelming
A calmer response to stress and uncertainty
Sleep that comes more easily and feels more restorative
Feeling more open and connected with others
A steadier, more grounded sense of self

These changes are often subtle at first, but they build over time into something deeply meaningful: greater freedom to live without constant tension.

Who it may help

TUNING IN may be particularly supportive for people who:

Experience anxiety, overwhelm, or depression
- especially when stress feels lodged in the body rather than just in thoughts
Have sensory sensitivities - sounds, lights, or environments that feel too intense or draining
Are navigating neurodevelopmental differences, such as autism or ADHD, or notice challenges with social cues, or sensory processing
Have processed trauma or adversity, but find their body still often stiffens, freezes, or stays on alert

It may also support those who:

Struggle with sleep, whether it is hard to fall into or unrefreshing on waking
Find emotional balance fragile
- small things may spark big reactions, and it’s hard to settle afterwards
Are going through a major life transition and want extra support for the stress and uncertainty
Wants a supportive foundation that complements other therapies, enhancing their impact by restoring safety in the body.

What to expect

Every nervous system is unique, which is why our TUNING IN program is personalised from the start.

The program is delivered through at-home listening using a secure app and over-ear headphones, under the guidance of a trained provider.

Your therapist paces and structures the program according to each client’s needs, ensuring the system is never rushed and that shifts are integrated safely.

Regular check-ins provide support along the way, with adjustments made based on individual responses.

TUNING IN is a carefully curated pathway that may include preparatory and integration listening, designed to strengthen and sustain the benefits.

Retreats & Immersive Experiences

Discover creative escapes
and therapeutic resources to
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THE SCIENCE

The vagus nerve helps regulate essential functions like breathing, heart rate, digestion, and emotional state.

By enhancing the way the ear and brain pick up the frequencies of human voice and prosody, the SSP helps the nervous system better detect safety and shift out of chronic defence.

This isn’t about distracting the mind. It’s about gently exercising the pathways that allow the body to feel safe, calm, and connected.

Over time, this improved regulation creates a foundation for clearer thinking, deeper rest, and more meaningful engagement with others.

A growing body of research supports the SSP’s impact on

Anxiety and Depression
Reducing symptoms and improving emotional regulation

Trauma Recovery
Helping calm defensive responses and creating readiness for deeper therapy

Autism and ADHD
Improving social communication, auditory processing, and attention

Sensory Sensitivities

Easing reactivity to sound, light, and busy environments

Sleep and Rest

Supporting the body’s ability to settle into restorative states

The SSP is a non-invasive, evidence-based approach.

It does not replace other therapies or medical care - but it often makes them more effective by supporting the body’s most basic requirement for healing: the ability to feel safe.

Grounded in
Science

At the heart of our TUNING IN program is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), developed by neuroscientist Dr Stephen Porges, whose Polyvagal Theory has transformed our understanding of how the nervous system responds to stress and safety.

The SSP uses specially filtered music to target the vagus nerve - a key communication pathway between the brain and body.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Taking the
Next
Step

It is possible to move beyond constant vigilance or shutdown. The nervous system can learn to rest, regulate, and connect again.

Our TUNING IN program is not about erasing life’s challenges - it’s about providing the stability to meet them with steadiness and strength.

Because every nervous system and lived experience is different, we take care to ensure this program is right for you.

So to make sure it’s a good match for you, we ask all clients to complete a short form before getting started

Existing or past clients can fill out a pre-screening form here. We look forward to hearing from you!

INTAKE FORM

New clients can share some background and what they’re seeking from the program, and a therapist will be in touch soon.

We can't wait to speak (and listen!) to you soon!

(And if you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ's below, or contact us via our contact form here.)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Music can change the world
because it can change people.

- Bono -