Sensitive Approach for Parkinson's: Overview and Client Videos
Offering hope and positive change for those living with Parkinson’s
Meet Dr Liz Charles
Hello, I’m Dr. Liz Charles, and this webpage shares insights from clients using my Sensitive Approach for Parkinson’s Disease with the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP).
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) can feel overwhelming. It affects movement, speech, mood, and daily life in many challenging ways.
The Safe and Sound Protocol, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, is an evidence-based listening therapy designed to help calm and regulate the nervous system
Sensitive Approach for Parkinson’s Disease
How the Work is Delivered
My role is to carefully titrate and adapt SSP to each individual’s physiological and emotional responses, alongside, so clients can progress at their own pace through the inevitable ups and downs of daily life with PD.
This is not a quick fix- it’s a gradual, supported journey that requires time, patience, and teamwork between me and the client.
Encouraging Outcomes
Clients often experience:
- Improved mobility
- Clearer speech
- More expressive facial movement
- Greater confidence & emotional balance
These results do not follow the usual decline seen in Parkinson’s. Instead, subtle, steady improvements emerge over time, enhancing connection and engagement.
Family impact: Positive changes ripple into family life, bringing connection, joy, and hope.
SSP & Parkinson’s Disease
Carefully titrated SSP listening with Sensitive Approach can help PD clients. The signals of safety within the algorithm-filtered music help to unlock the patterns of fight/flight, freeze and shutdown states often associated with PD. As these survival states begin to shift, clients often experience an ‘Inside out’ release of tension. This process supports the body and mind to move from a ‘stuck’ mode toward a more connected, regulated, and flexible state with:
- Improved mobility: Greater flexibility, smoother movement, and improved balance.
- Improved facial expression: A softer gaze, wider smile, more spontaneous movements to express emotions.
- Improved speech: Stronger, clearer voice for easier communication and understanding.
- Improved mood: Increased confidence and a greater sense of hope.
- Improved quality of life: Easier movement, better relationships, more activities, and enhanced overall well-being.
- Positive outcomes can spark an upward spiral, offering Increased hope and confidence.
- Improved connection: Increased curiosity, self-awareness, and meaningful engagement with family and friends.
Client Journeys
Jerry’s Journey with SSP
Jerry lives in the US and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2020
Jerry lives with his wife of over 50 years, Judy, on the west coast of US. Judy learned about SSP through her interest in Polyvagal Theory. Concerned about the deterioration in Jerry’s PD symptoms, she reached out to Dr. Liz in June 2021. This marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Dr. Liz carefully titrated micro-doses of SSP to suit Jerry’s sensitive system, with Judy providing close support during weekly online sessions. As you will see this led to remarkable results
2021 2022 2025
2021 2022 2025
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In April 2025, Jerry underwent a four year follow-up evaluation at his local Neurology Movement Disorders Clinic. The neuropsychologist’s summary stated: “Overall, his current performance reflects a significant improvement in cognitive, functional, and psychological functioning.”
Following the evaluation, Judy wrote to Dr. Liz:
“Despite his nerves, Jerry was in exceptional form for the full three hours. You would be so proud of him! Thank you, a million-fold, for making this all possible.”
Find out more
Find out more about the impact of Sensitive Approach from SSP creator, Dr Stephen Porges. You can also explore contributions to literature and other client journeys.
Roy’s Journey with Parkinson’s & SSP
Roy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019 at the age of 77, though he believes his symptoms began several years earlier. In 2017, he was also diagnosed with osteoporosis, which resulted in compression fractures in his lumbar spine that made it difficult for him to stand for long periods.
Motivated to explore supportive approaches, Roy began studying the Alexander Technique which included work with Betsy Polatin.
Aware of Liz’s work with Parkinson’s, Betsy introduced Roy to her in 2023. Roy began working online with Liz in June 2023, and he noticed positive effects from the carefully titrated SSP in the very first session.
2023 2024 2025
2023 2024 2025
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Roy now continues his regular SSP listening independently, with occasional check-ins with Dr Liz to monitor titration and supportive activities. He continues to experience ongoing benefits and improvements in his overall well-being.
Roy shares the impact of Parkinson’s disease:
“Parkinson’s disease is a life changer. Every case is different, but in one way or another it seeks to shut the person down. A walk becomes a shuffle. When you stop when walking or approach a narrow area, you might “freeze,” meaning you feel like you cannot lift either foot off the ground. A face loses its expressiveness. A voice becomes so soft it is difficult to hear. Drooling occurs because you don’t swallow as frequently as you did.
It takes so much effort to accomplish an everyday task. It seems like everything you do takes much longer than it did before Parkinson’s arrived. Which leads to frustration, which creates stress. And stress makes Parkinson’s symptoms worse. If you try to hurry, you are likely to take longer than if you took your time. And Parkinson’s is relentless. It is always there and tends to get worse over time.”
Roy describes his experience with SSP:
Roy describes the impact of Parkinson’s disease as a gradual but persistent challenge, affecting not only his physical abilities – like movement, balance, and speech – but also his emotional well-being and sense of independence. He speaks to the frustration of declining function, the fatigue that often accompanies daily tasks, and the emotional toll it can take. Yet, through supportive practices like SSP, Sensitive Approach and the Alexander Technique, he’s found renewed hope and a greater sense of connection to himself and those around him. Here’s what Roy had to say:
“My experience with SSP has been very positive. From the first listening session, I experienced beneficial changes as the session progressed: clearer and broader vision, stronger voice, more mobility in facial features, wider shoulders. These effects diminished between listening sessions, but quickly reappeared during the next session. In addition, when I moved around between sessions, I felt that my movements were more fluid. With the passage of time, the inter-session drop-off lessened until it disappeared. Listening to SSP has enabled me to be more in touch with myself. I am more aware of my feelings, as well as where in my body I am experiencing tightness.”
You can read more about Roy’s experience in the Spring 2024’s AmSAT Journal here
I am indebted to Jerry and Roy for their commitment to this work and for their generosity in sharing their experiences in this way.
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