A Few Words From
Paul North
I’ve spent more than three decades working with children, parents, teachers, and individuals navigating the complexities of trauma, developmental disabilities, and the search for safety. But if I had to mark the moment my professional life truly shifted, that moment when everything began to connect, it would be 2011, sitting in a packed conference room in Sydney, hearing Dr Stephen Porges explain Polyvagal Theory for the first time.
Like many clinicians, I was doing the best I could with the tools I had. I had led a leading hospital diagnostic team based in Sydney, assessing thousands of children with suspected autism and other developmental delays over the preceding decade. And, I had just commenced a new, more senior position supervising psychologists across a large section of New South Wales in the disability sector. Yet something was missing. Then, as I listened to Dr Porges describe how auditory hypersensitivity could shape a child’s nervous system and behaviour, it was like watching the puzzle pieces finally fall into place. I wasn’t just learning a new theory, I was hearing, for the first time, a language that made sense of what I had seen for years but couldn’t quite explain.
That day ignited a journey that continues to this day.
I then immersed myself in Polyvagal Theory, which proved quite complex at times. I found myself untangling neuroanatomy, Dr Porges first book in one hand and Google open, deciphering terms in the background. After a while, I felt confident enough to reach out to Dr Porges for his guidance and opinion concerning his theory and my clients. I was overjoyed when he responded, and to this day, he remains one of the most generous people I know when it comes to time. I then started offering workshops, sharing what I’d learned with educators and therapists. I witnessed the power of Polyvagal-informed care firsthand: the tears of teachers who finally understood their “challenging” students, the relief of clients when told they didn’t have to recount trauma until they felt safe, and the hope that bloomed when people realised their body was betraying them, in its endeavour to protect them. The depression, panic attacks, anger, etc, weren’t their fault after all. They were simply trying to find safety.
In 2017, I began using the Safe and Sound Protocol™ with clients—nervously at first, then with growing confidence as the results spoke for themselves. After using the SSP, I’ve watched children find calm, adults with trauma reclaim courage, and I’ve even seen a client with Meniere’s disease regain hearing clarity and control. I never claim miracles. However, I do believe in the remarkable capacity of the nervous system to heal, when provided with the right conditions—safety, compassion, and connection.
That same belief led me to write Safe and Sound: The Story of a Little Girl Who Overcomes Fear. What began as a quiet idea one morning became a children’s book endorsed by Dr Porges himself. Originally intended for young readers, it’s since found its way into the hands of trauma survivors, clinicians, and inner children everywhere. I’ve used it in therapy with adults navigating deep trauma, and I’ve watched it unlock healing where words alone had stalled.
In 2022, I had the honour of presenting on this work—on Dr Porges’ theory, no less—with the man himself sitting in the audience. That was a full-circle moment. I know people say “it’s not about me” right before making it about them—but truly, this journey has always been about something bigger: bringing science and compassion together to reduce suffering. It’s about helping children and adults feel safe in their bodies, so they can thrive in their lives. This website is the next step in that journey. Through my writing, webinars, retreats, and soon-to-launch Polyvagal Informed Parenting book I hope to continue creating ripples of safety—because when one nervous system feels safe, it helps others feel safe too.
Welcome.
