The Grand Reveal - The Visual Narratives of Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) and Sensory Mosaic of Healing®
At the end of 5 days, you could take your art to a trauma therapist to have it “interpreted”. The visual narratives are not diagnostic—but they are structured. Each day has standard narratives. Practitioners are trained to read the imagery, color, posture, and sequence of the paintings to help the patient understand their SSP story.
This really blew my mind and showed how much work had actually been done.
I thought I was just painting. But each stroke, each color, each sensation—was my body telling the truth it never got to speak. At the end, I didn’t just see art. I saw the transformation that had taken place. Silently. Without force.
Below are my watercolors with the standard visual narratives. If you are interested in SSP & The Sensory Mosaic of Healing® don't look at them - wait until you see your own healing transformation.
Day 1 |
Title: No Title - I didn’t fill out a worksheet
What it meant: SEEKER
You are coming from the periphery/environment and going inward to the core of what needs to be worked on (your pain)
THEMES: May be too disconnected to see what is really happening. Look for use of black or dark colors as may indicate pain and shadow.
Day 2 |
TITLE: Olives | EMOTION: Peace
What it meant: THRESHOLD TO THE PORTAL
Standing on the precipice, about to dive deeper within. You get to see your shadow (pain). What you need to work on shows up in the art.
THEMES: Look for use of black or dark colors indicative of pain/shadow. Bright colors maybe lined with black. Look for a portal(s).
Day 3 |
TITLE: Bloom | EMOTION: Life, beauty, happy, content
What it meant: EMBRACE THE SHADOW; WELCOME TO THE WORLD
Crossing over to the place where you embrace your shadow. Lots of expansion and contraction.
THEMES: Crossing, open, explosion, flowers, more life. Look for brighter colors, especially colors shifting dark to light.
Day 4 |
TITLE: Trust - The Small Things | EMOTION: Trust, freedom, joy, ease
What it meant: AWAKENING (TO SELF)
Resting day, titrating day, no as much up and down. More clarity around your problem. What you need to move on.
THEMES: reorganization, bright colors, new directions (all painting before were horizontal - this was vertical), and movement (waves & swirls).
I did 2 paintings the last day
Day 5 |
TITLE: Unnamed | EMOTION: Calm, home, safe, new
What it meant: HOPE & VISION
Greater connection, joy, vision, hope. Invites you to orient yourself to a different way with less rigidity and more curiosity.
THEMES: hope, joy, new beginnings. Bright colors. New pathways and new orientation (from vertical to horizontal).
Day 5 |
TITLE: Nest | EMOTION: Calm, home, safe, new
What it meant: HOPE & VISION
Greater connection, joy, vision, hope. Invites you to orient yourself to a different way with less rigidity and more curiosity.
THEMES: hope, joy, new beginnings. Bright colors. New pathways and new orientation (from vertical to horizontal).
Ever since I have enjoyed watercolor as a healing practice and hobby. If you want to know more about self-care techniques or other therapeutic modalities join my Letters for the Journey weekly email list where I share tried and true practices and my own healing journey. If you have a similar practice (or would love to share your artwork tag me on Instagram #wildflower_sojourner, I'd love to see it!
Hi! I'm Hannah..
A trauma-informed storyteller, veteran, and creative guide who’s walked through the fire and lived to share the embers. Everything I write here comes from personal experience—years of navigating PTSD, identity shifts, nervous system healing, and the messy miracle of transformation. Through practices like Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic work, and Safe Sound Protocol (SSP), I found grounding—and now I offer those insights to others walking similar paths. This space exists to bring hope, clarity, and connection to anyone trying to heal, rebuild, or simply breathe easier. You’re not alone—and if something here speaks to your soul, I’m honored to walk alongside you.
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