https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/aboutconnect2thrive daily 0.75 2025-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622944682719-9BYDB8280X4ZCO3QCZ4W/father%2Bkissing%2Bbaby.jpg About C2T - Relationships are Foundational to our Well-Being We are social beings, wired for connection. Relationships are safe spaces that are developed through the courageous and vulnerable act of allowing oneself to be seen and known. Relationships are where we heal, grow, laugh, and play. Recent developments in neuroscience have revealed that past experiences become imprinted in our neural pathways, our nervous systems, and our bodies affecting the ways we experience ourselves and our world. Unlike traditional talk therapy, my therapeutic models are aligned with what we now know — to affect deep, lasting change we need to gradually and progressively become aware of our thinking (cognition), feelings (affect), bodies (somatic sensations) and reorganize the ways these systems relate within us and between us. Connect 2 Thrive helps children, teens and adults heal past wounds, rebuild nervous system safety, regain connection to your authentic self, and build healthy, strong relational bonds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622950556338-WDAQTTKI7R9YURKXG9SD/mick-haupt-yD21KYxP0YQ-unsplash.jpg About C2T https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622951079906-3DRKTHXRY96080CFC1M4/roland-denes-3i3mLlpOx7I-unsplash.jpg About C2T https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1623077575060-GCY8NKM32WFWXETLAKLK/skaterlunatic-7nHmCuCdY20-unsplash.jpg About C2T https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/aboutme daily 0.75 2025-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/eb5edad7-7dc3-4b9f-a511-422ccb23bf94/IMG-4207.jpg About Me - Ruth Setlak, MSW, LCSW, ACS Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/location daily 0.75 2025-07-28 https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/home daily 1.0 2025-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1623007712105-7NOMBWVF9JWK1TUNCB45/preview_orig.png Welcome - Relational Health https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1623009638011-M6ZIEX4WB66OLRYVGYAQ/ashley-batz-betmVWGYcLY-unsplash.jpg Welcome - Early/Childhood Trauma https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1745090019108-GOJRHB1XMF57YNE3SIEQ/unsplash-image-kZO9xqmO_TA.jpg Welcome - Social-Emotional Development for Children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622930278626-INLSXIXHKAF7YMBV1BEY/mehdi-benkaci-b8ZLTaFaD4Y-unsplash.jpg Welcome - Parent Coaching https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/areasoffocus daily 0.75 2025-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622945790356-5C73I6ULE8TAQHB31QXB/cosiela-borta-t0SJUt1OyHc-unsplash.jpg Areas of Focus - Relational Health and Well-being for Adults and Teens I firmly believe all clients have the potential to have relationships and lives that are deeply meaningful - both with friendships and significant others. Healing often involves looking at the relationship we have with ourselves, as well as the relational patterns we have with others. It can also mean understanding and healing nervous system responses that are no longer supporting what you want in life or in relationships. Difficulties developing healthy relationships can be shaped by many things:, trauma, chronic stress, and our childhood relational experiences. Anxiety, depression, and relational challenges are all signals that you may need support. The good news is - profound change can happen. You can learn to move beyond managing yourself and begin to feel better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1623034530272-EJWXPN744T4KRQ237KGF/donald-giannatti-MeMbExzoyF8-unsplash.jpg Areas of Focus - Early/Childhood Trauma Early trauma (between birth and the age of 5) does not typically get coded into the memories of our minds, but rather is stored in the body in somatic responses to various situations. For more on early trauma, click here. Research is also finding that these experiences are coded into the brainstem vs into higher levels of the brain (where many therapy modalities are focused). Brainstem experiences get recorded in the body and are often not a part of conscious memory. This early brainstem response can remain untouched by other trauma therapies; the conscious brain, then, remains controlled by our subconscious brain, allowing us to be derailed by negative self beliefs, high anxiety, depression and a defensive stance in the world. I work with all ages to heal the earliest trauma experiences. The modalities I use to work with this are Deep Brain Reorienting and Transforming Touch®. (Click on these for more information.) Sometimes, we may know we have early trauma, as in the case of adoption or known loss of a parent. Other times, we may not know early trauma is a part of our history. Early trauma can be caused by birth trauma, medical trauma, early abuse or neglect, maternal separation, domestic violence or sexual abuse. Here are some possible signs you may have early trauma: 1) Past therapy has been unsuccessful, 2) Difficulty trusting/relational difficulties, 3) Identity confusion/disconnected from self, 4) Low self worth, 5) Self destructive/risky behaviors, 6) Deep feelings of aloneness, 7) Chronic illness/Chronic pain, 8) Chronic insomnia, 9) Perfectionism, 10) Patterns of relational challenge, 11) Eating Disorders, 12) Addictions, 13) Patterns of collapse/avoidance around things that feel hard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1623017129911-N5PX48EZ9PKXWD6AWI5J/Depositphotos_17821473_l.jpg Areas of Focus - Developmental and Trauma Therapy for Children Children often show their distress in difficult behaviors - anxiety, meltdowns, avoidance, lying, difficulties in school, regression in skills, withdrawal, etc In therapy, we will use play, EMDR, Transforming Touch, or other nervous system supports to improve social emotional capacities and support developmental growth. I work closely with parents to support ways to help children in the home and at school. And, I help parents look underneath behavior to better understand the responses of their child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1623079154914-EI7KQ20Q7KVW8FK04Z6P/john-mark-smith-9QTQFihyles-unsplash-3+2.jpg Areas of Focus - Parenting Support I believe parenting is the hardest job on earth. Parents want the best for their kids and desire a positive relationship with them. Family therapy may include parent-child play, working on understanding and co-regulating emotions, increasing awareness of relational patterns, supporting shared problem-solving, increasing a sense of safety in relationships, developing effective communication and healing trauma. I use methods that are attachment-focused and support connection and social-emotional development. We can work together to develop strong relational bonds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622991764272-J8TCXYIFNNLIQ27LNBVU/blaz-erzetic-CnTiAl1fpRU-unsplash.jpg Areas of Focus - Nervous System Support through Music The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and emotional reactivity, while enhancing social engagement and resilience. Emotional and physiological states are important to how we engage with the world. Backed by over 40 years of research, the SSP can help inattentiveness, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and auditory sensitivities. For some clients, the SSP provides an additional therapy option that can enhance therapeutic progress. When a person has better state control, not only can they be more socially engaged, they are more responsive in therapy and outcomes are often achieved more quickly. Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP), like the SSP is used as an adjunct therapy and is designed to supplement treatment strategies when treating clients with chronic stress, influential trauma history, functional disorders, insomnia, and mental health-related challenges. RRP has been reported to help clients have greater access to therapy, enhance autonomic regulation, improved gut function, feel more relaxed, calm, sleep better, feel less anxious and depressed, and have greater access to their feelings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60bb9c2c40944651b4ab85e9/1622999121619-FPYXHME4UXQ8HU42H8IO/mimi-thian-lp1AKIUV3yo-unsplash.jpg Areas of Focus - Therapist Supervision I have completed extensive supervision training through Noeticus Training Institute and have completed all of the requirements for the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) accreditation. I take a developmental approach and specialize in attachment, trauma, neuroscience, child development and Polyvagal Theory. I focus on the development of the whole clinician - including therapist use of self, risk management, ethics, reflective practice, and administration, as well as supporting knowledge around the clinical aspects of cases. I often use experiential methods to deepen the learning and to support a more embodied understanding. https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/rates daily 0.75 2025-07-28 https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/transforming-touch daily 0.75 2025-07-28 https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/deep-brain-reorienting daily 0.75 2025-07-28 https://www.connect-2-thrive.com/birth-trauma daily 0.75 2025-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/d6069999-a012-4166-97ca-493710b6357b/Aro+Ha_0387.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/a69322d3-8d94-4d09-87ca-09d1e137676b/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/2b138b19-e39b-4aaa-bfe4-ee168dac9208/20140301_Trade+151_0124+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/d920b15d-612d-4404-bad3-fcac46d4639d/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg