The Affirming Minds Podcast

Shaina Siber, LCSW
  • 4.6 (19)
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Build your elite therapeutic toolkit learning through expert-led "pod-courses" and interviews. CEs available for Affirm Academy members.

  1. Episode #69 - Social Anxiety in Context: A Culturally Responsive CBT Lens with Dr. Janeé Steele

    1D AGO

    Episode #69 - Social Anxiety in Context: A Culturally Responsive CBT Lens with Dr. Janeé Steele

    Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button. SIGN IN: Affirm Academy Members: Log in to get your CEs! If you're already a member, you can log in to your account https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/login to take your post-test/evaluation and get your certificate within minutes. SIGN UP: Become a member here: https://affirmmentalhealth.com/become-a-member/ Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHCtVcZ2Tg/hk7ToqoD3ZDMAqyACKanZA/view?utm_content=DAHCtVcZ2Tg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h4dd8cd6de7 --- Episode Summary: In this episode of The Affirming Minds Podcast, Dr. Janeé M. Steele joins the conversation to explore social anxiety through a culturally responsive CBT lens. The discussion examines the core mechanisms that maintain social anxiety — including anticipatory processing, safety behaviors, and post-event rumination — and how these patterns intersect with lived experience, systemic bias, and stereotype threat. Dr. Steele outlines practical strategies for differentiating between irrational fear and rational responses to discrimination, adapting exposure hierarchies with attention to real-world risk, using broaching to explore identity within the therapeutic relationship, and integrating micro-interventions and self-affirmation into clinical practice. This episode offers clinicians concrete tools for delivering evidence-based treatment while honoring the broader social and cultural context in which anxiety develops and is maintained. --- About Our Guest: Janeé M. Steele, Ph.D. is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, and diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Dr. Steele is also the owner of Kalamazoo Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, PLLC, where she provides therapy, supervision, and training in cognitive behavior therapy. Her research focuses on counselor training, social justice, and culturally responsive approaches to therapy. She is the author of the book Racism and African American Mental Health: Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Empower Healing, and has published in peer-reviewed journals such as Counselor Education and Supervision, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, Journal for Specialists in Group Work, Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, and Counselling Psychology Quarterly. Her insights have also been featured in media outlets such as Vogue, Psychiatric Times, Psychology Today, and Counseling Today. She frequently presents at state, national, and international counseling conferences and serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. She is an active member of the counseling profession and has served on the executive committee of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, the board of the National Social Anxiety Center, the webinar committee of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the research and knowledge committee of the American Counseling Association. --- Connect with Dr. Steele: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjaneesteele Books by Dr. Steele: Racism and African American Mental Health: Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Empower Healing https://www.routledge.com/Racism-and-African-American-Mental-Health-Using-Cognitive-Behavior-Therapy-to-Empower-Healing/Steele/p/book/9781032050492 Black Lives Are Beautiful: 50 Tools to Heal from Trauma and Promote Positive Racial Identity(with S. Newton) https://www.routledge.com/Black-Lives-Are-Beautiful-50-Tools-to-Heal-from-Trauma-and-Promote-Positive-Racial-Identity/Steele-Newton/p/book/9781032117423 --- Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. No other financial conflicts of interest were reported. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional. --- Don't Forget to Subscribe: If you love this episode, be sure to follow The Affirming Minds Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Share it on your socials and help us grow the community of engaged, empowered, and educated mental health professionals. Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaways! Find Us Here: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com Instagram: @affirmmentalhealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AFFIRMMentalHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556924200735 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-siber-sanderowitz-905089249/ TikTok: @affirm_mental_health

    53 min
  2. Episode # 68: Teenage Anxiety: Supporting Caregivers in Navigating Growing Pains versus Clinical Anxiety with Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW

    FEB 24

    Episode # 68: Teenage Anxiety: Supporting Caregivers in Navigating Growing Pains versus Clinical Anxiety with Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW

    Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button. SIGN IN: Affirm Academy Members: Log in to get your CEs! If you're already a member, you can log in to your account https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/login to take your post-test/evaluation and get your certificate within minutes. SIGN UP: Become a member here: https://affirmmentalhealth.com/become-a-member/ Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHCJ9CKZKI/Ad1sHDONsRUAfzKnZndnYw/view?utm_content=DAHCJ9CKZKI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h08e753f0a7 --- Episode Summary: Are today’s teens truly more anxious — or are we simply seeing anxiety more clearly? In this episode, we unpack the narrative of “the anxious generation” and explore what current research actually shows about adolescent anxiety. We discuss adolescent brain development and expected shifts in mood, sleep, and emotional intensity, and how to distinguish developmentally expectable distress from clinically impairing anxiety. We also explore how contextual factors — COVID-19 disruption, social media and parasocial relationships, and expanded access to telehealth — shape our understanding of youth anxiety reporting without assuming pathology. Finally, we delve into a critical relational factor: how caregiver anxiety and over-accommodation can unintentionally reinforce avoidance — and what differentiation looks like in practice when supporting teens. Joining me is Sophia Vale Guarino, LCSW, author of Calming Teenage Anxiety — a practical guide for caregivers who want to support teens with clarity and steadiness. Get her book here: https://a.co/d/005IWBFj --- About Our Guest: Sophia was born in Los Angeles, raised in London, and holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University. She has been providing therapy since 2015 and has over a decade of experience working with adults and adolescents. Sophia has treated individuals and families in her private practice while also providing therapy in medical, educational, residential and outpatient settings. She is an expert at treating teenage anxiety, and is the author of the book, Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry. Sophia has been featured on numerous media outlets, such as television news segments, radio stations, podcasts and YouTube channels. Sophia’s writing has been featured in Writer’s Digest, Your Teen Mag, Get Fit Now and her book, Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry was selected by Kirkus as an indie pick for 2026. She has taught continuing education courses for professionals on adolescent anxiety, and has guest lectured at both the high school and university level. Sophia is also a subject matter expert for Hollywood, Health and Society, ensuring script accuracy in addiction-related story lines. Additionally, Sophia holds certifications in the following areas: animal assisted therapy, forensic social work, sex therapy, yoga teaching and is a master level reiki practitioner. In her free time, Sophia volunteers for several animal rescue organizations, and as a trained fine artist and fashion designer, she loves painting and drawing as well as designing and manufacturing clothes. --- Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. No other financial conflicts of interest were reported. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional. --- Don't Forget to Subscribe: If you love this episode, be sure to follow The Affirming Minds Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Share it on your socials and help us grow the community of engaged, empowered, and educated mental health professionals. Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaways! Find Us Here: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com Instagram: @affirmmentalhealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AFFIRMMentalHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556924200735 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-siber-sanderowitz-905089249/ TikTok: @affirm_mental_health

    55 min
  3. Episode #67 - Going Low Contact & No Contact with Caregivers: A Trauma-Informed Clinical Framework for Navigating Estrangement

    FEB 17

    Episode #67 - Going Low Contact & No Contact with Caregivers: A Trauma-Informed Clinical Framework for Navigating Estrangement

    Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button. SIGN IN: Affirm Academy Members: Log in to get your CEs! If you're already a member, you can log in to your account https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/login to take your post-test/evaluation and get your certificate within minutes. SIGN UP: Become a member here: https://affirmmentalhealth.com/become-a-member/ Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBhSxa9gU/RwQ9m-fExyl2E3Wn0felXA/view?utm_content=DAHBhSxa9gU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hbd367d8551 --- Episode Summary: Family estrangement is often portrayed as impulsive, trendy, or selfish. In reality, navigating low contact or no contact with a parent is typically a painful decision — one that is rarely made lightly and almost never without history. As public debate around estrangement has intensified — including criticism directed at therapists — this episode asks an essential question: What is our clinical role in this conversation? Host Shaina Siber, LCSW offers a trauma-informed, ethically grounded framework for clinicians working with adult clients who are considering distance from caregivers. She argues that therapy should not treat reconciliation as morally superior — nor estrangement as inherently empowered. Instead, clinicians are called to remain outcome-neutral and harm-responsive. This episode provides: A structured assessment model for evaluating impact, boundary history, accountability capacity, and safety Clarification of what “boundaries” actually mean — and how they differ from requests or impact statements Guidance for navigating trauma history, identity-based rejection, and developmental instability A clear stance on avoiding coercion while naming harm when present Estrangement decisions are complex, relational, and often grief-filled. This conversation offers therapists a grounded framework for helping clients move through these waters with clarity, agency, and care. --- About Shaina: Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of experience providing psychotherapy to diverse patient populations. She is the founder and owner of AFFIRM Mental Health, an accredited continuing education provider dedicated to offering high quality virtual workshops to mental health providers. She’s spent her career in various clinical and leadership roles focused on serving underserved populations and addressing systemic issues. She continues to provide therapy through her private practice, offer consulting for organizations with behavioral health needs and teach in psychology and psychiatry residency training programs, graduate social work education and continuing education courses on a variety of topics including Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Gender Affirming Care, Professional Burnout and Structural Competency. --- Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content.  No other financial conflicts of interest were reported. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional. --- Don't Forget to Subscribe: If you love this episode, be sure to follow The Affirming Minds Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Share it on your socials and help us grow the community of engaged, empowered, and educated mental health professionals. Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaways! Find Us Here: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com Instagram: @affirmmentalhealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AFFIRMMentalHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556924200735 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-siber-sanderowitz-905089249/ TikTok: @affirm_mental_health

    1h 16m
  4. Episode #66 - DBT Dissemination for Real Life with Drs. Shireen Rizvi & Jesse Finkelstein

    FEB 10

    Episode #66 - DBT Dissemination for Real Life with Drs. Shireen Rizvi & Jesse Finkelstein

    Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button. SIGN IN: Affirm Academy Members: Log in to get your CEs! If you're already a member, you can log in to your account https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/login to take your post-test/evaluation and get your certificate within minutes. SIGN UP: Become a member here: https://affirmmentalhealth.com/become-a-member/ Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHApTPhKtE/w9nd8Kx8V3-qXpSnLl8v7Q/view?utm_content=DAHApTPhKtE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h7a16a97896 --- Episode Summary: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most empirically supported treatments in mental health, with strong evidence for reducing suicide risk, self-injury, and other high-risk behaviors. Yet access to full-fidelity DBT remains limited, raising important questions about dissemination, accessibility, and real-world use. In this episode, Shaina Siber is joined by Dr. Shireen L. Rizvi and Dr. Jesse Finkelstein for a thoughtful conversation about DBT dissemination—how evidence-based treatments evolve, travel beyond specialty settings, and become usable tools for real life without losing their integrity. The discussion centers on Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions, and Relationships, an accessible, visually engaging guide that presents 26 core DBT skills alongside decision trees to support flexible, context-responsive skill use. --- About Our Guests: Shireen L. Rizvi, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center in New York, where she serves as Director of Psychology Training and Director of DBT Services and Research. Dr. Rizvi earned her doctorate under the mentorship of Marsha M. Linehan. She has received extensive grant funding and published dozens of research papers. Dr. Rizvi is board certified in cognitive and behavioral therapies and DBT. Her mission is to get DBT tools to as many people as possible. Jesse Finkelstein, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, educator, and creator of innovative DBT-based interventions. He trained extensively in DBT and other evidence-based treatments, with a specialization in emotion dysregulation, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder. Dr. Finkelstein’s work bridges clinical practice, research, and creative design to make DBT skills more accessible and engaging. --- Helpful Links & Resources: Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions, and Relationships https://a.co/d/2dGOZx0 https://www.guilford.com/books/Real-Skills-for-Real-Life/Rizvi-Finkelstein/9781462555574 DBT Skills YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/dbtru Shireen Rizvi, PhD: https://www.shireenrizvi.com Jesse Finkelstein, PsyD: https://axiscbt.com The Raha Hive: https://www.therahive.com --- Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. The guests featured in this episode, Dr. Shireen L. Rizvi and Dr. Jesse Finkelstein, are the authors of Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions, and Relationships, which is referenced during the episode. They receive royalties from the sale of this book.  No other financial conflicts of interest were reported. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional. --- Don't Forget to Subscribe: If you love this episode, be sure to follow The Affirming Minds Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Share it on your socials and help us grow the community of engaged, empowered, and educated mental health professionals. Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaways! Find Us Here: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com Instagram: @affirmmentalhealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AFFIRMMentalHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556924200735 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-siber-sanderowitz-905089249/ TikTok: @affirm_mental_health

    55 min
  5. Episode #65 - Reimagining Career Pathways for Therapists with LeNaya Smith Crawford & Gabrielle Juliano-Villani

    FEB 3

    Episode #65 - Reimagining Career Pathways for Therapists with LeNaya Smith Crawford & Gabrielle Juliano-Villani

    ​​Grad school trained us to practice therapy—but not the business of mental health or the range of career possibilities available to clinicians. In this episode of The Mental Health Edit, Shaina speaks with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani and LeNaya Smith Crawford, co-founders of the REIMAGINE Business Summit, about entrepreneurship, burnout, and reimagining careers beyond the therapy room. Join the REIMAGINE Business Summit 🗓 February 15–20 👉 Free General Admission:https://lenaya-crawford.mykajabi.com/a/2148214964/hNZ7bj8U 👉 VIP Bundle ($97):https://lenaya-crawford.mykajabi.com/offers/QkLmhfbp/checkout?ref=https%3A%2F%2Flenaya-crawford.mykajabi.com%2Fa%2F2148214965%2FhNZ7bj8U The VIP upgrade includes extended access, business intensives, coaching, and—if you’re not already an Affirm Academy member—a CE Podcast Pass for Affirming Minds (ASWB, NBCC, NYSED).

    28 min
  6. Episode #64 - Foster Care, Adoption, and Attachment Trauma: What Clinicians Often Miss with Jeanette Yoffe, MFT

    JAN 27

    Episode #64 - Foster Care, Adoption, and Attachment Trauma: What Clinicians Often Miss with Jeanette Yoffe, MFT

    Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button. SIGN IN: Affirm Academy Members: Log in to get your CEs! If you're already a member, you can log in to your account https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/login to take your post-test/evaluation and get your certificate within minutes. SIGN UP: Become a member here: https://affirmmentalhealth.com/become-a-member/ Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG_lF-ZpCY/yC-Ro85UiUoGf2UFz-bwMg/view?utm_content=DAG_lF-ZpCY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hf021a1b3e5 --- Episode Summary: In this episode of Affirming Minds, we explore foster care and adoption through an attachment-informed lens, focusing on how separation-related grief and loss are often minimized or left unacknowledged. We discuss how separations across infancy, childhood, and adolescence can shape emotional regulation, trust, and behavior—and how clinicians and caregivers can respond with greater accuracy and compassion. --- About Our Guest: Jeanette Yoffe, M.A., M.F.T., is a nationally recognized clinician and educator with over 20 years of experience specializing in foster care, adoption, and attachment-informed treatment. She is the Founder of Celia Center, Clinical Director of Yoffe Therapy, and the author of The Traumatized & At-Risk Youth Toolbox. --- Helpful Links & Resources: Website: www.JeanetteYoffe.com The Traumatized & At-Risk Youth Toolbox: https://www.pesi.com/item/the-traumatized-atrisk-youth-toolbox-150079 Children’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07V9L93XF Psychology Today – The Inner Life of Foster Care: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-inner-life-of-foster-care --- Connect with Jeanette Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanetteyoffe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanette.yoffe YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Jeanette-icallySpeaking Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/JeanetteYoffe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanetteyoffe/ --- Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. The guest featured in this episode, Jeanette Yoffe, M.A., M.F.T., is the author of The Traumatized & At-Risk Youth Toolbox, which is referenced throughout the episode as a clinical resource. Jeanette Yoffe receives royalties from the sale of this book. No other financial conflicts of interest were reported. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional. --- Don't Forget to Subscribe: If you love this episode, be sure to follow The Affirming Minds Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Share it on your socials and help us grow the community of engaged, empowered, and educated mental health professionals. Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaways! Find Us Here: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com Instagram: @affirmmentalhealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AFFIRMMentalHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556924200735 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-siber-sanderowitz-905089249/ TikTok: @affirm_mental_health

    1h 4m
  7. Episode #63 - Cultural Humility in the Therapy Room: Repair, Power, and Identity in Clinical Practice with Dr. Lauren Wadsworth

    JAN 20

    Episode #63 - Cultural Humility in the Therapy Room: Repair, Power, and Identity in Clinical Practice with Dr. Lauren Wadsworth

    Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button. SIGN IN: Affirm Academy Members: Log in to get your CEs! If you're already a member, you can log in to your account https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/login to take your post-test/evaluation and get your certificate within minutes. SIGN UP: Become a member here: https://affirmmentalhealth.com/become-a-member/ Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG-3TMjq5c/qaWmfiu6RuKNQvsmn3MhCw/view?utm_content=DAG-3TMjq5c&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h61b36a0d1a --- Episode Summary: At a moment of expanding awareness and increasing constraint, clinicians are more attuned than ever to the potential for harm in the therapy room—yet many feel uncertain about how to respond when identity, power, and politics arise in session. In this episode, we explore cultural humility as a clinical stance, not a buzzword: What it means to practice with ongoing self-reflection, accountability, and repair How to navigate backlash, polarization, and institutional limits How to adapt evidence-based treatments through a culturally humble lens What it looks like to redistribute power, mitigate harm, and stay present when the work feels risky Our guest is Dr. Lauren Wadsworth, clinical psychologist, consultant, and co-founder of Twin Stars Diversity Trainers. Dr. Wadsworth brings deep clinical experience and a justice-oriented lens to the nuanced terrain where identity and therapy intersect. Whether you’re a seasoned clinician or in training, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about identity, power, harm, and ethics in everyday practice. --- About Our Guest: Dr. Lauren Wadsworth, PsyD, ABPP is: Co-founder, Mental Health Network and Training Institute (MHNTI) — a national platform for sustainable, identity-responsive clinical training Founder & Director of Genesee Valley Psychology — an insurance-based practice expanding access to evidence-based treatment Co-founder of Twin Stars Diversity Trainers, offering system-level consultation to practices and institutions Co-author of Did That Just Happen?! Beyond “Diversity”: Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations Senior Advisor on Anti-Racist, Justice, and Health Equity at McLean Hospital Clinical Senior Instructor in Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center --- Helpful Links & Resources: 🔗 Mental Health Network and Training Institute (MHNTI) https://www.mhnti.com/ 🔗 Genesee Valley Psychology & Training Collaborative https://gviproc.org/ 🔗 Twin Stars Diversity Trainers https://www.twinstardiversity.com/ 📘 Did That Just Happen?! Beyond “Diversity” — Book https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670590/did-that-just-happen-by-dr-stephanie-pinder-amaker-and-dr-lauren-wadsworth/ --- Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. There are no other conflicts of interest to disclose. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional. --- Don't Forget to Subscribe: If you love this episode, be sure to follow The Affirming Minds Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Share it on your socials and help us grow the community of engaged, empowered, and educated mental health professionals. Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaways! Find Us Here: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com Instagram: @affirmmentalhealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AFFIRMMentalHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556924200735 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-siber-sanderowitz-905089249/ TikTok: @affirm_mental_health

    1h 8m
  8. Episode #62 - Who Gets to Shape the Future of Mental Health? Therapists, AI, and Innovation with Brandi Herring, LMHC

    JAN 13

    Episode #62 - Who Gets to Shape the Future of Mental Health? Therapists, AI, and Innovation with Brandi Herring, LMHC

    🎉 Exclusive Listener Offer: Cymbiose AI x AFFIRM 2 months FREE + 2 months at 50% off No commitment. Cancel anytime. How to claim: Go to https://app.cymbiose.ai/login  Click “I’m new here” to create your account Use code CYM4 Episode Show Notes In this episode of The Affirming Minds Podcast, Shaina Siber, LCSW sits down with Brandi Herring, LMHC — co-founder and CEO of Cymbiose AI, a culturally responsive, HIPAA-compliant AI assistant built by clinicians, for clinicians. Together, they explore what it looks like when therapists don’t just adapt to systems — but help design them. This conversation covers: Ethical AI in mental health and why clinician leadership matters Bias, cultural responsiveness, and diagnostic clarity Turning documentation into a clinical and professional asset Moving from clinician to founder — even without a tech background If you’ve been curious about AI but cautious about ethics, privacy, or impact on care, this episode offers a grounded, clinician-centered perspective on how technology can support — not replace — human-centered therapy. About Cymbiose AI Cymbiose AI supports clinicians with documentation, cultural and structural insights, supervision tracking, and CE recommendations — all designed to strengthen care quality while reducing administrative burden. Connect Brandi Herring: @brandithetherapist Cymbiose AI: @cymbioseai  Cymbiose AI Learn more about AFFIRM’s CE offerings at Affirm Mental Health or Join the Affirm Academy AFFIRM Mental Health Courses

    39 min
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Build your elite therapeutic toolkit learning through expert-led "pod-courses" and interviews. CEs available for Affirm Academy members.

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