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://canva.link/qvhqgnz5pnptjgk

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Episode Summary: Rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among young people have risen dramatically over the past decade. But what if we’re misunderstanding the problem?

In this episode, Shaina sits down with Dr. Will Dobud, social worker, researcher, and co-author of Kids These Days, to challenge dominant narratives about youth mental health. Together, they explore how current clinical and cultural frameworks may contribute to over-pathologizing normal development—and what we may be missing when we focus too narrowly on diagnosis, symptom reduction, and control.

This conversation invites clinicians, parents, and educators to consider a broader, more contextual lens—one that centers relationships, autonomy, and environment.

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Topics Covered:

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About Our Guest: Dr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. He is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and an award-winning researcher focused on improving therapy outcomes for teenagers and promoting safe, ethical practices. His work includes examining the risks of coercive and institutional treatment models.

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Resource:

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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. Dr. Will Dobud is the co-author of Kids These Days and may reference concepts from the book during this episode.

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

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/DAHFXBWd8Uo/8KIEPLLsY2iJZRr_Z3iejQ/view?utm_content=DAHFXBWd8Uo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=he7a8881f70

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Episode Summary: Therapists are trained to reduce suffering—but what if that’s only part of the work?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jessica Rabon to explore positive psychology as a scientifically grounded approach to wellbeing. We break down what it is, what it isn’t, and how it moves beyond symptom reduction to help clients build meaningful, engaged lives.

We cover the PERMA model, the role of flow and relationships, and how to integrate positive psychology into clinical practice—without slipping into toxic positivity.

If you’ve ever felt the gap between helping clients feel less bad and helping them actually feel fulfilled, this conversation will meet you there.

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About Our Guest: Dr. Jessica Rabon is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric psychology. Her clinical interests include depression, anxiety, chronic medical illnesses, LGBTQ+ health, and eating disorders. She has published a number of peer-reviewed research papers and a book on topics such as suicide, depression, anxiety, self-compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness. Additionally, Jess creates mental health content on social media and hosts a podcast, Psych Talk, with the goal of making mental health more accessible and relatable, and destigmatizing mental health.  

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Connect with Dr. Jessica Rabon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaleighphd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicaleighphd
Website: https://jessicaleighphd.wixsite.com/mysite
Podcast (Psych Talk): https://psychtalk.buzzsprout.com/

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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

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/DAHEx3SjNn4/YYhpzRA8P0PooWCNxqFUJQ/view?utm_content=DAHEx3SjNn4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h9fde65f80a

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Episode Summary: In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Berman, LCSW, to explore evidence-based approaches for treating children with anxiety, ADHD, and behavioral challenges.

We break down how therapists can integrate Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to reduce parental accommodation, improve child behavior, and build emotional regulation through parent-mediated interventions.

This conversation highlights how to move beyond diagnosis and use a functional approach to child behavior, including reinforcement, extinction bursts, natural consequences, and parent consistency to support long-term outcomes.

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Topics Covered:

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About Our Guest: Grace Berman is a licensed clinical social worker and adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work. She specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders and OCD at the Ross Center. Previously, she trained as an Advanced Clinical Social Work Fellow at the Yale Child Study Center, where she later served as a faculty clinician, and held clinical and supervisory roles at the Child Mind Institute. In addition to her clinical work at the Ross Center, she is co-director of Community Education, providing workshops and consultation to schools, caregivers, and community organizations.

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Connect with Grace Berman:

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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

Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout Blueprint by Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz

Order directly from the publisher and receive a 20% off discount with code:

Code: 26SMA1
Valid through: June 30

Publisher link:
https://www.routledge.com/Using-ACT-and-CFT-for-Burnout-Recovery-The-Beyond-Burnout-Blueprint/Siber/p/book/9781041074304

Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Using-ACT-CFT-Burnout-Recovery/dp/1041074301/

Goodreads link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242051083-using-act-and-cft-for-burnout-recovery

---

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/DAHEHPJQbtw/TDh_gkX4iWI8w6t4UVLPmg/view?utm_content=DAHEHPJQbtw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h285b19bdb6

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Episode Summary: In this episode of the Affirming Minds Podcast, Dr. Laurie Gallo interviews host Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz about the ideas behind her new book, Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout Blueprint. Together they explore how burnout develops in high-demand professions and why many traditional approaches to burnout fall short.

The conversation examines how principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) can help clinicians support burnout recovery by addressing shame, overcontrol, and chronic occupational stress while cultivating psychological flexibility and self-compassion.

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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

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

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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.

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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.

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Connect with Dr. Steele:

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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

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

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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

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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.

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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

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

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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:

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.

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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.

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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

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

​​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).  

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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/

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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.

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