The Affirming Minds Podcast

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

🎉 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

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/DAG9j8Q1isU/xvwgaGz5kPfsJcS5m--L7w/view?utm_content=DAG9j8Q1isU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hd1e5d859a3

---

Episode Summary: Why is behavior change so hard—even when we genuinely want to change?

In this episode of The Affirming Minds Podcast, we explore how survival wiring, unconscious patterns, and longevity science shape habit formation and behavior change. Drawing from behavioral science, psychodynamic psychology, and emerging healthspan research, this conversation examines why willpower alone rarely works—and what supports sustainable, values-aligned change instead.

Shaina is joined by Laura Elorza Isaza, Clinical Psychologist, to discuss autopilot living, discipline vs. motivation, shame-free approaches to habit change, and how understanding unconscious processes can help individuals design behaviors that support long-term mental and physical well-being.

---

About Our Guest: Laura Elorza Isaza: I am a clinical psychologist, graduated from Universidad EAFIT, with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a psychodynamic focus from Universidad del Norte. I work with adults in therapeutic processes focused on navigating significant life changes, healing emotional bonds, strengthening self-esteem, and cultivating motivation and consistency — all through a deep, human-centered approach. My experience spans both individual and group settings, in person and online, integrating tools such as projective and psychotechnical tests, crisis intervention, psychological first aid, and clinical research. I have had the opportunity to work with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, which has enriched my clinical perspective and allowed me to tailor therapeutic support to a wide range of sensitivities and worldviews.
With psychology I help people break free from autopilot living and uncover genuine happiness. Through my private practice and my work with Unconscious Moderation (UM), a platform built on “change your thoughts, change your drink, change your life”, I guide individuals through major life changes, emotional healing, and self-esteem building. At UM, I create content and support tools that combine hypnotherapy, journaling, and movement practices to transform people’s relationships with alcohol without shame or perfectionism. I emphasize in understanding unconscious patterns over forcing change, fostering conversations that empower people to discover what truly works for their lives.

---

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.

The guest for this episode, Laura Elorza Isaza, Clinical Psychologist, disclosed a financial relationship with Unconscious Moderation (UM). She receives compensation from the company and referenced the UM app during the course of the discussion. This relationship has been disclosed in the interest of transparency. The content of this episode is educational in nature and was not influenced by any commercial entity.



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

Mental Health Edit (Non-CE Episode)

📄 FREE Guide: Podcasting for Therapists
https://www.canva.com/design/DAG8ibvnb3k/wc9YVR0csvGvsvDgZRWRaQ/view

Thinking about starting a podcast as a therapist or clinician? This episode offers a realistic conversation about podcasting, creativity, sustainability, and lessons learned from building a therapist-led show.

🎙️ Guest: Tobin Richardson, creator of Save the Therapist

🔗 More Resources

🎧 Save the Therapist Podcast & Platform
https://savethetherapist.com

🎓 Live Training: Ethical Decision-Making for Public-Facing Therapists
(Free for Affirm Academy Members)
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1977913650974

🌱 Join Affirm Academy – $29/month
https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/offers/XMAbo9mh/checkout

Perinatal OCD on Screen with Little Disasters Author Sarah Vaughan In this episode of The Mental Health Edit, Shaina Siber, host of The Affirming Minds Podcast, speaks with Sarah Vaughan, bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal and Little Disasters, about perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder, maternal mental health, and why accurate media representation matters far beyond the therapy room. Little Disasters—now a limited series streaming on Little Disasters—offers a rare, thoughtful portrayal of intrusive thoughts, shame, avoidance, and institutional response, and Sarah generously reflects on how her experiences of motherhood informed both the novel and its screen adaptation. Watch: https://www.paramountplus.com
Read: Little Disasters: A Novel: Vaughan, Sarah: 9781501172229: Amazon.com: Books (or your preferred bookseller)
Learn more about AFFIRM Mental Health, including CE-eligible podcasts: https://www.affirmmentalhealth.com