# Burnout Recovery in a Failing System: ACT, Moral Injury & Reclaiming Agency – An Interview with Shaina Siber, LCSW

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-modern-therapist-s-survival-guide-with-curt-widhalm-and-katie-vernoy-410171/burnout-recovery-in-a-failing-system-act-moral-injury-reclaiming-agency-an-interview-with-shaina-siber-lcsw
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-modern-therapist-s-survival-guide-with-curt-widhalm-and-katie-vernoy-410171/burnout-recovery-in-a-failing-system-act-moral-injury-reclaiming-agency-an-interview-with-shaina-siber-lcsw.md
Podcast: [The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-modern-therapist-s-survival-guide-with-curt-widhalm-and-katie-vernoy-410171)
Published: 2026-03-09T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HEGNI9021105269.mp3?updated=1773066760
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HEGNI9021105269.mp3?updated=1773066760
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-modern-therapist-s-survival-guide-with-curt-widhalm-and-katie-vernoy-410171/episodes/burnout-recovery-in-a-failing-system-act-moral-injury-reclaiming-agency-an-interview-with-shaina-siber-lcsw
Duration seconds: 2457

## Resource

Burnout Recovery in a Failing System – An Interview with Shaina Siber, LCSW Therapists are navigating hiring freezes, wage stagnation, insurance instability, identity-level threats, and mounting systemic uncertainty — all while supporting clients experiencing the same instability. What happens when burnout isn’t just about workload, but about working inside a system that feels like it’s failing? Curt and Katie talk with Shaina Siber, LCSW, about moral injury, burnout as a fawning trauma response, and how therapists can move from control strategies to agency using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Shaina shares how psychological flexibility, compassionate prioritization, and values-based action can help therapists recover from burnout without abandoning their humanity. In this episode, we discuss: • Burnout as a trauma response • Moral injury in modern mental health care • The “K-shaped” labor market and therapist stagnation • Moving from overcontrol to agency • Sustainable contribution without collapsing Guest Bio: Shaina Siber, LCSW is the founder of Affirm Mental Health, host of The Affirming Minds Podcast, and author of the forthcoming Routledge book Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout Blueprint (available for pre-order February 25, 2026). She brings over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience and specializes in trauma-informed, LGBTQ+, and culturally responsive care. Full show notes and resources: mtsgpodcast.com Join our community: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann – https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano – http…

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