The Most Dangerous Workplace Pattern: Emotional Disconnection

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW

June 17, 2026

Many people are still showing up to work, but they are no longer emotionally present. Emotional disconnection leads to reduced empathy, engagement, and connection. Humans are wired for belonging. When that need is unmet, the brain shifts into withdrawal and detachment. This, in turn, is protection and not failure.

Burnout begins with disconnection, not exhaustion.

On July 10, 2026, we will explore how to restore meaning in the workplace. If you feel your agency could benefit from this, we invite you to join us at our Workplace & Mental Health Virtual Conference

Mardoche Sidor, MD and Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW

Karen and Mardoche are Co-Founders of, and the Main Facilitators at the SWEET Institute. They have more than 40 years of clinical practice in over 10 different practice settings. They have provided services from all levels of care, from line work to executive management, often doing both simultaneously, and have done work on the policy level and have reached communities nationally and internationally. They are both affiliated with Columbia University and are regular contributors to Psychology Today.