Holding Space

Sibling relationships...the challenges, the pressure, the rivalries. Yep, it's real. If you grew up with siblings, maybe you can even connect to these experiences.  Yet, supporting sibling relationships can also provide opportunities for deep connection, empathy-building, and so much more. I am thrilled to share my conversation with Jessica Rolph, co-founder and CEO of Lovevery and mom to 3. Jessica and I offer tangible strategies for you to support the relationship between your children from the start, through their early years and beyond. Learn more about Lovevery (and their amazing subscription play kits) by clicking here! Continue to connect with Jessica and Lovevery on Instagram @lovevery and @jessicarolph and tune into Jessica's podcast My New Life. Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with you first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/holdingspace. Make the most of bedtime with Boll and Branch sheets. Get 15% off your first order when you use pr

You know what's really having it's moment right now (and I'm LOVING it!)? Internal Family Systems and "parts" work. What is Internal Family Systems, and why is this therapeutic approach so helpful when it comes to understanding our triggers and developing a new relationship with our emotions? You're going to leave this episode with the answer. I invited Vanessa Trine, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor on to the podcast to help me unpack why "parts" work is so powerful in our personal work as parents, breaking cycles, and supporting our children. To connect with Vanessa: Website: www.vanessatrine.com Support Deck: https://odddaughterpaper.com/products/support-deck  To learn more about Dr. Cassidy's California group private practice, visit www.drcassidymft.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we are talking about origin wounds, those painful experiences from when you were young that find themselves showing up in present day relationships and patterns. I invited fellow Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the book Origins of You, Vienna Pharaon, to walk us through understanding how we can begin to understand and heal our origin wounds. Even if you had a wonderful childhood, we have all experienced disappointment, been hurt, or felt pressure to look or be a certain way. Of course, not everything is experienced as trauma, but that doesn’t make it any less important for us to explore and heal. These wounds can originate in our family systems, but they can also form later on in life through partner relationships, our work environment, friendships, and they can impact our own experience as parents. In this episode Vienna introduces us to 5 origin wounds: worthiness, prioritization, belonging, safety, and trust. You'll leave the episode with an understanding of your own origin w

You're reading the parenting books, following the experts on social media, listening to the podcasts, maybe even buying the courses...and somehow in the tough moment with your child none of the "strategies" feel intuitive...can you relate? Yea, same, and I'm considered one of those "experts!" Maybe you relate to trying to hold it all together, but underneath you wonder if something is actually wrong with YOU. In this episode I invited my good friend and fellow therapist and mom Renata Cameron to unpack these experience with me. Together we discuss the role of anxiety (and the desire to get it perfect) in these tough parenting moments, understanding why we get stuck, and breaking generational cycles through reparenting.  Funny enough, the parts of you that struggle the most will help us unlock that maternal intuition you're trying to tap into, and this episode will not only explain why but will help you take the first step. Renata is one of the amazing therapists for moms in my grou

In this episode we are shedding light on the often misdiagnosed experience of Postpartum OCD. I invited Licensed Therapist Jenna Overbaugh to share her professional (and personal!) experience with postpartum OCD. Together we open the door to the internal experience of living with OCD and discuss the symptoms, impact, treatment and how to get the support you need from your healthcare team. Jenna doesn't hold back and you'll leave this episode informed and feeling less alone. Connect with Jenna: @jenna.overbaugh on Instagram All The Hard Things Podcast Resources mentioned in the episode: IOCDF.org (International OCD Foundation)Postpartum.net (Postpartum Support international)Treatmyocd.com (evidence based treatment in and out of the US) This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth. Visit https://cozyearth.com/ and use code DRCASSIDY35 for 35% off your order sitewide. I have their joggers and pull-over crew in Ivory! To connect with Dr. Cassidy or learn more about her private practice, visit www.drcassid

Am I screwing up my kids? I've laid in bed wondering this and I know I'm not alone. In this episode I invited Dr. Sumi Raghavan to help us explore the answer to this question. Together we discuss steps we can take today to begin the work of breaking generational cycles as parents, unhook from unrealistic expectations of perfection, and tap into our own intuition amidst all the noise when it comes to showing up for our kids (and ourselves). Dr. Sumi Raghavan is a clinical psychologist practicing virtually in Brooklyn, New York. She's also a mom of two and a cross-cultural scholar who has always been interested in the intersection of culture and mental health. In her practice she works with adults coping with a range of factors including trauma, workplace stress and burnout, depression, anxiety, interpersonal and relationship concerns and grief and loss. As a cross-cultural practitioner, she really enjoys working with BIPOC clients and welcomes conversations about our multiple and intersecting ident

The toddler years...somehow one of my favorite stages and simultaneously so exhausting and triggering. In this episode I invited my colleague Gayane Aramyan, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and fellow mother to a 2 and half year old, on to the podcast to talk about the challenges of the season and how we can move beyond survival. We discuss tantrums, triggers, self-care and relationships during this cute AND demanding season. You can learn more about Gayane, her practice, and her motherhood group by visiting her website www.therapywithgayane.com or following along on instagram @therapywithgayane. This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth. Visit https://cozyearth.com/ and use code DRCASSIDY35 for 35% off your order sitewide. I have their joggers and pull-over crew in Ivory! To connect with Dr. Cassidy or learn more about her private practice, visit www.drcassidymft.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The coughing, the sneezing, the snot, the sore throats...this viral season has been A LOT. I invited Dr. Krupa Playforth, board certified pediatrician and mom of 3 back on to the podcast to help us navigate the load of caring for our sick kids while navigating all the stress of being a parent (and possibly sick yourself!) We discuss: *Proactive steps we can take to boost immunity and protect our family from all the germs going around *Caring steps we can take once the illness hits our home, and the data behind some recent trends *Supporting our children in building a healthy relationship with illness while building connecting rituals around illness within our families *Navigating the mental, physical, and relational load of parenting with sick kids or while sick yourself Social media and the internet can be powerful, but they can also be a mine of misinformation. Dr Playforth believes every parent deserves clear, evidence-based, nuanced answers to common child health questions to help them feel empowered and

Finally, an episode fully dedicated to EMDR! In this episode we're taking you behind closed doors to demystify this powerful and evidence-based approach to processing your trauma and triggers. We walk you through what EMDR is, who it can help, and how to find an EMDR trained therapist. I'm also thrilled to introduce you to EMDR certified therapist and consultant Sarah Rosney, LCSW. Licensed in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts she has a special interest in supporting adults in processing their birth experiences, pregnancy loss, and attachment-based trauma. If you are based in California and interested in starting your own EMDR work, you can connect with and learn more about our EMDR trained therapists here: www.drcassidymft.com Resources mentioned in the episode: Sarah Rosney, LCSW: www.sarahrosneylcsw.com Find an EMDR therapist: https://www.emdria.org/ Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy: https://emdrtherapy.com/ Episode 104: Birth Trauma with Dr. Alex Shrake Episode 101:Pregnancy Loss with

This episode has been a long time coming. I've shared my birth stories on this podcast before, but I've wanted to do a deeper dive into birth trauma for a long time now. When planning this episode there was no better person to dive deep with than my colleague Dr. Alexandra Shrake. Her own traumatic birth was the muse for her research and her desire to hold space for others who have experienced an intense or traumatic birth, and in this episode we: *Support you in naming the parts of your birth that were traumatic *Identify the symptoms and impact of birth trauma for the birth person AND non-birthing support person who was in the room too *Discuss steps one can take to begin to process and heal from birth trauma *Explore protective steps one can take as they prepare for birth Resources mentioned in the episode: My Birth Stories Podcast Episode EMDR Mommies Tell All Podcast Episode Scary Mommy EMDR Article Postpartum Support International Directory To learn more about Dr. Alex or connect with her, visit

You have a million tabs open in your brain, you're the one keeping track of all the family appointments, the school emails, the grocery list, each child's current preferences, and when your kids need something....they come to you first.  Can you relate? If you can, there's a word that might resonate...the default parent. In today's episode I invited mental health advocate, cycle breaker, content creator and mother of two Libby Ward (from Diary of an Honest Mom) to unpack this experience. How did we get here? What's the cost? (hint: burnout, anxiety, health issues, overstimulation, partner resentment, and rage just to name a few). AND how do break the cycles and share the load? We talk about it all in this episode. To connect with and learn more from Libby check out her website www.diaryofanhonestmom.com and give her a follow on Tik Tok and Instagram @diaryofanhonestmom. Resources mentioned in the episode: Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski Fair Play by Eve Rodsky Libby's Journal Promp

Let's talk about tongue ties! In this episode I share my conversation with pediatric physical therapist Brita DeStefano to demystify tongue ties. Brita shares both her personal and professional experience with tongue ties and the stressors and emotions that can come with this experience. Together we discuss: *What exactly is a tongue tie? *What are some stressors that can come with this experience? *Experiences of being invalidated by providers and questions to ask to make sure you're getting the support you and your child need. *The impact of tongue tie on the parent's mental health and relationships *Addressing those feelings of guilt for not knowing or intervening earlier if the tongue tie was missed Brita offers in-home visits, virtual consults, and online courses to help empower parents to connect with their little ones through purposeful play. Connect with her below! Website: www.ptpdenver.com Instagram: @progressthroughplay Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding

In this very personal episode, I sit down with Kristin Gallant, co-founder of Big Little Feelings. We are getting real, raw, and vulnerable as we discuss our own pregnancy loss stories. This episode discusses the physical, emotional, relational, and mental toll of pregnancy loss as well as the ways we individually processed these experiences. We talk about the importance of support and community, resources like EMDR therapy, and the varied ways birthing people process this type of experience. We hope you walk away from this episode feeling less alone in what can be a very isolating experience for so many. You can connect more with Kristin @biglittlefeelings on Instagram and learn more about their parenting courses for kids 1-6 here. MORE RESOURCES: What is EMDR? https://www.drcassidymft.com/blog/emdr EMDR walk-through https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17999846029229289/ Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast rev

Today I am SO excited to be talking all about potty training with Allison Jandu! Personally, I was thrilled to sit down with Allison to ask all of my questions as I enter the potty training stage with my youngest. I am thrilled to share this episode with all of you to support and de-mystify the potty training journey. We're talking all about timing, signs your child is ready, developmental changes around the time of potty training, ways to support your child's readiness for potty training, supportive tools and language, and other actionable tips to help your child through this major milestone! Owner and founder of Potty Training Consultant, Allison Jandu, is a mom just like you. When it came time to potty train her oldest, she was quickly overwhelmed by all the conflicting information available online and was missing the support and guidance she was after. She didn't think it seemed fair for mamas to have to guess their way through potty training - toddlerhood is challenging enough! Follow @pottyt

Let's unpack the idea of "balance" for the working parent! In this episode we explore the relationship we have with our work while holding space for our relationships and family life.  I invited New York based therapist Justine Carino on to the podcast, and together we share our personal journeys in navigating the challenges of being working parents, unpack the impact of societal expectations and share tangible tips for prioritizing your values in work and family life. For more from Justine: Thoughts from the Couch - Using Your Values to Guide Your Decisions in Your Twenties with Dr. Cassidy Freitas Justine's WebsitePath to Peace courseFind Justine on Instagram Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews help us reach those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with Dr. Cassidy or learn more about her private practice, visit www.drcassidymft.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcirc

In this episode I am honored to sit down with Dr. Jasmine to talk about her real-life experience with severe PPD (postpartum depression), which happened to show up for her alongside PPA (otherwise known as postpartum anxiety.) We are diving deep into what PPD and PPA can really look like. Together we explore sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, the decision to supplement, medication, seeking support, guilt, shame, and intrusive thoughts. If you are a new parent, expecting parent, or a person who has experienced PPD and PPA, we hope you find this episode supportive and walk away from this conversation feeling seen and with some tangible tools for seeking the support you so deeply deserve. Dr. Jasmine is a pharmacist and native Californian. She's a mom of one and a strong advocate for maternal mental health and normalizing postpartum depression and anxiety. She volunteered as a Peer Mentor for PSI and wholeheartedly supports their free resources for perinatal mood disorders. In her spare time (if she has any t

Does the phrase "I look fine, but I'm not fine" sound anything like you? If is does, you're not alone. I invited my friend Dr. Sahar Martinez to talk all about this idea on this week's episode. We're talking all about anxiety, the tough moments of parenting, healing as parents, and connecting with your own inner child through the experiences of parenting. We're sharing personal stories and actionable tips of ways you can start to not only "look fine” but truly start to care for your needs. We hope you find some valuable tools in this episode to take into your own journey as a parent. Dr. Sahar Martinez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in California. She offers individual and couples therapy to support folks as they navigate relational issues, transitional phases of life, emotional pain, trauma, grief & loss. Dr. Martinez specialize in perinatal mental health, honoring the intense shift that occurs for couples and individuals when we enter parenthood. She ap

When you're going through the challenges of TTC, pregnancy, and postpartum, we often hear about the physical challenges and mental health - but how are those things connected? If you find the challenges of becoming a parent difficult both physically and mentally, you are definitely not alone! Today, we're talking all about that physical and mental health connection with Krystle Howald from Expecting and Empowered. We're sharing our own experiences as parents, addressing the connection between physical and mental health symptoms, and discussing the ways physical therapy and being proactive about your mental health can be used to support your overall wellness in parenthood. Krystle Howald specializes in orthopedic and women's health- treating patients in her clinic Empower Movement Physical Therapy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. She also owns Expecting and Empowered- a prenatal and postpartum business aimed at helping women navigate both periods with safe and effective workouts. You can find more fro

Friendship in motherhood and parenthood is life-giving -- but it's also really challenging! Do you find yourself struggling to balance your friendships with your new role as a parent? Or feeling awkward trying to meet new friends after baby? If so, you're not alone. This is an all-too-common challenge of parenthood which is why I invited my friend Miriam Kirmayer to talk all about friendships after baby on today's episode. We're talking about our personal experiences with friendship after baby, strategies for making and sustaining friendships, and the importance of meaningful and supportive friends in parenthood. Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is a clinical psychologist and leading expert on friendship and social connection. Grounded in over a decade of research on the science of friendship, her work focuses on helping people to cultivate resilience and build healthier relationships and more connected lives. You can find more from Miriam here: Website: www.miriamkirmayer.com Did you connect with that epi

Parenting can be...A LOT, and today we're talking all about PARENTAL BURNOUT. We often hear about burnout in the context of work or career, but burnout and exhaustion can absolutely show up in parenting. If you find yourself dreading the end of naptime because there wasn't enough time, feeling depleted, struggling with the idea of attaining perfection in parenting... you're not alone. I invited my friend Dr. Morgan Cutlip to talk about her experience as a professional and a mom in navigating burnout. We're discussing what parental burnout looks like, how you can identify it in yourself, day-to-day signs that burnout is creeping in, and what you can do about it. We hope you leave this episode feeling seen, understood, and supported with helpful tips to navigate the many challenges of parenthood and how to protect yourself from burn out! You can find Dr. Morgan Cutlip at the following links: Instagram: @mylovethinks Website: mylovethinks.com Podcast: Love Thinks Podcast Did you connect with that