Holding Space

Latest Episodes:

103: The Default Parent with Libby Ward Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

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 Prompts

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.

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102: The Tongue Tie Journey with Brita DeStefano PT, DPT, PCS Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

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 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.

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101: Pregnancy Loss with Kristin Gallant of Big Little Feelings Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

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/

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100: Potty Training with Allison Jandu Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

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 @pottytrainingconsultant on Instagram for free potty training tips and tricks, and info on her online courses.

For 10% off Allison's courses, use code DRCASSIDY10

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99: "Balance" and the Working Parent with Justine Carino Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

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 Website
Path to Peace course
Find Justine on Instagram

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98: Surviving Severe PPD with Dr. Jasmine Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

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 these days), she loves writing, calligraphy, watercolors, hiking, trying new foods, and traveling. She started her blog and IG page as a travel blog at first, but it has evolved into much more!

You can find more from Dr. Jasmine:

Blog: https://pearlsofjasmine.com/
Instagram: @pearlsofjasmine

RESOURCES:

Ep 76: Sleep and Breastfeeding

What am I thinking? Having a baby after postpartum depression

Why We Sleep

PSI Resources: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/

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97: “I look fine, but I’m not fine” with Dr. Sahar Martinez May 25, 2022

Show notes

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 approaches her work from a social justice, anti-racist lens, honoring and holding space for the lived experiences of the BIPOC community.

You can find more from Dr. Sahar Martinez:

On Instagram

On Facebook

On TikTok

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96: The Mind-Body Connection in Pregnancy & Postpartum with Krystle Howald DPT May 18, 2022

Show notes

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 from Krystle here:

https://www.expectingandempowered.com/

Instagram: @expectingandempowered

Expecting and Empowered App

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95: How to Build Friendships after Baby with Miriam Kirmayer May 11, 2022

Show notes

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

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94: The Depleted, Distracted, Grumpy, Guilty Parenting Cycle with Dr. Morgan Cutlip Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

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

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