Hey parents, tune in as Dr. Cassidy Freitas holds space for conversations with experts from around the world and parents who have been through it. With a background in Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Cassidy offers education in topics ranging from pregnancy, fertility, postpartum, parenting, partner relationships, emotional wellness, creative living and more! This podcast is not a substitute for therapy and if you&#39;re struggling you should seek help from a licensed provider in your area. Follow for more @drcassidy and you can learn more about her California-based private practice at www.drcassidymft.com.

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Social media isn&#39;t going anywhere...so how do we raise kids inside this new digital age? How do we keep them safe? How do we navigate OUR OWN relationship with it?This week I&#39;m joined by Kelly McCullough, LCSW, child and adolescent therapist, and founder of La Jolla Therapy Center, to move past the all-or-nothing panic and into something more livable. We get honest about &#34;chasing presence&#34; as parents, why our teens are actually wired to crave connection, and what the research says about the sweet spot between zero access and unrestricted access. Kelly brings the tangible, concrete guidance parents are hungry for — and we both admit how messy this is to actually pull off in real life. Whether you&#39;ve got littles, teens, or you&#39;re just navigating your own relationship with your phone, there&#39;s something here for you.In this episode, we get into:<ul><li>Why so many of us are &#34;chasing presence&#34; — and how our phones keep us stuck in the chase</li><li>Why the teenage pull toward peers is healthy, not a red flag</li><li>What emerging research says about zero access vs. unrestricted access </li><li>Kelly&#39;s tangible guidelines</li><li>How to lay the foundation early with younger kids</li><li>The loneliness epidemic</li></ul> Connect with KellyKelly McCullough is a child and adolescent therapist and the founder of La Jolla Therapy Center in San Diego, a practice devoted through and through to kids and teens. You can learn more or book a consultation with one of their licensed therapists at <a href="https://www.lajollatherapycenter.com/" rel="nofollow">lajollatherapycenter.com.</a>Connect with Dr. CassidyDr. Cassidy is a therapist specializing in supporting parents and couples who are ready to break cycles and work through the triggers that parenting brings forward. You can learn more about her group practice for parents in California, New York and Nevada at <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">drcassidymft.com.</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

163: Raising Kids in a Social Media World with Kelly McCullough

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What happens when love and fear live in the same household?This week I&#39;m joined by Leslie Priscilla, founder of Latinx Parenting, cultural healer, and author of the new book CHANCLA: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture through Nonviolent Parenting. Leslie has spent 17+ years helping Latinx families break cycles of intergenerational harm, and in this conversation she uses one deeply familiar cultural emblem — la chancla, the sandal — as a keyhole into a much bigger story about survival, history, and healing.This is a tender, honest, context-over-shame conversation. In this episode, we talk about:<ul><li>The context and culture around la Chancla</li><li>What &#34;nonviolent&#34; parenting actually means </li><li>The &#34;cuatro amigos&#34; underneath so much of how we parent</li><li>Reconnecting with the inner child — the inner niña — as a path back to intuition</li><li>Remembrance and celebrating the resilience AND resistance of the culture</li></ul> About Leslie: Leslie Priscilla is a Certified Parent Coach, Certified Family Life Educator, and the founder of Latinx Parenting, a bilingual organization reaching hundreds of thousands of families through workshops, trainings, and advocacy rooted in children&#39;s rights and nonviolence. She&#39;s a mother of three based in Santa Ana, CA. Find Leslie:<ul><li>Instagram: @latinxparenting</li><li>Web: latinxparenting.org</li><li>Get the book CHANCLA — out now, linked at<a href="https://latinxparenting.org/" rel="nofollow"> latinxparenting.org</a></li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

162: The Roots of La Chancla: A Latinx Parenting Conversation with Leslie Priscilla

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In this episode, I sit down with therapist Josie Ampaw-Greene — a licensed clinical social worker and mom to twins — for a conversation on how we talk to our kids about race, identity, and oppression.We talk about:<ul><li>Why &#34;should I even bring it up?&#34; is itself a form of privilege</li><li>Ally vs. accomplice — and sitting IN the discomfort, not on the sidelines</li><li>Perfectionism as a form of white supremacy (yeah...we went there)</li><li>Adultification — why kids of color have these talks so much earlier</li><li>Starting with history (going back 300 years, not today&#39;s headlines)</li><li>And where to start today</li></ul> If you take one thing from this episode, let it be Josie&#39;s reminder: you can&#39;t take your kids somewhere you haven&#39;t gone yourself.You can connect with Josie and her Denver practice, Ampaw Psychotherapy &amp; Consulting, at <a href="https://www.ampawpc.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.ampawpc.com</a> and on Instagram @diaryofabrokenheartedtherapist. To learn more about my book Mom Needs a Moment or my California/New York private practice, visit <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.drcassidymft.com</a>A few resources named in the episode:<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/1MA/march/" rel="nofollow">The March Graphic Novel Books</a><a href="https://thenapministry.com/" rel="nofollow">Tricia Hersey / The Nap Ministry - Rest is Resistance</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

161: Ally Isn't Enough: Talking to Your Kids About Race with Josephine Ampaw-Greene

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In this episode, I sit down with poet and storyteller Taylor Rae Roman for a conversation about the quiet, disorienting grief underneath early motherhood...the experience of waking up in a new body, a new mind, a new identity, and never really getting to say goodbye to the woman you were before.This one&#39;s for the mom who loves her baby AND is barely hanging on. For the one who had the &#34;perfect&#34; birth and still whispers I hate my life into the 3am dark...then feels like a monster for it. For the mom who hasn&#39;t turned on music in the car in MONTHS because one more sound might crack her open. We talk about:<ul><li>Grieving the woman you were before</li><li>Why &#34;perfect&#34; feels like drowning</li><li>The sensory overload no one warns you about</li><li>Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety</li><li>Seeing yourself in your baby&#39;s eyes</li><li>Why none of it (the hard OR the beautiful) is forever</li><li>The poem that says it all</li></ul> If you take one thing from this episode, let it be Taylor&#39;s message to the mom listening right now: you are not crazy. This is as hard as you think it is. You are not alone. And you deserve support...like, yesterday.You can connect with Taylor at <a href="https://taylorraeroman.com/" rel="nofollow">https://taylorraeroman.com</a> and follow her on social media @taylorraeroman.To learn more about my book Mom Needs a Moment or my California/New York private practice visit <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.drcassidymft.com</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

160: The Poetry of Motherhood and the Person You Grieve with Taylor Rae Roman

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In this episode, I sit down with my friend Destini Ann, fellow mom, parenting educator, and author of the book Very Intentional Parenting...for the screen time conversation SO many of you have been begging for.Destini and I go way back (we met years ago in a little study group with Dr. Becky and a few other good souls), and we&#39;ve been in each other&#39;s DMs ever since. Then she shared a resource that genuinely changed things in my house around screen time... and I was like...okay, we HAVE to make this happen. This one&#39;s for the parent white-knuckling the iPad handoff, the one really wishing computers and phones were non-existent in their child&#39;s world, and honestly anyone who&#39;s ever come in HOT about screens and then thought... wait, was that really necessary, or was that my anxiety? (No judgment. I&#39;ve been there. Like, just-this-morning there.)We talk about:<ul><li>Quality vs. quantity — why your kid&#39;s screen struggle might look completely different from the kid down the street </li><li>&#34;Not yet&#34; is a full sentence — the boundary I wish I&#39;d had sooner</li><li>How to pay attention WITHOUT micromanaging — scrolling alongside your kid instead of confiscate-and-investigate</li><li>Why the moment is almost never the moment to address it — and what to do instead </li><li>&#34;This is not an emergency&#34; — even when what you stumble on makes you go WHAT in the actual world</li><li>Protection AND education — how to hold both without losing your mind</li><li>The screen time flow chart Destini created — the actual resource that shifted things in my home (link below!)</li><li>Why so much of parenting a teen is choosing the RIGHT kind of slightly uncomfortable</li><li>&#34;Are you open?&#34; — the four-word script Destini swears is basically sorcery </li><li>Cursing, dating, e-bikes, bike-ride sex talks, Awkward Fridays — all the real, slightly-mortifying conversations that build the kind of trust you&#39;ll be SO grateful for later</li></ul> And yes... this connects so deeply to the heart of my book <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/book" rel="nofollow">Mom Needs a Moment</a>...taking a beat, resourcing yourself outside the moment so you can come back INTO the moment as the parent you actually want to be.You can find Destini Ann on Instagram (with all the ways to connect with her) <a href="https://www.instagram.com/destini.ann/" rel="nofollow">@destini.ann</a> and grab her screen time flow chart <a href="https://stan.store/destiniann/p/the-updated-screen-time-flowchart-is-here" rel="nofollow">here</a>! To learn more about my therapy practice or book a free consult, visit <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">drcassidymft.com.</a> You can learn more about my book Mom Needs a Moment <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/book" rel="nofollow">here</a> and get your pre-order gifts if you order before June 16 <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/mom-needs-a-moment-preorder/" rel="nofollow">here</a>! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

159: Screentime with Destini Ann

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Pany Robinson, a board-certified family practitioner with 22 years of experience and one of the most refreshingly no-nonsense voices I&#39;ve encountered on women&#39;s hormonal health to talk about everything you weren&#39;t told about perimenopause and menopause.I met Dr. Pany at a training on maternal rage (yes, there&#39;s a connection), and I was immediately like: I need her on this podcast.This one is for anyone who has ever felt like something was off but couldn&#39;t name it — and for your partner too, honestly.We talk about:<ul><li>The symptoms nobody mentions: itchy ears, frozen shoulder, cystic acne, vertigo, palpitations, recurrent UTIs, and more</li><li>Why hot flashes are actually a later symptom...and what&#39;s already happening in your body long before that</li><li>How to advocate for yourself in a system that isn&#39;t quite caught up yet (including what to ask for and how to say it)</li><li>The long-term case for hormone therapy: dementia, cancer risk, muscle loss, and more</li><li>The relational toll: libido, intimacy, and why 45 is both the hardest year for women on average and the peak age for divorce</li><li>Why this is a whole-body, multidisciplinary issue, not just a &#34;get on a patch and call it a day&#34; situation</li></ul>To connect with Dr. Pany or book a free 20-minute phone consult, visit <a href="https://nextphaseclinic.com/" rel="nofollow">nextphaseclinic.com.</a>To learn more about my therapy practice or book a free consult you can visit <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">drcassidymft.com.</a>You can learn more about Dr. Cassidy&#39;s book Mom Needs a Moment <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/book" rel="nofollow">here</a> or you can buy it wherever books are sold! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

158: What You Need to Know About Perimenopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Pany Robinson

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In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Kim Van Dusen — one of my very first podcast guests ever — to talk about her new book Parenting Through Play.Together we explore why play is such a powerful entry point for connection, regulation, and even repair with our kids. Dr. Kim helps those of us who don&#39;t always feel like getting on the floor to play (hi, it&#39;s me) by introducing the idea of &#34;purposeful play pockets&#34; — micro moments of novelty and playfulness woven throughout the day that don&#39;t require a ton of energy or capacity. Think: swapping a fork for a pair of tongs at dinner, or a small mindset shift at clean-up time.We also talk about:<ul><li>The myth that play has to mean sitting on the floor for hours of pretend</li><li>Reconnecting with your own inner child (especially if you didn&#39;t grow up in a playful home)</li><li>Why play and power struggles both take energy...and which one you&#39;d rather spend it on</li><li>Using play as a tool for repair</li><li>How play can help kids work through big transitions, sibling dynamics, separation anxiety, and fear</li><li>The invisible mental load that comes with parenting and with being the &#34;fun&#34; one</li><li>The legacy we leave when our kids learn to use play to connect, communicate, and repair</li></ul>To learn more from Dr. Kim and grab a copy of Parenting Through Play, visit <a href="https://theparentologist.com/book/" rel="nofollow">theparentologist.com/book</a> and follow along on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theparentologist/" rel="nofollow">@theparentologist</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

157: Micro Moments of Play (For the Parent Who's Tired) with Dr. Kim Van Dusen

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On today’s episode, I’m joined by therapist, speaker, and host of The Dude Therapist Podcast, Eli Weinstein. Eli works extensively with couples and families, and his upcoming book From I Do to We Do explores what really happens to relationships once kids enter the picture.Because here’s the truth: most couples start parenting believing that love will carry them through. And while love absolutely matters, it’s not always enough to navigate the stress, exhaustion, invisible labor, and shifting roles that come with raising kids.In this episode, we talk honestly about what happens to marriages during the parenting years, including the quiet resentment that can build when expectations go unspoken, the invisible mental load many parents carry, and why couples often feel like they’re both doing “120%.”Eli shares practical ways couples can reconnect as teammates instead of adversaries, and why repair, not perfection, is what actually sustains long-term relationships.In this episode, we talk about:<ul><li>Why love alone doesn’t guide couples through the parenting years</li><li>How unmet expectations quietly turn into resentment</li><li>The mental load many parents carry, and how couples can share it more intentionally</li><li>The power of repair after rupture, and why genuine apologies matter more than perfect ones</li><li>Why successful marriages require choosing your partner again and again as life changes</li></ul>My hope is that this conversation helps couples step out of scorekeeping and back into partnership. Parenting can easily pull partners into opposite corners. But when couples learn how to communicate, repair, and reconnect, they can remember that they’re actually on the same team.<h2> </h2>Connect with Eli<ul><li>Follow Eli on social media: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eliweinstein_lcsw/?hl=en" rel="nofollow">@eliweinstein_lcsw</a></li><li>Get his book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Partners-Parenting-Eli-Weinstein/dp/1394318693" rel="nofollow">From I Do to We Do</a></li></ul> If you loved this episode<ul><li>Share it with a parent who’s in the thick of it right now</li><li>Support the podcast with a rating or review</li><li>Subscribe to my Substack, <a href="https://drcassidy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">A Little Space, Please,</a> for the post that goes with this episode</li><li>Learn more about Dr. Cassidy and Co&#39;s therapy practice at <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">www.drcassidymft.com</a></li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

156: What Couples Actually Need After Kids with Eli Weinstein

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On today’s episode, I’m joined by mindfulness mentor, meditation teacher, and host of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields. Hunter is the author of Raising Good Humans and Raising Good Humans Every Day, and for years she’s been supporting parents in moving out of reactivity and into more present, connected relationships with their kids.As a therapist and parent, I know how easy it is to feel like we’re “messing it all up,” especially in the early years when we’re exhausted, triggered, and trying to break cycles in real time. In this conversation, Hunter reflects on parenting her oldest, now 18, and shares what only time can teach: repair matters more than perfection, and it’s never too late to shift a relationship.In this episode, we talk about:<ul><li>Why parenting is a long game, and why you don’t always get immediate feedback that it’s “working”</li><li>How repair builds safety and connection, even after reactivity</li><li>The power of delighting in your child, and practicing real listening</li><li>Why boundaries and self-care are essential, not selfish</li><li>Hunter’s message for parents in the thick of the toddler years</li></ul>My hope is that this episode offers you a deep exhale: you don’t have to be perfect to be a safe, steady parent. What matters is your willingness to keep coming back.Connect with Hunter<ul><li>Listen to her podcast: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindful-mama-raising-kind-confident-kids-without-losing/id716979718" rel="nofollow">Mindful Mama Podcast</a></li><li>Get her books: Raising Good Humans and Raising Good Humans Every Day</li><li>Find her online: mindfulmamamentor.com</li></ul>If you loved this episode<ul><li>Share it with a parent who’s in the thick of it right now</li><li>Support the podcast with a rating or review</li><li>Subscribe to my Substack, <a href="https://drcassidy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">A Little Space, Please,</a> for the post that goes with this episode</li><li>Learn more about Dr. Cassidy and Co&#39;s therapy practice at <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">www.drcassidymft.com</a></li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

155: The Long Game of Parenting with Hunter Clarke-Fields

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In this episode of Holding Space, Dr. Cassidy is joined by Dr. Sumi Raghavan for a grounded, human conversation about parenting during a moment of real fear and moral injury.ICE violence in Minnesota and across the country has left many parents feeling dysregulated, overwhelmed, and unsure how to show up for their kids while their own nervous systems are on high alert. This conversation isn’t happening from a distance. We&#39;re two moms, two therapists, sitting inside the same world you are, trying to figure out how to keep showing up without collapsing.Together, we explore what’s happening in parents’ nervous systems right now, why overwhelm is a reasonable response to real threat, and how regulation is not disengagement, but the foundation for sustained action and care.We aim to offer concrete guidance for how to talk to kids across different ages, from young children to teens, while protecting their sense of safety without pretending nothing is happening.This episode is meant to be a place of containment, not more flooding.Resources &amp; Next StepsA written companion to this episode, with key takeaways and language you can return to, is available on Substack <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/drcassidy/p/the-world-isnt-okay-and-were-still?r=5fu4o&showWelcomeOnShare=true&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">here.</a>Links to grounding tools, community resources, and organizations supporting immigrant families are included there as well.To connect with Dr. Sumi Raghavan and learn more about her New York-based private practice, you can find her on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drsumiphd/" rel="nofollow">@drsumiphd</a> and her private practice website <a href="https://www.drsumiphd.com/" rel="nofollow">here!</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

154: The World Isn’t Okay, and We’re Still Making PB&Js with Dr. Sumi Raghavan

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On today’s episode I’m joined by holistic decluttering expert and host of the top-rated podcast The Maximized Minimalist, Katy Joy Wells.As a therapist and parent, I know how often our homes can feel like one more place we’re “falling behind.” In this conversation, we explore how clutter impacts our nervous systems, our relationships, and our sense of enoughness. Katy offers a shame-free, deeply human approach that looks at the emotions, beliefs, and habits under the piles.In this episode, we talk about:<ul><li>Why clutter isn’t neutral...how visual chaos pulls on our time, energy, and attention</li><li>The difference between clutter and expected mess...and why that distinction can instantly lower your shame</li><li>Katy’s idea of a “good enough home” and how it connects to good enough parenting</li><li>Why traditional decluttering methods (bins, labels, marathon purges, “spark joy”) often backfire for busy, emotionally-connected humans</li><li>How we can model softening, self-compassion, and boundaries with stuff for our kids</li></ul>My hope is that this episode offers you something Katy and I kept coming back to: hope for a lighter, calmer home that supports presence with the people you love...without having to become a different person or maintain a Pinterest-perfect house.Connect with Katy<ul><li>Listen to Katy’s podcast: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/maximized-minimalist-podcast/id1460805372" rel="nofollow">The Maximized Minimalist</a></li><li>Get her book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Making-Home-Your-Happy-Place/dp/1400348218" rel="nofollow">Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm</a></li><li>Find her on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katyjoywells/?hl=en" rel="nofollow">@katyjoywells</a></li></ul> <h3>If you loved this episode</h3><ul><li>Share it with a friend whose home feels “loud” right now</li><li>Support the podcast and leave a rating or review!</li><li>Subscribe to my Substack, <a href="https://drcassidy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">A Little Space, Please,</a> and check out <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/drcassidy/p/when-the-mess-makes-you-snap?r=5fu4o&showWelcomeOnShare=true&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">the post</a> that goes with this episode!</li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

153: Why Your House Is Stressing You Out (and What To Do About It) with Katy Wells

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Have you ever noticed how much harder parenting feels when things are tense between you and your partner? Maybe you start off trying to calm your kids in the back seat… and somehow end up arguing about the volume of the music. Or one of you sets a boundary with your child, the other undermines it, and suddenly you’re in a standoff that feels way bigger than it should.In this episode, Dr. Cassidy explores how the stress of parenting can shake the foundation of even the strongest relationships, and what you can do to reconnect when the patience runs thin and the reactions run hot.In this episode you’ll learn how to:<ul><li>Recognize why parenting amplifies relational stress</li><li>Use “reserves check-ins” to communicate needs and prevent resentment</li><li>Shift from “me vs. you” to “us vs. the cycle”</li><li>Bring repair, rest, and appreciation back into your partnership</li></ul> You’ll also hear simple ways to rebuild connection that don’t require date nights, fancy plans, or extra childcare - just small, intentional moments that help you remember you’re on the same team.Would you love to have this episode written out for you? Check out <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/drcassidy/p/why-parenting-feels-so-hard-when?r=5fu4o&showWelcomeOnShare=true&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">this substack post!</a>Interested in learning more about my therapy practice? Click <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">here!</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

152: Parenting Together When You Feel Miles Apart

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In this conversation, I’m joined by my dear friend and fellow therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish to explore the tender, complex space between partnership and extended family...where love, loyalty, and old patterns can collide.We talk about why these dynamics feel especially charged for so many of us right now, what it means to navigate guilt and control in family systems, and how we can stay connected to our partners (and ourselves) when generational patterns start to resurface.Dr. Tracy shares insights from her new book You, Your Husband, and His Mother - a compassionate guide to understanding in-law dynamics, communicating as a united front, and finding your footing as a couple when family expectations run high.We also talk about:<ul><li>The cultural shifts that are reshaping how couples and families relate across generations</li><li>Common patterns like guilt-tripping, control, and codependency</li><li>Why boundaries rooted in core needs (not blame) lead to deeper connection</li><li>How aging, identity, and relevance show up in these transitions</li><li>And the hope in becoming the kind of mother-in-law or grandparent we want to be someday</li></ul>This episode is for anyone standing in that middle place...between the family you came from and the one you’re creating while trying to honor both love and autonomy along the way.Learn more about Tracy’s work and her book at <a href="https://drtracyd.com" rel="nofollow">drtracyd.com</a>.Connect with Tracy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drtracyd" rel="nofollow">@drtracyd</a>.Connect with me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drcassidy" rel="nofollow">@drcassidy</a> and learn more about my private practice at <a href="http://www.drcassidymft.com" rel="nofollow">www.drcassidymft.com</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

151: You, Your Partner, Your Kids and...the In-Laws with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/10/22/15/895b5a98-e392-4121-9d42-8c9c05b0314e_annlouiseteensfinalfinal.mp3

When our teen&#39;s worry sets off our own, it can feel like two nervous systems locked in the same storm. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my friend and colleague Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to unpack what’s really happening beneath those moments of reactivity and how parents can shift from fear-based reacting to compassionate, grounded responding.We talk about:<ul><li>Why our teens’ anxiety activates our own nervous system</li><li>Practical tools to create space between trigger and response (hello, rage walks!)</li><li>How repair and connection help rebuild trust after we come in hot</li><li>Loving (and respecting) the teen you have, while holding boundaries, even when it’s hard</li></ul> Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is a pediatric psychologist, parent coach, and author of Love the Teen You Have: A Practical Guide to Transforming Conflict into Connection (out October 28). Find her at https://drannlouiselockhart.com and on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dr.annlouiselockhart" rel="nofollow">@dr.annlouise.lockhart</a>.Links + Resources:<ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Teen-You-Have-Transforming/dp/1250361001/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DJAAVRR5U2BB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-k8ixnHk274gWP4lcdpLs0d-kHIpZNF3qRSY0rSZdgs.88AXQVCRJgBssMg9pdAGXXhyyNgfkSX8SKKC9QsQkIc&dib_tag=se&keywords=dr.+ann-louise+lockhart&qid=1747742903&sprefix=dr.+ann-louise%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Love the Teen You Have </a></li><li>Learn more about my private practice for California and New York parents at <a href="http://www.drcassidymft.com" rel="nofollow">www.drcassidymft.com</a></li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

150: When Your Teen's Anxiety Triggers Your Own with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/9/18/17/7d0b8dad-ada3-41ad-9fb3-f642caa6c3b8_dawnitaepisodefinal.mp3

In this episode we&#39;re exploring the relationship between breastfeeding and a new mom&#39;s mental health. To help us really go deep (and practical) on this topic, I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Dawnita Wicks, a registered nurse, public health nurse, and internationally board-certified lactation consultant.I first connected with Dawnita because I had clients who were struggling not just with feeding, but also with their mental health. When they worked with her, they came back to me saying: “She really saw all of me - the feeding goals AND my mental health.” I knew I had to meet this unicorn of a provider.In our conversation, we talk about what it’s like to sit at the intersection of infant feeding and maternal mental health. We share our own postpartum stories (including my first experience of birth trauma, breastfeeding challenges, and postpartum anxiety), the shame that so often convinces us to stay silent, and the power of support that honors both our goals and our needs.We also unpack the cultural messages around feeding, why sleep is a critical piece of the puzzle, and how there are so many more options than the “all or nothing” plans we often think we have to follow.If you’ve ever felt torn between wanting to meet your feeding goals and also desperately needing rest, connection, and mental health support...you are not alone. This episode is for you.In This Episode, We Talk About:<ul><li>Why feeding goals and maternal mental health don’t have to compete</li><li>My own story of postpartum anxiety, shame, and perfectionism after a traumatic birth</li><li>The pressure to “do it all right” and how it keeps us from asking for help</li><li>Why even a 4–6 hour block of sleep can change everything</li><li>How to navigate shame and cultural messages like “breast is best”</li><li>The importance of individualized, compassionate feeding plans</li></ul>Resources and Links:<ul><li>Connect with Dawnita at <a href="https://www.womantwowoman.net/" rel="nofollow">www.womantwowoman.net</a></li><li>Follow Dawnita on social: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dawnitawicks" rel="nofollow">@dawnitawicks</a></li><li>Learn more about my practice at <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/" rel="nofollow">www.drcassidymft.com</a></li><li>Find notes from this episode on <a href="https://drcassidy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">Substack</a></li></ul> If this episode resonates with you:Share it with a friend who might need this conversation, subscribe to Holding Space, and leave a review - it helps other parents find their way here! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

149: Breastfeeding and Mental Health

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/9/15/16/614fcb92-cfc8-464a-9ad8-e09699ce1a33_perimenopausefinalfinal.mp3

In today’s solo episode, I open up about how I’m preparing for perimenopause at 40, and why I don’t want to walk into this transition as unprepared as I felt during postpartum.We’ll talk about:<ul><li>What perimenopause and menopause actually mean</li><li>The commonly known symptoms and the less-discussed symptoms that can feel really destabilizing too</li><li>How perimenopause intersects with mental health, parenting, and relationships</li><li>The protective practices I’m layering in now (yep, increasing protein is in there).</li></ul> My goal is to help you feel less blindsided and more resourced, so you can move through this season informed, intentional, and supported!Resources Mentioned<ul><li>T<a href="https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-menopause-book" rel="nofollow">he New Menopause </a>by Dr. Mary Claire Haver (plus her <a href="https://thepauselife.com/pages/recommended-physicians" rel="nofollow">provider directory</a>)</li><li><a href="https://melissawoodhealth.com/" rel="nofollow">Melissa Wood Health </a>for strength and functional movement</li><li>Based in CA or NY and ready to start therapy? Learn more about my group practice at <a href="http://www.drcassidymft.com" rel="nofollow">www.drcassidymft.com</a></li></ul> For written takeaways, resource links, and updates on my journey, subscribe to my Substack: <a href="https://drcassidy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">A Little Space, Please</a>If today’s episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need it too!Subscribe to Holding Space wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss upcoming episodes. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

148: Preparing for Perimenopause: Lessons from Postpartum

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/8/12/17/91818f22-d2d6-4621-b43c-a4fa2f98252c_sleepepisodeaudiofinalfinal.mp3

If you’re in the postpartum season, you already know...sleep deprivation is A BEAST. It affects everything: your mood, your relationships, your health, and your ability to feel present with your baby.In this episode I’m breaking down why protecting your rest matters, how to get restorative sleep (even if your baby is waking frequently), and how to navigate sleep conversations with your partner without spiraling into resentment.We’ll cover:<ul><li>Why your sleep matters</li><li>How to get consolidated rest when your baby’s not sleeping through the night</li><li>Support strategies for breastfeeding parents</li><li>How to share the load with your partner</li><li>A framework/scripts for bringing up tough sleep conversations</li><li>Practical ideas for splitting shifts, activating support, and improving sleep hygiene</li><li>What to do when anxiety or hypervigilance keeps you awake</li></ul> If you’re ready to start valuing your own rest without guilt, this episode will give you permission, strategies, and a plan to start tonight.Links &amp; Resources Mentioned in This Episode:<ul><li>Read the written version of this episode on Substack <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/drcassidy/p/getting-sleep-postpartum?r=5fu4o&showWelcomeOnShare=true&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">here</a></li><li>Find a therapist or learn more about my practice <a href="https://www.drcassidymft.com/blog/how-to-find-a-therapist-like-me" rel="nofollow">here</a></li></ul>﻿If you found this episode helpful:💌 <a href="https://drcassidy.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">Subscribe to my Substack</a> for written tools and strategies from new episodes.🎧 Share this episode with a friend in the postpartum season.⭐ Leave a review to help other parents find this resource! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

147: How To Protect Your Postpartum Sleep (Even When Baby Isn't Sleeping Through the Night)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/7/24/17/b485ef02-119f-4a63-ae69-eea9c72917ea_sundayscaries.m4a

Do you feel that familiar dread or restlessness in your body as the weekend winds down? You’re NOT alone! In this episode, we explore the Sunday Scaries through the lens of the nervous system, naming the hidden pressure so many women and moms carry into the week.We’ll break down why this anticipatory anxiety happens, how it can activate survival responses and what your body is trying to tell you.Then, I’ll guide you through a grounding visualization called The Sunday Sanctuary, a practice you can return to any time to feel more regulated, resourced, and ready for the week.In this episode:<ul><li>What the Sunday Scaries actually are and why they show up</li><li>How your nervous system reacts to the anticipation of the week ahead</li><li>A new way to meet the pressure...with gentleness and self-trust</li><li>A 7-minute visualization to help you reconnect with your values and feel ready to begin again</li></ul>Mentioned in this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/drcassidy/p/softening-the-sunday-scaries?r=5fu4o&showWelcomeOnShare=true&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">Substack companion post + full visualization script</a></li><li>Learn more about becoming a client at www.drcassidymft.com</li></ul> Visualization music credits: Take a moment to breathe- instrumental by normal the kid Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

146: Soften the Sunday Scaries

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/7/2/19/7c18dd33-0b97-4c93-a7d5-aded31d47e8e_reactivityepisode.m4a

In this solo episode of Holding Space, I’m diving into one of the most common and quietly painful questions I hear from parents (and ask myself too):Why am I so reactive?If you’ve ever found yourself snapping before you even realized what was happening, crying over something small, or wondering, what is wrong with me? This episode is for you. You&#39;re not broken. You&#39;re carrying a lot. And reactivity is often your nervous system’s way of trying to protect you.In this episode, I explore the deeper layers beneath reactivity and offer practical ways to create just enough margin to respond instead of react.I talk about:<ul><li>How emotions are messengers</li><li>What your nervous system is trying to tell you when you feel flooded</li><li>Why fawn, fight, freeze, flight, and flock responses are so common in parenthood</li><li>The invisible labor of caregiving, and how it fuels burnout and shutdown</li><li>Sensory overwhelm in modern parenting and why it hits so hard</li><li>How your hormones and cycle shape your emotional capacity</li></ul> Want to go deeper?Come hang out with me on Substack! <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/drcassidy/p/why-am-i-so-reactive?r=5fu4o&showWelcomeOnShare=true&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" rel="nofollow">This post</a> includes every reflection, tool, and prompt from the episode...plus a few extras.Resources mentioned in this episode:→ Dr. Haver’s provider directory: https://thepauselife.com/pages/recommended-physicians→ Substack: A Little Space, Please: https://drcassidy.substack.com/→ Other related episodes:136: How to Carry Less While Enjoying Motherhood More127: How to Rest (Realistically) as a Modern Day Parent103: The Default Parent94: The Depleted, Distracted, Grumpy, Guilty Parenting CycleDownload my free triggers guide <a href="https://courses.drcassidymft.com/rage-triggers-quiz" rel="nofollow">here!</a>Learn more about our therapy services for California and New York parents here: https://www.drcassidymft.com/ Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

145: Why Am I So Reactive?

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/5/13/19/2ea44ea6-6bbd-43f6-bd50-0079af6b8c76_myriameditedfinal.m4a

In this episode of Holding Space, I welcome parenting educator and content creator behind the account Mother Could, Myriam Sandler, for a real and refreshing conversation about play in parenthood.Together, we unpack the pressure many parents feel to “play the right way,” especially in today’s era of intensive parenting.Episode highlights:<ul><li>How perfectionism and productivity culture shape our expectations around play</li><li>Why boredom matters—and how it supports creativity and independent play</li><li>The role of accessibility in helping kids play independently</li><li>What to do when your child wants to play with you—but you need space</li><li>How to identify your own “play superpower” (even if it’s not getting on the floor)</li><li>Practical tips for setting up multi-age play spaces at home</li></ul> Whether you love crafting sensory bins or prefer connecting through board games, 3D printing, or sports, this episode invites you to reclaim play in a way that honors your capacity and your child’s uniqueness.Resources Mentioned:<ul><li><a href="https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate/playful-by-design/" rel="nofollow">Playful by Design by Myriam Sandler</a></li><li>Follow Myriam on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/mothercould" rel="nofollow">@mothercould</a></li></ul> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

144: When Play Feels Hard in the Age of Intensive Parenting with @mothercould

Hey parents, tune in as Dr. Cassidy Freitas holds space for conversations with experts from around the world and parents who have been through it. With a background in Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Cassidy offers education in topics ranging from pregnancy, fertility, postpartum, parenting, partner relationships, emotional wellness, creative living and more! This podcast is not a substitute for therapy and if you're struggling you should seek help from a licensed provider in your area. Follow for more @drcassidy and you can learn more about her California-based private practice at www.drcassidymft.com.