Podcast
Holding Space
Hosted by Dr. Cassidy Freitas · EN
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.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
151: You, Your Partner, Your Kids and...the In-Laws
Nov 300:41:53Tap to summarizeIn 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:The cultural shifts that are reshaping how couples and families relate across generationsCommon patterns like guilt-tripping, control, and codependencyWhy boundaries rooted in core needs (not blame) lead to deeper connectionHow aging, identity, and relevance show up in these transitionsAnd the hope in becoming the kind of mother-in-law or grandparent we want to be somedayThis 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 drtracyd.com.Connect with Tracy on Instagram @drtracyd.Connect with me on Instagram @drcassidy and learn more about my private practice at www.drcassidymft.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →150: When Your Teen's Anxiety Triggers Your Own
Oct 2700:36:32Tap to summarizeWhen our teen'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:Why our teens’ anxiety activates our own nervous systemPractical tools to create space between trigger and response (hello, rage walks!)How repair and connection help rebuild trust after we come in hotLoving (and respecting) the teen you have, while holding boundaries, even when it’s hardDr. 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 @dr.annlouise.lockhart.Links + Resources:Love the Teen You Have Learn more about my private practice for California and New York parents at www.drcassidymft.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →149: Breastfeeding and Mental Health
Sep 2200:51:08Tap to summarizeIn this episode we're exploring the relationship between breastfeeding and a new mom'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:Why feeding goals and maternal mental health don’t have to competeMy own story of postpartum anxiety, shame, and perfectionism after a traumatic birthThe pressure to “do it all right” and how it keeps us from asking for helpWhy even a 4–6 hour block of sleep can change everythingHow to navigate shame and cultural messages like “breast is best”The importance of individualized, compassionate feeding plansResources and Links:Connect with Dawnita at www.womantwowoman.netFollow Dawnita on social: @dawnitawicksLearn more about my practice at www.drcassidymft.comFind notes from this episode on SubstackIf 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: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →148: Preparing for Perimenopause: Lessons from Postpartum
Sep 1500:28:07Tap to summarizeIn 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:What perimenopause and menopause actually meanThe commonly known symptoms and the less-discussed symptoms that can feel really destabilizing tooHow perimenopause intersects with mental health, parenting, and relationshipsThe protective practices I’m layering in now (yep, increasing protein is in there).My goal is to help you feel less blindsided and more resourced, so you can move through this season informed, intentional, and supported!Resources MentionedThe New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver (plus her provider directory)Melissa Wood Health for strength and functional movementBased in CA or NY and ready to start therapy? Learn more about my group practice at www.drcassidymft.comFor written takeaways, resource links, and updates on my journey, subscribe to my Substack: A Little Space, PleaseIf 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: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →147: How To Protect Your Postpartum Sleep (Even When Baby Isn't Sleeping Through the Night)
Aug 13, 202500:32:49Tap to summarizeIf 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:Why your sleep mattersHow to get consolidated rest when your baby’s not sleeping through the nightSupport strategies for breastfeeding parentsHow to share the load with your partnerA framework/scripts for bringing up tough sleep conversationsPractical ideas for splitting shifts, activating support, and improving sleep hygieneWhat to do when anxiety or hypervigilance keeps you awakeIf 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 & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Read the written version of this episode on Substack hereFind a therapist or learn more about my practice here If you found this episode helpful:💌 Subscribe to my Substack 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: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcribe →138: The Bluey Breakdown: Bad Mood and Perfect
May 6, 2024Tap to summarizeBLUEY! The beloved Heeler Family has touched the hearts and homes of children and adults around the world. But have you ever wondered what a therapist or parenting expert's take might be on the show and your favorite episodes? Have you ever wanted to really bring home the themes/lessons of the episode with your child or thought to yourself in a tricky parenting moment, "What would Chili or Bandit do?"We've got you covered! I invited fellow therapist and Bluey superfan Tessa Ritchie, LCSW to help me breakdown two of our favorite Bluey episodes: Bad Mood (Season 2) and Perfect (Season 3).You're going to want to take notes on the parenting strategies and connecting conversation starters shared in this episode, but no need to because we did it for you with the free Bluey Breakdown pdf you can download here or by visiting https://courses.drcassidymft.com/blueyguide!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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