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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'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 & Next Steps A written companion to this episode, with key takeaways and language you can return to, is available on Substack here. 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 @drsumiphd and her private practice website here! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: Why clutter isn’t neutral...how visual chaos pulls on our time, energy, and attentionThe difference between clutter and expected mess...and why that distinction can instantly lower your shameKaty’s idea of a “good enough home” and how it connects to good enough parentingWhy traditional decluttering methods (bins, labels, marathon purges, “spark joy”) often backfire for busy, emotionally-connected humansHow we can model softening, self-compassion, and boundaries with stuff for our kidsMy 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 Listen to Katy’s podcast: The Maximized MinimalistGet her book: Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the OverwhelmFind her on Instagram: @katyjoywells If you loved this episodeShare it with a friend whose home feels “loud” right nowSupport the podcast and leave a rating or review!Subscribe to my Substack, A Little Space, Please, and check out the post that goes with this episode! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: Recognize why parenting amplifies relational stressUse “reserves check-ins” to communicate needs and prevent resentmentShift from “me vs. you” to “us vs. the cycle”Bring repair, rest, and appreciation back into your partnership 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 this substack post! Interested in learning more about my therapy practice? Click here! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: 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.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When 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 hard 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 @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.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In 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 Substack 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: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: 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 Mentioned The 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.com For written takeaways, resource links, and updates on my journey, subscribe to my Substack: A Little Space, Please 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: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: 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 awake 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 & 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/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: What the Sunday Scaries actually are and why they show upHow your nervous system reacts to the anticipation of the week aheadA new way to meet the pressure...with gentleness and self-trustA 7-minute visualization to help you reconnect with your values and feel ready to begin againMentioned in this episode: Substack companion post + full visualization scriptLearn more about becoming a client at www.drcassidymft.com Visualization music credits: Take a moment to breathe- instrumental by normal the kid Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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're not broken. You'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: How emotions are messengersWhat your nervous system is trying to tell you when you feel floodedWhy fawn, fight, freeze, flight, and flock responses are so common in parenthoodThe invisible labor of caregiving, and how it fuels burnout and shutdownSensory overwhelm in modern parenting and why it hits so hardHow your hormones and cycle shape your emotional capacity Want to go deeper? Come hang out with me on Substack! This post 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 More 127: How to Rest (Realistically) as a Modern Day Parent 103: The Default Parent 94: The Depleted, Distracted, Grumpy, Guilty Parenting Cycle Download my free triggers guide here! Learn more about our therapy services for California and New York parents here: https://www.drcassidymft.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: How perfectionism and productivity culture shape our expectations around playWhy boredom matters—and how it supports creativity and independent playThe role of accessibility in helping kids play independentlyWhat to do when your child wants to play with you—but you need spaceHow to identify your own “play superpower” (even if it’s not getting on the floor)Practical tips for setting up multi-age play spaces at home 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: Playful by Design by Myriam SandlerFollow Myriam on Instagram @mothercould Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Holding Space, Dr. Cassidy sits down with Megan McNamee, a registered dietitian nutritionist and co-founder of Feeding Littles, to discuss the intersection of perfectionism, parenting, and feeding children. Megan shares insights on how parents can move away from the pressures of perfectionism, especially in the context of feeding their kids, and embrace a more intuitive and balanced approach to mealtime. We dive into common struggles parents face when it comes to feeding their kids, such as dealing with picky eating, the pressures of packing lunches, and the stress of meeting societal expectations. Megan offers practical advice on how to navigate these challenges while keeping mealtime enjoyable and stress-free. Resources Mentioned: Feeding Littles Lunchbox BookFollow Feeding Littles on Instagram Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What do you REALLY need to know about caring for your postpartum body? To answer this question I invited Ruth Macy, a pelvic health physical therapist, and Courtney Naliboff, a teacher, writer, and musician, on to the podcast to talk about all things postpartum recovery and self-compassion. Together we explore: The inspiration behind their book "Your Postpartum Body: The Complete Guide to Healing After Pregnancy"The concept of radical self-acceptance and compassion in healing after birthThe essential needs for postpartum recovery: rest, hydration, nutrition, and support (and how to make them a priority)The challenges/human cost of lactation and the mental health impact of weaningSystemic barriers to postpartum care and practical solutions to navigate them Learn more about Courtney and Ruth’s book here! If you're a California parent and interested in learning more about working with Dr. Cassidy and her therapy services visit www.drcassidymft.com If you're not a California resident and interested in starting therapy, you can learn how to find a therapist in your area by visiting https://www.drcassidymft.com/blog/how-to-find-a-therapist-like-me Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You are cordially invited to tune into our spicy book chat! I invited Sex Therapist and New York Times Bestselling Author Vanessa Marin on to the podcast to talk about all things Fantasy Fiction (especially of the spicy variety). Together we dissect: *What exactly is "smut?" *Why is fantasy so appealing? *What are some of the benefits for women reading spicy romance novels? *What are some of the tricky parts of these books to keep in mind? *Are smutty books basically just porn? *How can romantasy reading be a reclamation of time and pleasure for the busy woman? AND of course we are sharing our favorite books to add to your list and what we are reading next (download the list for yourself here: https://courses.drcassidymft.com/bookrecs Learn more about Vanessa's book and offerings at vmtherapy.com and give her a follow @vanessaandxander! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gut health...the gut microbiome...people are talking about it, but what does it all mean?! In my quest for answers, I connected with Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder of Tiny Health. In this episode you're invited to learn about the fascinating world of gut health right alongside with me. During our conversation Cheryl shares her personal journey as an entrepreneur and mother, highlighting how her experiences with pregnancy and childbirth led her to discover the importance of gut health. We dive into what the gut microbiome is, where it comes from, and why it’s crucial for overall health. She shares the role of probiotics and prebiotics in supporting a healthy gut microbiome for both infants and mothers and offers specific dietary and lifestyle recommendations to enhance gut health. Additionally, Cheryl walks us through the process and benefits of gut microbiome testing for the entire family. Resources Mentioned: Tiny Health Website (you can use code DRCASSIDY for $20 off!) Tiny Health on Instagram If you're a California parent and interested in learning more about working with Dr. Cassidy and her therapy services visit www.drcassidymft.com If you're not a California resident and interested in starting therapy, you can learn how to find a therapist in your area by visiting https://www.drcassidymft.com/blog/how-to-find-a-therapist-like-me Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy