Holding Space

In this episode we are talking about postpartum mental health for couples. I am joined by my friend and colleague, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish. Dr. Tracy is a licensed clinical psychologist and couples therapist based in Canada as well the creator of the supportive Instagram account, @dr.tracyd.

Dr. Tracy shares with us some signs and symptoms to look for if you or your partner are experiencing anxiety or depression during postpartum and she explains how postpartum anxiety or depression can impact your couple relationship. I share a bit about my personal experience with postpartum anxiety and depression within my partner relationship after our first baby and Dr. Tracy offers some tangible tips and tools for how to reconnect and find each other again amidst the postpartum haze.

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.

Today's episode is a little bit different than most here on Holding Space Podcast...in the best way! Today I'm inviting my friends Mallory and Stranz Wolfgramm onto the podcast to talk about their experience preparing for their first child.

Mallory is actually a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and creator of the Instagram account @makemarriagework, but as I've shared from my personal experience, being a therapist doesn't actually prepare you for all the challenges that you and your partner can face when becoming parents and experiencing postpartum.

Today I'm walking Mallory and her husband Stranz through their concerns and big pain points as they prepare for their first baby. Together we explore: feelings of helplessness as a non-birthing partner, the big emotional challenges, fears and anxiety about labor and delivery, and so much more.

At the end of the episode I also pop back onto the episode solo to offer specific tips and resources for couples preparing for birth and postpartum!

Looking for more support in preparing your family for postpartum? Click here to learn more about Prepared Postpartum!

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.

Today's episode is for the non-birthing partners and those mama's who want to help support their non-birthing partner through the experience of having a baby and becoming a parent!

Today I'm excited to share with you my conversation with Eli Weinstein. Eli is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, creator of the Instagram account @eliweinstein_lcsw, and host of the Dude Therapist Podcast. In this episode Eli shares his experience as a first-time postpartum father. He discusses his personal struggles with expectations and bonding in the fourth trimester. Together we explore the important role of the non-birthing partner for the postpartum family and offers tips on how other non-birthing partners can create their own unique bonds with their children.

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.

Let's cut right to the chase, this episode is about PEE, POOP, SEX, and all things pelvic floor after baby!

I'll be honest...for my postpartum experience, I had no idea what the pelvic floor even was. That's why in today's episode I have invited on The Vagina Whisperer, Sara Reardon. Sara is a pelvic floor physical therapist and creator of the popular Instagram account @the.vagina.whisperer.

Today Sara is helping to demystify the role of the pelvic floor and it's importance in our lives, particularly with pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Sara is walking us through how to care for our pelvic floor through daily activities and exercises.

You can follow Sara on Instagram for more tips and access to her resources! 

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.

In today's episode I am joined by my friend and colleague, Abbey Williams, and we are talking all about divorce, co-parenting, and thriving as a blended family. Abbey is a Licensed Social Worker and the creator of the popular podcast and Instagram account @mimosaswithmoms.

Today Abbey is sharing both her own personal experiences with us as well as her professional wisdom on the big feelings that can come up with divorce, co-parenting, and blended families as well as how to ensure you and your partner are putting your child first. Abbey speaks to the challenges that can arise with being a single parent and how to make sure you're getting the support you and your family need.

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.

Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care for mamas across the world are NOT created equal. We often just assume that whatever care we get in our area or country is just the norm, but no one knows better than my guest today that this couldn't be further from the truth!

Today I am joined by my longtime friend Isobel Benesch. Having experienced birth and postpartum both in the United States and New Zealand, Isobel is sharing with us today the major differences between her experiences and the interviews she has conducted with mamas and experts across the world about differences in perinatal care.

We're comparing and contrasting the experiences between countries like the United States and Sweden that have vastly different approaches when it comes to perinatal care. In our conversation we're talking everything from maternity/paternity leave, gender expectations, and how to navigate with your partner the big change of returning to work after maternity/paternity leave.

To help you and your partner navigate the going back to work stage of postpartum, we also have created a Back to Work Conversation Card Deck. This card deck features key conversation starters and tips to help smooth the process of returning to work as a family. You can click here to download the card deck: https://courses.drcassidymft.com/back-to-work-baby-conversation-cards

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.

In this episode I am sharing my conversation with psychotherapist, Jessica Vanderwier, the creator of the Instagram account @ourmamavillage. Today Jess is sharing with us how we can teach our children about consent. In this episode Jess shares tangible ways and age-specific tips in which we can teach our kids from an early age about how to honor the boundaries of their bodies and to respect the boundaries of others. 

While what we discuss in this episode is incredibly important, I also realize that today's topic might be triggering for some of you depending on your context, comfort-level, and your own history and experiences. If after this episode you find yourself needing a little more personalized support, we have some resources listed below where you can find a therapist in your area:

Psychology Today

Open Path Collective (if you're looking for a therapist who offers a lower fee)

Postpartum Support International

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.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to reach out to a perinatal psychiatrist? In this episode I share my conversation with Dr. Sarah Oreck, a Columbia University-trained psychiatrist focusing on women's mental health.

Join us as we chat about options for support and treatment when you’re struggling during pregnancy, after baby and beyond. Together we demystify the process of getting help and dive into both common and unexpected symptoms of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders for BOTH parents.

If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Sarah, you can follow her on Instagram at @sarahoreckmd! 

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.

As we talk about here often on Holding Space, it's not uncommon for our "own stuff" from our past to come up in our parenting journey. Our relationship with food and our relationship with our body is no different.

In today's episode I am joined by my friend Crystal Karges. Crystal is a maternal child health specialist, food and body image coach for moms, and lactation consultant. She is passionate about helping moms ditch the diet culture, heal their relationships with food and their bodies and raise children who can trust, honor, and nourish their bodies. In this episode Crystal offers insights into how we can do our own work as parents to heal our relationships with food and our bodies through pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.

You can learn more about Crystal at her Instagram, @crystalkarges. 

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.

Oh, the big tantrums...can I speak for all of us when I say it's definitely one of the harder parts of parenting to navigate? 

These moments can also bring up old stuff from our own childhoods. When tantrums happen maybe we respond by just doing what our parents did with us, or maybe we're just trying to do the exact opposite of our own parent's parenting styles. Neither can feel like solid direction in how to truly support our kids (and ourselves) when big feelings spill over.

Today I am so excited to share with you this conversation with Mr. Chazz. Mr. Chazz is an Educational Specialist who, “teaches teachers to teach” in a chain of Child Development Centers. His vision is to help adults see, guide and build WITH their students and children. In this episode we demystify tantrums and talk about ways in which we can embrace the teaching that can happen within discipline while still feeling connected to our children.

You can learn more from Mr. Chazz at his Instagram: @mrchazz

In addition you can support his work and access his resources at: https://www.patreon.com/Mrchazz

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.