Holding Space

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 messengers
• What your nervous system is trying to tell you when you feel flooded
• Why fawn, fight, freeze, flight, and flock responses are so common in parenthood
• The invisible labor of caregiving, and how it fuels burnout and shutdown
• Sensory overwhelm in modern parenting and why it hits so hard
• How 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/

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 play
• Why boredom matters—and how it supports creativity and independent play
• The role of accessibility in helping kids play independently
• What to do when your child wants to play with you—but you need space
• How 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 Sandler
• Follow Myriam on Instagram @mothercould

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 Book
• Follow Feeding Littles on Instagram

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 birth
• The 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 weaning
• Systemic 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

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!

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

In this heartfelt episode, we welcome back Dr. Jasmine, a clinical pharmacist, perinatal mental health specialist and mom to one, to discuss her journey of deciding to have only one child. Dr. Jasmine shares her personal story of battling severe postpartum depression and anxiety, the pressures and expectations from society, and how she navigated these challenges to make a decision (with support from therapy) that felt right for her and her family. We discuss the societal pressure and expectations of having more than one child as well as the stigma and stereotypes associated with only children and highlighting the joys and benefits of raising an only child. 

Resources and Links:

• Dr. Jasmine on Instagram: @pearlsofjasmine
• Dr. Jasmine’s Blog: pearlsofjasmine.com
• Dr. Jasmine’s Substack Newsletter: pearlsofjasmine.substack.com
• "Healing the Tigress" Podcast

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

BLUEY! 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!

In this episode I invite you to tune into my conversation with Emily Oster, professor of Economics, parenting data expert and NYT Bestselling Author. We dive deep into her latest release, "Unexpected," where she explores the often murky waters of pregnancy complications.

Together we explore:

*Understanding Pregnancy Complications: Emily shares some fascinating insights from "Unexpected," her newest book. We talk about the common threads among pregnancy complications and why it's crucial to understand why things happen during pregnancy. Hint: it's not always as straightforward as we'd like it to be.

*Dealing with Medical Gaslighting: Ever heard of medical gaslighting? It's a real thing, and it can leave you feeling dismissed and invalidated by healthcare providers. Emily and I dive into this topic and discuss the importance of feeling supported by your medical provider.

Guest Information:

• Emily Oster: You can connect with her on parentdata.org and Instagram @ProfEmilyOster.
• Preorder "Unexpected" by Emily Oster and Nathan Fox, MD 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

In this episode I invited Erica Djossa, Canadian based psychotherapist, founder of Momwell, and author of the book Releasing the Motherload: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More, back on to the podcast!

Together we discuss:

• An introduction to intensive mothering: unpacking societal expectations and the weight of invisible burdens in motherhood.

• The role of comparison and social media in exacerbating feelings of inadequacy and overwhelm.

• Strategies for releasing control and redistributing responsibilities to alleviate burnout and foster personal growth.

• Embracing values over perfectionism: practical steps for identifying core values and aligning actions with your most aligned beliefs.

• Recognizing the potential for growth and transformation when we embrace discomfort.

• Creating space for self-care within motherhood: the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing mental well-being.

Resources Mentioned:

• Releasing the Motherload book: pre-order at www.ericadjossa.com

• The Invisible Load of Postpartum episode 48

• Find Erica on Instagram @momwell

To learn more about Dr. Cassidy's private practice visit https://www.drcassidymft.com/

Enjoy this podcast? You'll also love Justine Carino's podcast "Thoughts from the Couch" learn more at www.carinocounseling.com/podcast