Holding Space

In this episode I share my conversation with Dr. Crystal Jones, director of The Sanctuary, a healing institution with a mission to elevate the paradigm of healing. With her person-centered approach, Dr. Jones leads conversations around the globe, training healing facilitators across multiple modalities in the art of holding space. In this episode we explore narratives of health, social discourses of health and healthcare, the art of listening to our bodies, and client/provider alignment. You can find Dr. Jones' work here, as well as on social media here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode I virtually sit down with my very good friend Taylor Sterling, Founder and Creative Director of Glitter Guide. We start off the episode with sharing how we met (and sharing some laughs) while discussing how we maintain a long-distance friendship. Taylor shares how she carved her own path as an entrepreneur, and the ways in which creative insecurities creep in as she struggles with the common challenge of defining your craft. We talk about social media and social comparison, how motherhood changed how she sets boundaries and prioritizes her time, and the ways in which Taylor is reclaiming what "growth" means for her and her business. To continue following Taylor's journey, follow her on social media @taylorsterling. Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with Dr. Cassidy or le

In this episode I share my conversation with Tim Desmond, mindfulness teacher, therapist, professor, and student of Zen Master and Social Activist Thich Nhat Hanh. Tim and I discuss the bridge between showing compassion to ourselves and social activism. Tim offers real ways in which we can develop self-compassion and mindfulness practices while we step into the arena of activism, and discusses the power of thoughtful self-disclosure both in therapy and in parenting. Tim has written several books on Self-Compassion including Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy and The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook, and has a new book coming out next year called How to Stay Human in a F*ed up World. To read more about Tim's work click here. Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with Dr. Cassidy or learn more about her

In this episode I sit down with Elle and Jared Rowley, CEO and CFO of Solly Baby Wraps. Elle and Jared are my first couple on the podcast! Elle and Jared share how they met, their decision to go into business with each other, and how they make it all work. To follow their personal journeys you can find them at @ellerowley and @jaredrowley and their businesses @sollybabywrap and at https://shop.sollybaby.com. Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode I sit down with Anjelica Malone. Anjelica is a writer, educator, and birth/postpartum doula with a mission to cultivate a global tribe of women. In this episode we discuss her experience growing up a third culture kid, and how this experience influenced her identity and her value of global citizenship. Anjelica shares how her military service and her work with pregnant refugee women impacted her approach to birth and postpartum care and discusses how she and her partner talk to their children about racial identity. To read more about Anjelica's work you can find her website here and you can follow her journey on social media here. 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy &

In this episode I sit down with Andrea Faulkner Williams, co-founder of Tubby Todd a natural and organic product line and author of the book You've Got This Mama: Ideas for Taking Care of You While You're Taking Care of Your Little One. We discuss the importance of and challenges of self-care as a mother, setting realistic boundaries, and the power of asking for help. Andrea is a triple threat: she's warm, hilarious, and brilliant. To follow Andrea's work you can find her here, and for her personal journey follow her here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Steve Hickman, founding director of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California, San Diego. We explore the powerful role of mindulness and self-compassion as it relates to creating change and developing a new relationship with our pain. We also discuss the impact of gender discourses on mindfulness and showing compassion towards ourselves, and how to integrate all of these ideas in parenting. This episode is full of helpful tips, metaphors, and motivation for relating to our struggles in a different way. A couple of resources mentioned were Dr. Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion and The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion by Chris Germer. For more information on Dr. Hickman's work and classes/resources at UCSD Center for Mindfulness, click here. For Mindful Self-Compassion courses here in San Diego held at UCSD, find more information here. Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a revi

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Dan Siegel, clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and New York Times bestselling author of parenting books such as No Drama Discipline, The Whole Brain Child, and Parenting from the Inside Out. In this episode we discuss cultivating conscious connections with those around us and how we can support our children who are growing up in a digitized world. Sitting down with Dr. Siegel was absolutely a career highlight for me, he has shaped so much of my work and I am honored to share this conversation with you. Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we have seen families stripped from each other at our border. This is a human crisis, but this crisis did not just start this week. If we zoom out we will see a lot of anger, and a lot of hatred, and a lot of dehumanization for those who are considered "other." In this episode we explore how we got to where we are, we discuss the dangers of dehumanization, privilege and intersectionality, compassion (for ourselves and others), empathy, and the different ways in which we can show up as activists. I end the episode exploring how we can talk to our children about privilege and activism. In this episode I mention several resourses including the work of Brené Brown and her book Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone. I also share the work of  Dr. Kristin Neff on self-compassion. In terms of privilege I mention Peggy McIntosh's article White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack and Beverly Tatum's book Why are all the Black Kids Sitting T

In this episode I sit down with Clinical Psychologist and father involvement researcher Dr. Dan Singley. In honor of Father's Day and International Father's Mental Health Day, we explore dad's mental health, specifically in early fatherhood. We unpack the messages that dad's receive, the fatherhood generational gap, symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in dads, risk factors, protective factors, and the importance in supporting emotional intelligence for men. Some of the resources mentioned in the episode: social networking site for dad's Padre Cadre, Life of Dad, Daddit, and Postpartum Support International. At the end of the episode I also share research findings from a study I conducted looking at paternal peripartum depression. To find more about Dr. Singley's work you can find him at www.menexcel.com.  Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the pod

In this episode we explore adult friendships with friendship researcher Miriam Kirmayer. Miriam and I discuss the complexities of adult friendships, why they are so important, what makes them hard, how they are different from other relationships, how to build your friendship network, and the unique experiences of parents and entrepreneurs when it comes to friends! To continue following Miriam's work you can find her here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode I'm sharing an incredible event aimed at bringing awareness to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Did you know that 1 in 5 moms and 1 in 10 dads will suffer with a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder? The Climb Out of the Darkness is the world's largest event raising funds and awareness for perinatal mental illness like postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. For this episode I sat down with the local San Diego Climb team: Dr. Daniel Singley, a local San Diego psychologist specializing in early fatherhood and a Board member of Postpartum Support International; Jennifer Varela, sleep coach and current President of the Postpartum Health Alliance; and Julie Lopez, attorney-at-law, who is a proud survivor of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. We talk about the event, the impact of sleep during the postpartum period, paternal mental health, and Julie shares her story that brought her to put on the Climb here in San Diego. For more information on the Climb, you can find th

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Kim Van Dusen, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. Together we explore the power of play as a bridge to connection with our children. We share some of our own stories of how we have used play in our work and as parents and discuss how play shows up as an important ingredient to whole-hearted living and wellness for both children and adults! To find more about Dr. Kim's work as a parenting educator, you can find her here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, I sit down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Janelle Nelson. Janelle and I explore both the brutal and beautiful experiences of intimate partner relationships. We discuss the need to deconstruct the shame that is often experienced within marital and intimate partner struggles, and offer ideas of how couples can transform through connection. We discuss how it can take courage to stay in a relationship and work on it, and it can also take courage to leave when that is being called for. To find more information on Janelle's work, click here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode I sit down with fashion designer Rachel Pally. Rachel shares with us how she built her business by hearing the "no's" and showing up anyway. We discuss how becoming a mother has transformed her, the myth of balance, and how she has reclaimed "self-care" by personalizing it to work for her life now. We also explore the importance of friends that you can share your shame stories with, the double edge sword of social media, and Rachel shares her experiences with therapy. Rachel keeps it real, and the world of curated filtered perfection could FOR SURE use more of that! www.rachelpally.com Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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.   Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivac

In this episode I sit down with Rebecca Ching, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of Potentia (an integrative mental health center in San Diego). Rooted in the research and practice of Brené Brown, Rebecca has completed training to become a  Daring Way™ Facilitator and Consultant. In today's episode we talk about scarcity, abundance, and the power of "enough." Some resources (beyond Brené Brown) mentioned in the episode are: selfleadership.org, You are the One You've Been Waiting For, The Body Keeps the Score, and Dan Siegel's work.  Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode I sit down with Renata Cameron, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of the modernized mommy and me support group Milestones. Renata and I discuss building a support tribe, sorting through the noise of information, introvert motherhood, and getting comfortable in the "gray." Renata shares her own personal struggle with perfectionism, and her relationship with "good enough." For more information on Renata's mommy and me support groups, click here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Death has no respect for the differences we have created among us; we will each be touched by it. Those left behind often report feeling disconnected from the events of the world, as if the one who died took a part of them with. For a period of time people check in, give their condolences, share memories. Slowly, but often not slowly enough, people stop asking. There is an expectation that death is something to get over, something to move on from. We are to be sad, of course, but we are expected to say goodbye and let go. In this episode Dr. Cassidy explores how the discourses of "letting go" and "saying goodbye" actually challenges our grief process. Instead of letting go, what if the result of grieving was to restore what has been lost? Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with Dr. C

In this episode I sit down with journalist and activist Tamara Taggart. In Tamara's ted talk "The Two Conversations that Changed My Life" she described two pivotal moments in her life, one where she was told her son has down syndrome, and the other when she was told she had cancer. In this episode we discuss the power of hope, where it showed up, how she cultivated it when it wasn't offered, her discovery of resiliency in vulnerability, and her empowering experience of advocacy. A third pivotal moment in Tamara's life was the recent loss of her longheld job as a news anchor. Tamara shares how she is holding space for intention as she moves through this new transition. To follow Tamara's journey, you can find her on social media here. Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with Dr

In this episode I sit down with Robin Kaplan, founder of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center and author of Latch. Robin has her Masters in Education and is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. In this episode Robin debunks some breastfeeding myths, explains why so many women find themselves struggling when it comes to breastfeeding, explores the role of partner support, discusses the relationship between breastfeeding and intimacy, shares useful tips on transitioning back to work while breastfeeding, and answers tough questions like, "in our well-meaning efforts to support lactacting moms, did we take the idea of breast is best too far?" To read more about Robin's services and work, go to www.sdbfc.com, or buy her book Latch here! Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews are the best way to make sure the podcast reaches those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with