Apps freeze after saving a file to new folder created in the "Save" or "Save As" dialog box - Mac OSX Catalina 10.15.7

This is the same question someone asked back in 2020 relating to macOS 10.15.6. I'm using 10.15.7 but am having the same problem. The earlier post is closed so I'm starting this one. When I go to save (whether a document in Word, or an email in Apple Mail, or a webpage in Safari) and create a new folder to save to, the app I'm in will freeze. So, the steps that trigger this are: (1) create a new document in Word (or get ready to save an email or webpage), (2) click "Save As," (3) create a new folder, (4) click "Save." Using Word as an example, this will bring me back to Word. I can move the cursor, but I cannot select anything in the Word app with the cursor. I can pull up another app, and the cursor works fine. Once this has occurred, the only solution is to Force Quit the frozen app. Notably, when I go to the Force Quit window, the app is NOT red. There is no indication in the Force Quit window of a problem. But I need to select the app and force quit. I can then reopen the app and all works fine. This only occurs when I create a "new folder" to save to. No problem saving to an existing folder. Often the document is saved, but sometimes it's not. I'm using a 2019 Mac Pro. No problem with my MacBook Pro with same OS. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated. This is very frustrating! Thanks!