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Chestnut Services Chestnut Services is your perinatal mental health home for wellness.

We provide safe, warm, welcoming evidence based mental health support both in person in Traverse City and via telehealth.

The transition to parenthood is one of the biggest shifts a relationship can go through. Sleep deprivation, new roles, a...
10/23/2026

The transition to parenthood is one of the biggest shifts a relationship can go through. Sleep deprivation, new roles, and very little time alone together can make small things feel huge.

Starting a hard conversation gently, by talking about your own feelings and needs instead of what your partner is doing wrong, makes it more likely you'll actually be heard. It won't fix everything overnight, but it can help you feel more like teammates.

If conversations keep ending in the same painful place, that's a common reason people come to therapy, together or on their own.

Fill in the "I feel / about / I need" sentence for yourself before your next hard conversation. If you'd like support with this, our therapists work with relationships and the transition to parenthood. Email us at [email protected].

If you've ever lain awake replaying a moment you wish you'd handled differently, this one's for you.Ruptures are part of...
10/20/2026

If you've ever lain awake replaying a moment you wish you'd handled differently, this one's for you.

Ruptures are part of every relationship, especially with little ones, with a partner during a stressful season, or when you're running on no sleep. What matters most is what happens next.

Repair doesn't need a big speech. It's coming back, naming what happened, taking responsibility for your part, and reconnecting. For kids, it's also a powerful lesson: people who love each other can mess up and find their way back.

Be gentle with yourself as you practice this. You're learning too, and you are not alone.

Think of one small repair you could make this week, with your child, your partner, or yourself. If old patterns make repair feel hard, therapy can be a place to work through that. Email us at [email protected].

New research is offering a hopeful message for expecting parents. 🤍A study in Nature Communications found a link between...
10/19/2026

New research is offering a hopeful message for expecting parents. 🤍

A study in Nature Communications found a link between therapy for depression during pregnancy and positive early outcomes for babies. Parents who had eight weekly therapy sessions saw their depression symptoms improve more than parents who had usual care, and their babies showed early differences in brain development that were tied to less distress at six months.

It's one study, and more research is needed, but it's a promising sign of the difference therapy can make. If you had a hard pregnancy without support, this isn't about blame. When we know more, we can do more.

If you'd like to talk with one of our perinatal therapists, email us at [email protected] to learn more about our services.

Free support is also available through Postpartum Support International's HelpLine (call or text 1-800-944-4773) and the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA). If you are ever in crisis, call or text 988.

Reference:
Demers, C. H., Hankin, B. L., Deer, L. K., Gallop, R. J., Hoeflich Haase, M., Hoffman, M. C., Styner, M. A., Grote, N. K., & Davis, E. P. (2026). Infant hippocampal and amygdala volume in an observational follow-up from a randomized clinical trial for maternal prenatal depression. Nature Communications, 17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78276-4

When a child melts down at bedtime or refuses to get in the car, it's easy to see it as a problem to fix.Attachment-base...
10/16/2026

When a child melts down at bedtime or refuses to get in the car, it's easy to see it as a problem to fix.

Attachment-based work invites us to get curious instead. What might my child be feeling? Once we have a sense of the feeling, we can figure out what they need, rather than reacting to the behavior alone. Big reactions are often a sign that a child's nervous system is overwhelmed, and they're looking to the adults around them for help settling.

That's a lot to hold when you're tired and running late. Nobody is curious 100% of the time, and you don't need to be. Even noticing "something's going on underneath this" can change how the moment feels for both of you.

Next time a big moment hits, try asking yourself, "What might my child be feeling?" and then, "What might they need right now?" before reacting. If you'd like help understanding your child's behavior, our Parent Strategy and Support Sessions offer clarity and concrete strategies so you can show up with more steadiness. We have a short waitlist right now, and you're welcome to join it by emailing [email protected].

Here's something to try the next time a big moment hits: connect before you correct. When a child is flooded with feelin...
10/13/2026

Here's something to try the next time a big moment hits: connect before you correct. When a child is flooded with feelings, naming what they're feeling and staying close can help their body settle, so the limit has a better chance of landing.

And yet, we know one approach isn't what will work with every child, or in every moment. These moments can stir up a lot in us as parents too: our own stress, our own big feelings, and our own experiences of how we were cared for. Some days connecting first will feel possible, and some days it won't. That doesn't mean you're failing.

You are the expert on your child. At Chestnut Services, we're here to come alongside you, supporting your child and their relationships with the people who care for them.

If it feels right, try this once this week and notice what happens, for your child and for you, with no pressure to get it right. If hard moments at home feel stuck, we'd be honored to walk alongside you. Ask about our Parent Strategy and Support Sessions. Inquire about our therapy services for children. We have a short waitlist right now, and you're welcome to join it by emailing [email protected].

Reaching out for therapy can take a lot of courage, and not knowing what to expect can make it feel even harder.First re...
10/09/2026

Reaching out for therapy can take a lot of courage, and not knowing what to expect can make it feel even harder.

First reach out to connect with one of our therapists or to join our waitlist. Once you're scheduled with a therapist, you'll complete some paperwork online. Then you can join your session by video or in person at our Traverse City office, where you're welcome to help yourself to coffee, tea, or water. We've made the space cozy because we want you to feel comfortable from the moment you walk in.

A first session is mostly about getting to know each other. Your therapist wants to understand what's going on for you, and you get to see what it feels like to talk with them. There's no test to pass and no "right" way to show up.

Some people cry, some people laugh nervously, some people aren't sure what to say. All of that is welcome. At Chestnut, we invite you to come as you are. You are the expert in your own life, and we're here to join alongside you.

Have a question about getting started? Email us at [email protected] to learn more about our services. We're happy to walk you through the first steps.

We often hear: "I thought it would pass." "I didn't think it was bad enough." "I figured everyone feels this way."Pregna...
10/06/2026

We often hear: "I thought it would pass." "I didn't think it was bad enough." "I figured everyone feels this way."

Pregnancy and the first year with a baby bring huge changes to your body, your sleep, your relationships, and your sense of who you are. It makes sense that your mind feels it too. You are not alone in this. Having a baby is a huge developmental shift for our brains and can impact our moods and wellbeing.

Perinatal mood and anxiety concerns are common, and they don't always look the way people expect. Sometimes it's sadness, worry, racing thoughts, irritability, or just feeling "not like yourself."

This post isn't a checklist for diagnosing yourself. It's here to say that what you're feeling is worth talking about.

Save this post for a hard day, or send it to a parent you're thinking about.

If you'd like to talk with one of our perinatal therapists, email us at [email protected] to learn more about our services. Check out our website too! www.chestnutservices.org

Looking to connect with other moms? Find The Grounded Mother group through our sister practice, Collective LLC

Free support is also available through Postpartum Support International's HelpLine (call or text 1-800-944-4773) and the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA). If you are ever in crisis, call or text 988.

This group starts next week and we have a few remaining spots! Our guest practitioners are amazing and it will be sure t...
09/21/2026

This group starts next week and we have a few remaining spots! Our guest practitioners are amazing and it will be sure to be an opportunity for you to feel nourished and held so you can return home a little more filled up. Please reach out with questions or if you need a bit of financial assistance to attend. We have two sliding scale spots still available!

Check out our new group offering! Please share :)
08/26/2026

Check out our new group offering! Please share :)

Address

10161 E Pickwick Court
Traverse City, MI
49684

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm

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