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Emily Foster Day and Her Family's Story

Not long after moving her family back to Brookline, Emily Foster Day noticed that her first-grader, Beckett, was having a harder time adjusting than she had expected. He was acting out in class and expressing a lot of anxiety at home. His struggles at school signaled he needed more help than she could provide at home, and his pediatrician suggested that Emily turn to The Brookline Center for support.  

“When Beckett went from being happy and effervescent to completely dysregulated, it caught me by surprise,” said Emily. “I felt lost. I didn’t understand what was happening or how I could help him.”  

Beckett began seeing a therapist at the Center who helped him understand and manage the feelings he was experiencing. With careful coordination with Beckett’s guidance team at his school, Beckett’s classroom experience improved. By the end of second grade, Beckett was making great progress.  

But Beckett’s parents’ divorce brought new emotional challenges for the entire family. Weekly therapy sessions became a lifeline for everybody, with Beckett working through his anger, younger sister Piper coping with panic attacks, and Emily seeking guidance on how to support her children while managing her own stress.   

When the COVID pandemic hit, the family’s world was further upended. The sudden shift to remote learning and constant togetherness at home created new stresses. These challenges, combined with the emotional strain from the divorce, overwhelmed the family. The Brookline Center provided invaluable support with a combination of individual, parent, and family therapy to help them navigate this difficult time. 

“The Center has been our second home for a long time. The clinicians are exceptional, consistently going above and beyond in ways I’ve never experienced anywhere else,” said Emily. “They take care of the complexities around things like health insurance so you can focus entirely on what matters most: your family’s wellbeing.”   

Today, each member of the family has found their footing. Beckett is a high school sophomore, already thinking about college applications. In June, he graduated from therapy and had the honor of sharing his story at The Brookline Center’s Kids Fund Gala. Twelve-year-old Piper is in middle school and diving into her passions for art and volleyball. Emily has settled into a new job and found a renewed sense of balance.  

“This was a good year, 2024. We’ve finally reached a place where everyone is doing well. Because of The Brookline Center, my kids have gained incredible life skills and coping strategies that will carry them through the rest of their lives,” said Emily.