Testimonials

"This will be our family's third year in the Lucy Daniels Center Child Enrichment Program preschool, and we've been thrilled. It's an NAEYC accredited, 5-star licensed, nationally awarded program. You may have heard of the Center in Carolina Parent or noticed them being quoted in national parenting magazines. This year they'll be offering classes for 3-4 year olds developing within the typical range or who have mild delays that would allow them to participate in an inclusive classroom setting. They also offer an Early Intervention Program for kids needing support in social/ emotional areas. 

As a parent, I was struck by several things that make this preschool program different from others. First, it's an 11-month, half-day preschool. For us, this has provided a consistency that made going back to school after break easier. It's a secular program with a good mix of students from a variety of backgrounds. They also have smaller than required classes. The most important thing for us was the phase-in program, which allows you to slowly transition your child in at the beginning of the year by staying increasingly shorter periods until the child is comfortable staying on their own. For kids like mine who are incredibly attached and have a difficult time with separation, this is a wonderful thing in making them feel safe and secure. They also don't require that a child be potty-trained by a certain deadline, but work with parents on the child's schedule. They've been great in helping our child deal with the changes that come with a new sibling. You can tell they really care about the kids. They call to let you know that the child is missed when they are out sick, and even offered to let my child talk to his friends on speaker phone when he'd been out a week sick. I can't say enough great things about the Lucy Daniels Center, and I strongly encourage those of you looking for a preschool to consider them."

-Beth Messersmith, parent of a Child Enrichment Program student

_______

"Finding out about the Lucy Daniels Center changed all of our lives. Not only did we find help for our son, we found a network of child psychologists, phenomenal teachers, and the support of other families with similar issues. We are so proud of our son and know that he is where he is today because of the help we all received at the Lucy Daniels Center."

-Leslie Huffman, parent of and Early Intervention Preschool student
______

"Contacting the LDC was the best decision I ever made for my son. I can't begin to thank you and your staff enough for giving us a chance to find out what my son's real problems were and how to work through them, rather than just putting a band-aid on it."

-A. Owens, parent of a Family Guidance Service client

_______

"Three years ago, my older child was an enigma- very smart, funny, creative, but also terrified of light fixtures, ceiling fans and bathroom faucets. She was defiant, loud, sometimes very aggressive, constantly talking, interrupting everyone. She had terrible tantrums when things did not go her way. Friends worried. Our family and pediatrician were certain it was simply a discipline problem. I knew my daughter had good reasons for the way she behaved. We searched in vain for practical help that would not entail medication or rewards and punishment as a first line of defense. There is no doubt in my mind that preschool anywhere other than LDC would have been a disaster.

At Lucy Daniels, we found a group of experienced, insightful, incredibly dedicated professionals willing to take a very deep look at what was happening in the inner world of our child. Our daughter was treated as a real person with real feelings, a child crying out for help, not a "spoiled brat." The incredible teachers and clinical staff have worked closely with our family on a daily basis- we are a team working to support her and challenge her growth at the pace that is right for her. Our daughter is now finishing her last (of two) year in Lucy Daniel's early intervention program. It wasn't a quick fix and it hasn't always been easy. We still have our struggles. She still has her quirks and probably always will but Lucy Daniels Center has given my daughter back her life and returned sanity to our family. Because of Lucy Daniels, our daughter has a fair chance at a truly happy, fulfilled, productive life. We are forever in their debt."

-parent of an Early Intervention Program student

_____

"To make a long story short, we had a great many difficulties with our daughter, when my husband and I relocated our family to the Triangle area from Canada. Our daughter and my husband and I worked with one of the Center's Family Guidance therapists and the result has been enormous success. The Center provided us with outstanding service, and our daughter has continued to blossom long after we completed our work at the Center. 

She is now a safety patroller and very proud of that, loves having the responsibility and looking after the younger kids. She is doing her homework completely and without argument every night. She is cooperating in class. The schoolwork she is bringing home features, for the most part, great grades and comments, lots of reaffirming stickers about jobs well done, etc.

The teacher sent home a note in her Friday Folder that said "She's a doll!" with a little smiley face. As you can well imagine, my husband and I checked to make sure we had the right kid's Friday Folder, but sure enough, it was. She is working hard on math and still struggling, but her new teacher has told her and us not to worry, that one day, it will just click, a message being reinforced by her tutor.

We are being firm and fair with our daughter. When we know that she is going to disagree with a decision we are making, we are being calm and reasonable and not backing down on our decisions. We're finding it much easier to manage her these days. It helps that she is on an allowance system that allows for bonuses for jobs well done or additional jobs around the house. She's keeping her room and bathroom fairly clean (yay!)  It's working."

-parents of a Family Guidance Service client

_____

"I recently watched the interplay of students and teachers in a Lucy Daniels Center classroom with awe and delight. I thought how fortunate that these boys and girls have such gifted guides to help them over the really tough bumps on their developmental roads. I know the Center sees itself as a collaboration of parents, teachers, and psychoanalysts. What a wonderful collaboration it is!"  -Judith Viorst, children's author

"I have visited many therapeutic preschools both in the U.S. and abroad, but your program is the most impressive that I have had the privilege to observe. The facility is superb and ideally suited for the care of children. It is, however, the program and the staff that is most inspiring. The Lucy Daniels Center is a model institution destined to touch the lives of countless children. The mental health community and the children of America owe a debt of gratitude to the staff and philosophy of the Lucy Daniels Center."

-Marvin Margolis, M.D, past president of the American Psychoanalytic Association

______

"The toll of a loved one's death, divorce and chronic illness can so complicate the lives of a child and his/her family that each day's burdens feel unbearable for all involved. Aches & pains, aggression and shyness may be so exaggerated that typical daily living feels almost impossible. As a pediatrician I see young children and talk to parents regularly. I often spend time explaining my view of the contributors to illness.  It is not "just" a virus, a bacteria, or an accident.  One's emotional state also plays an important role in defining illness.  Ignoring this contributor can leave young children inadequately treated. When everyday tummyaches, headaches, aggression, fears of sleep and separation become too exaggerated for a family to move forward, having the Lucy Daniels Center as a resource can feel like a life line on a sinking ship."

-Kathy Merritt, pediatrician, Chapel Hill, NC