The Camel and the Car

“Baruch” and “Shevi” were professionals in their thirties, tall, and very self-assured. They seemed comfortable with each other and quite at ease consulting me about their eight-year-old son, “Nachy.”

“We would like you to treat our son,” Baruch began, getting straight to the point. Both parents agreed that Nachy was bright, athletic, and well behaved at home and in yeshivah. He also got along well with his two younger siblings. Their concern, however, was that Nachy was somewhat socially withdrawn and appeared to lack confidence. As a result, he had few friends, and the few he did have were not close friends.

“We’re looking ahead,” Baruch explained. “And we don’t want him to continue this way for the rest of his life. If possible, we would like this cleared up while he’s still young. We want you to help him overcome whatever it is that’s causing him to be this way.”

I spent the rest of the consultation looking for possible clues that could shed light on the source of Nachy’s difficulties.