Alice left the meeting at school feeling scared and worried. Charlie’s teachers were concerned that he was not following the rules of school—he was resistant, uncooperative, and sometimes disruptive. They had even asked the school psychologist to observe Charlie in class and consult. Now they were all recommending that Alice and her husband Ray meet with a mental health professional to help them get a better understanding of what was underlying Charlie’s misbehavior. They were hopeful that the consultant could guide Alice and Ray to interventions that would help Charlie control himself better and comply with teachers.

Alice knew she had to follow up. She had wondered about this next step for some time and had discussed the idea with the pediatrician, but had never followed through. Now she felt guilty for her procrastination. She dreaded the conversation with Ray who was always a little uncomfortable with doctors, but she knew she could no longer........

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