It’s frustrating to be in the dark.

“He’s a bright boy,” they all said. The speech therapist, the occupational therapist, the nutritional therapist, the craniosacral therapist. We poured money into multiple, top-of-the-line therapists.

It was disturbing. Why was Ari giving such a bright impression, but lagging behind in class? No one could nail the issue. Was it focus? Language? Processing? We were stymied by the mysterious blockage preventing him from learning.

When Ari was younger, he was up to par with aleph bais and kriah like other kids his age. It was only once he started learning chumash in second grade that we realized something was amiss.

At first, we assumed he was simply a late bloomer. We did some tutoring and hoped for the best. But as he grew older, we began various therapies.

In fourth grade, Ari’s inadequacy began bothering him. When with cousins and neighbors, he was an adorable, social boy. But in school, he was “out of it.”

This year, my son was in 9th grade. When he was evaluated, we were told he was on a fourth-grade level. That hurt.

I approached Mrs. Austerlitz from Results Services. When she heard everything we’d tried, she was astounded.

“What I’m going to suggest is a bit different,” she said. “Try Yitzchok Weiss. I’ve seen people going in with a stutter and coming out without it. Going in with Tourettes and coming out without it. Honestly, I’ve never sent anyone with learning issues. But I’ve observed how he gets to the root of many problems. Maybe there’s magic there for you too.”

Ari started seeing Yitzchok Weiss, who we heard had helped others with learning challenges as well. He uses the same method for stuttering and Tourettes—pinpointing the source of the issue and treating it from there.

After three weeks and nine sessions, we had a new Ari. His confidence got a strong boost. When he was younger, he was well-liked in school and comfortable in his own skin. But in the older grades, when learning became “the thing,” he didn’t feel part of it. He felt different. Now, Ari saw he wasn’t a hopeless cause. He could learn!

Ari’s first session was on a Friday. That night at the Shabbos table, he prepared a beautiful dvar Torah on his own as a birthday surprise for my husband. He’d never done that before. He sang more, participated more, and displayed a new maturity. He saw there was hope for him and so he felt more grown-up.

I spoke to Ari’s Rebbi a week after his first session. He didn’t know we were trying anything then but told me about the transformation he was witnessing. Ari’s confidence was soaring and he was joining the ranks of the chevrah. And he was learning!

Yitzchok Weiss gave us his all. He consistently came through and delivered way more than expected. Ari never had to be told to call him and looked forward to his sessions.

It’s been two months since, and Ari is thriving. He understands the learning and so he’s much more invested. He feels comfortable asking questions. His clarity enables him to sit and focus better, without jumping out of his skin.

His learning has been transformed. His relationships have been transformed. And most remarkably, his confidence has been transformed.

*Names and identifying details have been changed.