Chapter 15 - Callum’s Fear
Therapy did not aim to make Callum love dogs.
That distinction mattered.
He could live a perfectly good life disliking dogs.
The goal:
Reduce panic enough that ordinary environments felt manageable.
And restore choice.
Dr. Bell started with pictures.
Then videos with sound muted.
Then sound low.
Callum controlled volume.
Then a stuffed German shepherd.
He laughed because Scout became jealous.
Then one day:
A calm therapy dog named Maple.
Golden retriever.
Not Ranger.
Callum stood across room.
“Stop.”
Session stopped.
Next week:
Door open, Maple in hallway.
“Stop.”
Stopped.
Next:
Maple inside, handler beside.
Callum stayed near exit.
No touching.
Four weeks later he tossed a treat.
Maple ate.
Callum smiled.
“Again?”
His choice.
Again.
Then he stopped.
That was exposure therapy.
Not because it never involved discomfort.
It did.
His heart raced.
He worried.
But control stayed with him.
That was what Ambrose never understood.
Treatment can ask someone to approach fear.
Coercion removes the ability to choose the approach.
Then Callum asked:
“Could Grandpa do this?”
I said:
“He could have asked a therapist.”
“Why no?”
Rafferty answered:
“Because Grandpa thought he already knew.”
Callum looked at him.
“Did you?”
“When I was little?”
“Yes.”
Rafferty shook head.
“No.”
“Were you scared?”
“Yes.”
“Did Grandpa stop?”
“Not enough.”
Callum leaned against him.
No dramatic collapse.
May you like
Just understanding.
Fear stopped being shameful because his father admitted having it too.
