Bea, I guess the Easter Bunny threw him out his hole. LOL! I'm not the least bit surprised to come here and see he's dropped you a note.
As for going back in time...yes, they can go back as far as they need to go in order to figure things out. As a child, do you know if his grandfather was alive at that time? If so, the grandfather may have been the key to stunting his emotional growth at a very young age.
It's going to get interesting in the months ahead because he's sharing things he's doing. You may discover a lot about his childhood if he opens up and shares w/you. I know you are a good listener and will listen to what he has to say.
Hang in there!
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
