short answer: yes

longer answer:

it's always a challenge when you are trying to do something that falls outside of your comfort zone or something that goes against what you are taught.

in my own bdsm life I've come across, and still do, the same challenge

back in the day, I was a trainer of sorts and I specialized in the physical side.
punishments were the order of the day and it turned out to be what I was good at

but it left me ill prepared for the more mental aspects and when I received my own slave, who I happen to love very deeply, I faced the challenge of dealing in BDSM on a day to day basis in a 24/7 relationship.

I still face that, every day.
Some days I succeed and some I don't and once in a while I fail miserably
I scare myself sometimes and back away
so yea I feel for your guy here

The trick of it all is to never give up on it. You have to learn from mistakes that you make and learn that what society as a whole says means jack shit in a consentual relationship.

To your guy specifically: find a group to learn from (this place for instance) try to find someome to talk to (tho Doms are notoriously tight-lipped for some odd reason)
and most of all... if you are doing it just for her and not because it really is inside of you.. well that's not a good enough reason

To you specifically: try to get him to talk. If not to you, then someone else who understand what it is that we do. Be very very supportive. If he likes to read, buy him a couple books. Send links, tell stories, try to explain what this all does for you as a person and how this lifestyle completes you

I wish you the best of luck
John