JCNT - May 2025 Release - Full Release - Flipbook - Page 30
29
The Boy Who Acted Out of Heart
Katie Gunning
Meeting Shadow
I was about six weeks into my practicum experience when I met Shadow1. I had
spent the last year of my master9s program learning theory and practicing in role
plays, and I was excited to start working with actual clients. Alongside the
excitement of this new role, I couldn9t help but feel nervous, wondering how, and
even if, I would be able to help the young people and families I would be working
with. I remember this same mix of feelings as I looked over Shadow9s referral and
called the family to set up our first appointment.
Shadow came to our office with his father to begin my agency9s assessment
process. He was nine years old at the time and a few months into his 4th-grade
year. I saw his eyes widen as he entered my site9s playroom for our session. He
moved slowly to the couch, taking it all in, before he perched on the cushion next
to his father, continuing to study the mountains of toys and games the room held.
You could almost see his mind racing through the possibilities, making a list of all
the toys he wanted to play with. As soon as he was given the okay, he eagerly
began the process of digging through the bins of toys, marveling over and
exclaiming about each of his new finds.
As we went through the assessment process, Shadow9s father painted a picture of
the struggles that Shadow and his family had been facing. He described his son9s
tantrums, which would happen several times a day, last for extended periods of
time, and include quite a bit of screaming, cursing, throwing things, and slamming
doors. Shadow was not doing any schoolwork, was getting into fights with
classmates, and had been suspended multiple times. He had a habit of running
from the classroom and hiding from school staff in the bathroom. Shadow9s
school seemed to be on their last straw and had asserted that Shadow needed to
be on ADHD medication. Shadow had repeatedly told me that he had no friends
1
All names and identifying information have been changed. Shadow was given the option to choose his own name
and was very excited about the name Shadow.
The Boy Who Acted Out of Heart
Journal of Contemporary Narrative Therapy, May2025 Release, p. 29-62.
www.journalnft.com
