JCNT - May 2025 Release - Full Release - Flipbook - Page 33
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Shadow: No way he says the same thing as me.
[Shadow was fully invested now.]
Katie: The same thing as you? Well, what would you say? We can see if it's the
same.
Shadow: No way. A Mega Ultra Lot Ton Crazy ADHD or something like that.
[Shadow said the name slowly, seeming to wonder how many adjectives he could
string together to accurately describe such a powerful entity.]
Katie: Okay, can I write that down? [Searching around for my notebook and pen]
That's really good. Okay.
[I brought attention to my notes intentionally, as this is an important practice I
had learned in narrative therapy. I wanted to bring attention to the importance of
the specific words that had just been shared. I also had not expected us to get to
this point so quickly, but, in what came to be a common experience I had with
Shadow, he was way ahead of me.]
Shadow: Mega Ultra Crazy Mega ADHD? Well, that's what I call it.
[I noticed how quickly Shadow had taken the role of an expert about his ADHD.]
Katie: That's what you call it?
Shadow: Mhm. [Still workshopping the name.] A Mega Ultra ADHD.
Katie: Okay I gotta get it exact.
[With my notebook and pen finally in hand, I began saying the name slowly, and
as I wrote, Shadow began repeating the final version just ahead of me.]
Katie: Mega& Ultra&
Shadow: Crazy& ADHD [Shadow giggled]. Wait, why are you writing this down?
I'm confused.
Katie: I just like to remember when you say cool things.
The Boy Who Acted Out of Heart
Journal of Contemporary Narrative Therapy, May2025 Release, p. 29-62.
www.journalnft.com
