Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Vickie - Licensed Marital & Family Therapist - Downtown Maryville, TN -

The back of your mind is a powerful place. Many times, before you know what is happening, you have acted upon something from the back of your mind. Sometimes you might even joke about it and say something like, "The devil made me do it." The back of your mind is the source of those awful dreams that awaken you in the middle of the night and the panic attacks that encase you with sheer terror. Ironically, it is also the place of all your hopes and dreams. Sometimes, it is called the subconscious, and experts on all things brain will often use terms such as limbic system, parasympathetic, and sympathetic system. These are all fancy words for the back of your mind. You know the place; many times, it haunts you even though the world sees a smile and a happy face. You cannot wait to get to your car so you can fall apart. That part of your brain often carries a running script, reminding you of every mistake you have made or what a horrible human being you must be. It will taunt you and tell you that God does not love you, nobody loves you, you are unlovable, and the litany of derogatory rants can be never-ending. I am Vickie, and as a therapist in Maryville, TN, I use Accelerated Resolution Therapy to target the back of your mind. That is right, it targets that place where your imagination runs wild. I often think about the children's story Alice in Wonderland when I am engaging in a session of Accelerated Resolution Therapy. The wild, whimsical, sometimes frightening, fast-paced world of imagination. Much like that crazy dream you had last night that makes no sense, that part of your brain works overtime to help you heal by using wild and fantastic images and thoughts. Your brain wants to heal your emotions; most of the time, it can. Sometimes it gets stuck and cannot. That is where I come in. The process allows you to gently and safely pull those frightening thoughts to the front and help your brain make the repairs you need. New neural pathways are built through a single session. I love experiencing the thrill of watching tears of relief fall down someone's face as they smile and say, "It is gone, I cannot believe it is really gone." When you engage in a session of Accelerated Resolution Therapy with me, you will find your body relaxing almost immediately. We will look at the problem, but you do not necessarily have to tell me all of the gory details. By the end of each session, you will feel as if you are alive again. The symptoms are gone, not suspended, but gone. Your body feels relaxed, and most people tell me they cannot believe it was this easy.

You know better than to put that thing away. You know you will never see it again. Losing things is just the tip of the iceberg. You can't stop what you are working on before it's finished. You know what I mean? You will never think of it again. The creative thought will be lost if you get distracted. Does it hurt to sit still? You know, that indescribable discomfort that makes you feel like you will explode if you don't move. Yet, you have to sit still for the sermon in church. Yeah, that constant distraction for other people is embarrassing and makes you want to hide.

What does ADHD look like on a Saturday morning?

What about getting started? Do you lie in bed most of the day if you don't have an appointment? Most Saturdays and some Sundays, I struggle. I lie there awake. I know I have things to do. I know if I go back to sleep, then I won't sleep tonight. Yet something in me stops me from getting started. What about that project or homework? I need to do the laundry or mow the yard, but something in me won't budge until the chore is overwhelming. That's ADHD screaming at you.

As if the struggle to remember and think before you act is not enough, getting started on things you want and need to do can feel like a nightmare. You know you need to do something, but you just can't make yourself do it. You may have the problem of having to act before you think, but you also have plenty of "I can't make myself do it." Experts call it a problem with task initiation. I believe both the impulsivity and lack of task initiation are problems with self-control.

What is ADHD, really?

ADHD is called a disorder of executive function with impulsivity and lack of task initiation (Barkley, 2015). Those are big words used to say that you have what is often jokingly called CRS disease (Can't Remember Stuff). It is also a way to say that you act before you think. Maybe a good way to say it is something like this. You have to say it so you can think it. Maybe you have to do it so you can think about it. Then there is that whole "I just can't make my brain do that." You know what to do, but can't make yourself do it. I needed to change the way I budget for an entire year and knew what to do, but my brain wouldn't kick in and let me do it until the problem created debt I didn't want.

Then there is the hyperfocus. You know that rabbit hole. You get started and are working hard, but someone interrupts and you feel angry. Some people use the words ADHD rage. It is that emotional blow-up you experience when you are working on something, accomplishing an important goal. Someone interrupts, and your brain dumps everything you were doing. You will never get that thought back, and now you are just stuck. It happened to me with this post. I have a mess. I can't organize my thoughts to pick up where I left off and am rewriting most of it.

What do people get wrong about ADHD superpowers?

Many people calling themselves experts get on social media and brag about the superpowers and great qualities of those with ADHD. But you can only think about the times you were told to be quiet and be still. You think about the clumsiness and all the times a teacher commented that you could do so much better if you would just try. You know you really were doing your best. No one ever understood the challenges that come with the inability to remember to do or turn in your homework.

These struggles are real, but I believe we were wired for something else, for something more, and society doesn't know what to do with us.

What are the real ADHD superpowers?

There are superpowers that come with ADHD. You likely have some of those. My favorite example is that we are awesome in a crisis. For some reason, we lack task initiation until it feels urgent. When things suddenly feel urgent, we wake up and function at our best. We are calm, organized, clear, and able to make a plan to survive. You might want to have ADHD on a battlefield.

Another cool trait is awareness. We are aware of the emotions of everyone in the room. Most of the time we want to help them too. We like making other people feel better and do things to accomplish that.

Let's not forget that hyperfocus. When we are interested in a project, we dive in and get into a flow. Our creative juices start flowing, and we pop up with a masterpiece. When it's like that, we can finish the task, as long as no one interrupts us.

The fun parts of ADHD include our creativity. It gives us an incredible sense of humor. We're almost always able to find a way to make people laugh.

We also get to be resilient. That means we are strong, we endure, and we recover quickly.

What treatments actually help?

There are many treatments for ADHD, the most popular of which is medication. There is no reason to think poorly of these options. Therapists help us figure out what works best for us. While medication and coping skills offer relief, many wonder if there is a deeper source of healing. What if the answer to improving the problems associated with the God-given gift of ADHD is simply the presence of the Holy Spirit?

What does the Holy Spirit have to do with memory?

A popular pastor recently released a reel in which he said that the role of the Holy Spirit is to bring to remembrance, and then it cut off. My mind immediately went to the ADHD memory struggle. Those with ADHD often have terrible short-term memory. Similar to an infant, it is as if object permanence does not exist. It's kind of like permanent peekaboo. Wouldn't it be nice if you could remember simple things, like to put your laundry in the dryer? I'm gonna go do that right now, before I forget. I will be right back. Well, if I can remember to finish this. You know what I mean?

My thought about faith and ADHD continued to develop: The Bible affirms that when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will help you remember words and Scripture when you need it (John 14:26, ESV). That specific context is about self-defense during persecution. However, the Holy Spirit is sent to Christians to be our helper, and He can remember things for us. I don't think it is a stretch to ask Him to help you remember things.

Can the fruit of the Spirit change ADHD?

The Bible explicitly states that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the follower of Jesus produces fruit. What if you can get better? What if your relationship with Jesus made the three ADHD gremlins better: lack of self-control, poor memory, and hyperfocus rage?

These fruits develop by building your relationship with Jesus. When we have a good relationship with Jesus, we give up control of ourselves. We ask Him to take over. We call this spiritual maturity or growth. When we become better, we start to behave differently and produce what the Holy Spirit calls fruit. These fruits are listed as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV).

Christians are often taught to behave in certain ways to avoid sin. You've been taught, of course, to be kind and generous and helpful. You recall the impossible-to-keep Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, ESV). Those of us who struggle with ADHD struggle a different way. Our problems are on display for the world to see. That's why I just own it. You can't hide your ADHD. God's forgiveness is the only forgiveness that matters. The only one we need to be happy with us is Him. I loved a sign I saw in my pastor's office. It said: "We perform for an audience of one." It would be wonderful if people would be more forgiving of our display of imperfection. Whether they are or not, God is.

Medication, coping skills, and external structure listed earlier are good treatments for ADHD. Each treatment offers some relief to help those of us with ADHD find some sense of normal.

Can ART help with ADHD?

There is another treatment called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) that helps you let go of the trauma and emotional overwhelm often accompanying ADHD. ART helps the brain to filter and prioritize thoughts more effectively. I bought the ADHD protocol from Laney's organization. It is built for focus and memory, and I like what I see when I use it.

These techniques work well and are effective, especially when they are coupled with complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit. Maintaining a lifestyle of discipleship will help you keep making the progress you want. That spiritual growth comes from prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, and surrender to Him. You can get Accelerated Resolution Therapy at The Lion's Lamb Family Therapy, LLC, and to the best of my knowledge, that is the only place in Maryville or the surrounding area that offers it. You don't have to go it alone. I am Vickie Starkey, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with ADHD, and I get it. You can improve and experience self-control. Click the link, schedule a phone call, and we can talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ADHD a spiritual problem?

No. ADHD is called a disorder of executive function with impulsivity and lack of task initiation (Barkley, 2015). It is not a sin, and it is not a lack of faith. What I believe is that the Holy Spirit works alongside good treatment, not instead of it.

Can a Christian take ADHD medication?

Yes. Medication is the most popular treatment for ADHD, and there is no reason to think poorly of these options. Medication and coping skills offer real relief. I believe they work best coupled with complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit, not in competition with Him.

Does the Holy Spirit help you remember things?

The Bible says the Holy Spirit will help you remember words and Scripture when you need it (John 14:26, ESV). That specific context is about self-defense during persecution. Still, He is sent to be our helper, and I do not think it is a stretch to ask Him to help you remember things.

Can Accelerated Resolution Therapy help with ADHD?

ART helps you let go of the trauma and emotional overwhelm that often accompanies ADHD, and it helps the brain filter and prioritize thoughts more effectively. I bought the ADHD protocol from Laney's organization, and I like what I see when I use it. You can get ART at The Lion's Lamb Family Therapy, LLC, and to the best of my knowledge that is the only place in Maryville or the surrounding area that offers it.

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

About the Author

All clinical content on this website is written or reviewed by Vickie Starkey, LMFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Tennessee since 2005 (License #579). Vickie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Carson-Newman College (1989) and a Master of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1995), and is a Certified Master ART Practitioner since 2023. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Verify my license here: https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/

References

Barkley, R. A. (2015). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed.). Guilford Press.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV):

Exodus 20:1-17 (ESV)
John 14:26 (ESV)
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

The Lion's Lamb Family Therapy

You can heal here.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Burnout and People-Pleasing: When Helping Hurts

Grief: You Weren't Meant to Die With Them

Meet Vickie: Healing Trauma, Anxiety, and Grief with ART

Leave a Review

Latest from the blog

Can the Holy Spirit Help With ADHD? What I Use, and What I Believe

Frequently Asked Questions

Vickie Starkey, LMFT

Burnout and People-Pleasing: When Helping Hurts

When You've Given Until There's Nothing Left

You Can Rest

Helping or Enabling?

How Accelerated Resolution Therapy Works

Therapy shouldn't last forever.

Grief: You Weren't Meant to Die With Them

The silence is deafening

Why does grief come in tidal waves?

When does grief turn into fear?

Why does no one understand?

Is there hope?

Can your heart beat again?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

1. The Back of Your Mind

2. When the Mind Freezes

3. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) - How It Works

4. What a Session Feels Like

5. Results You Can Expect

6. Why Choose ART Over Traditional Approaches

7. My Commitment to You

8. First Session Overview

9. Take the First Step

References (APA 7th edition)