Defusion Audio Files & Exercises
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the term cognitive defusion refers to ways in which we can begin to take a step back from the content of our thinking and notice the process. What this means is that we are able to see our thoughts, feelings, memories, and physical sensations as just that–thoughts, feelings, memories, and physical sensations! In doing so, we aren’t as caught up in them. For example, the thought, “I’m a bad person” becomes, “I’m having the thought, ‘I’m a bad person.'” Defusion allows us to see that we can’t control our inner experiences, but we can choose how we respond to them.
- The Tin Can Monster
The Tin Can Monster exercises takes you through a difficult experience, helping you to approach the experience one part at a time. The longer Tin Can Monster below was recorded by Dr. Lawrence Needeman. It was downloaded from the Association for Contextual Behavior Therapy website. There are 8 parts that you can listen to separately:
Full Recording
The whole tin can monster in a zip file
Abbreviated Version
Recorded by Ann Bailey and posted on her blog.
Thanking Your Mind
Taking The Power Out of Difficult Thoughts - Dr. Russ Harris
- Physicalizing Exercise
Physicalizing Exercise
15 minutes