• This course includes 1.0 CEU for BCBAs.

What is Defusion?

Defusion is the process of observing your thoughts without being ruled by them. It is a fundamental shift from believing your thoughts are literal reality (cognitive fusion) to seeing them as what they truly are: words, sounds, and passing stories generated by your mind. When we are fused with a thought, it feels like an absolute truth or a strict order we must obey. For example, the thought “I am incompetent” in a state of fusion is an immediate, painful reality. Defusion, however, helps you step back. It involves mindfully noticing the thought, accepting it as a mental event, and consciously creating distance. This shift is powerful because it breaks the illusion of language, creating “wiggle room” to choose actions based on your values rather than being controlled by unhelpful mental chatter.

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Defusion is not about getting rid of thoughts, which often proves futile (the classic “don’t think about a purple elephant” trap). In fact, thought suppression is often counterproductive, leading to more struggle. Instead, defusion involves:

  • Mindfully noticing the thoughts as they arise.

  • Accepting them for what they are: sounds, words, stories, and bits of language.

  • Practicing observing them from a distance.

  • Changing your relationship to the thought.

Course curriculum

    1. Part 1 learning objectives

    2. Part 1

    3. Knowledge Check

    1. Part 2 learning objectives

    2. Part 2

    3. Knowledge Check

    1. Part 3 learning objectives

    2. Part 3

    3. Knowledge Check

About this course

  • $20.00
  • 9 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

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