Defusion in ACT: How to Work With Trauma-Related Content

So, in the last video, I introduced the term defusion, but didn’t really go into a description of what that is. So what is defusion?

Defusion is a process in ACT that we teach because of the effects of language on our functioning as human beings. What do I mean by that? Well, language is so automatic for verbally capable humans that we generally don’t realize how much of our world is structured around it. Because we have the ability to create verbal symbolic thoughts, we can do amazing things. Because we have the ability to use language, we can communicate with one another about conceptual ideas, about things that haven’t happened yet. We can plan for the future. We can create cities and governments. We can communicate about risk to others so that they can avoid things that they have never directly experienced.

Batten, S. V. (2011). Essentials of acceptance and commitment therapy. SAGE Publications Ltd.,Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press.

But there’s a downside to language as well. If you think about it, our dogs and cats don’t have the same problems that we do. They don’t compare themselves to others and say, “Well, Tiger down the street has a much nicer home than I do” or “I wish that I would have that kibble that I had that one time.” No. Our dogs and cats focus on what is there in front of them, in their immediate environment. And so, although they may seem to have some stress at different times, they’re not creating scenarios for themselves in their heads the way that we are, comparing themselves to an idealized future or, you know, imagining things that haven’t happened yet.

Batten, S. V. (2011). Essentials of acceptance and commitment therapy. SAGE Publications Ltd.,Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press.