Defusion Q&A Matthieu Villatte, PhD

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Q&A DEFUSION
with Matthieu Villatte, Phd

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Defusion Q&A Matthieu Villatte, PhD
Tuesday, August 4, 2015

What’s fusion?

A thought overrides the influence of
other variables (including other thoughts).

Restriction of the range of possible

actions under the influence of a thought.

Fusion is responding under the

influence of a thought in a way that is
inconsistent with values.

The battle among sources of influence

It is really important for They are going

me to present this work! to laugh at me!

This sensation
is horrible!
I will be so disappointed
if I don’t go!

Stomach pain

Excessive vs. insufficient influence

They are going

This sensation
to laugh at me! is horrible!

It is really important for

me to present this
work!

I will be so
disappointed if
I don’t go!
Stomach pain

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Defusion Q&A Matthieu Villatte, PhD
Tuesday, August 4, 2015

VALUES

“I don’t want to
get up and feel
Didn’t think of tired at work”
work anymore Feel tired
X X X
R- Wake up R+
X Stayed in bed
FUSION

VALUES

“I don’t want to
Didn’t think of get up and feel
work anymore tired at work” Feel tired DEFUSION Step 1
X X X
R- Wake up R+
X Stayed in bed

Examples of classic ACT exercises

Noticing antecedents, Cubby holing,

thoughts, and responses Leaves on the stream,
raisin exercise
to thoughts

DEFUSION Step 2
VALUES

Didn’t think of
work anymore “I don’t want to
get up and feel
tired at work” Feel tired
X X X
R- Wake up R+
X Stayed in bed

Assessing effectiveness Examples of classic ACT exercises

of responses to thoughts Passengers in the bus,
(gap with values) Feeding the tiger,
Man in the hole,
Tug of war

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Defusion Q&A Matthieu Villatte, PhD
Tuesday, August 4, 2015

VALUES
X X DEFUSION Step 3
X “I don’t want to
Didn’t think of get up and feel
tired at work” Feel tired
work anymore X X
X X X
R- Wake up R+
X
X X Stayed in bed
X Examples of classic ACT exercises
X X Take your mind for a walk,
“I can’t walk”
Increasing response Milk Milk
Tag
flexibility Leaves on the stream

VALUES

Go to work
“I don’t want to
get up and feel
X
tired at work”
Feel tired
X X
R- Wake up R+
Eventually, being able
to notice, assess, and
DEFUSION engage in flexible
responses will help us
go back to our values,
even in presence of the
same thought.

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