Inner Critic Defusion Worksheet

Quiet harsh self-talk that blocks follow-through and risk-taking in ADHD using evidence-based defusion prompts from ACT and CBT.

Worksheet · 15 min · Print-ready PDF · Free download

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Preview Worksheet · 15 min

When to Use This Tool

A client's inner critic is loud enough to interfere with performance and risk-taking

A client needs techniques for defusing from self-critical thoughts rather than engaging with them

A client wants to experiment with ACT-based defusion strategies for the critical inner voice

How to Introduce This Tool Plus

The inner critic's power comes partly from how seriously we take it. These ACT d...

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Coaching Tool Disclaimer

This tool is designed for coaching contexts, not clinical use. If you or your client is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741).

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Interactive Preview Worksheet · 15 min

Tool Classification

Domain

ADHD

Type

Worksheet

Phase

Action Reflection

Details

15 min Between sessions As-needed

Topics

Mindset Identity Emotions

For the Coaching Practitioner

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Pathway Builder 🔒

Coaching Scenarios Plus

1 Software engineer with ADHD paralyzed by perfectionism after recent production bug

Context

Senior developer whose code caused a system outage three weeks ago. Since then, they've been unable to push any code to production, spending hours reviewing and re-reviewing changes. They think the problem is technical confidence, but the real issue is a critic voice that now equates any mistake with catastrophic failure.

How to Introduce

Frame this as debugging the voice, not the code. 'You know how to trace a bug through system logs. Let's trace this voic...

2 Marketing director avoiding delegation because inner critic predicts team failure 🔒

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4 coaching scenarios with introduction language, observation guides, debrief maps, and red flags

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For professional coaches and coaching practitioners

Tool Flow Plus

See what this tool requires and produces in a coaching engagement

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