What is the primary difference between a 'fact phase' and a 'thought phase' in a defusing session?

The 'fact phase' in a defusing session primarily focuses on establishing a shared, objective understanding of *whathappened during the critical incident. Participants are encouraged to provide a concise, factual account of their direct experiences, avoiding interpretations, judgments, or emotional responses. For example, a participant might state, 'I was the first responder on the scene. I saw three vehicles involved in the collision.' This phase emphasizes observable realities. In contrast, the 'thought phase' shifts the focus to *cognitiveprocesses – what individuals were thinking *duringthe event. It explores their initial appraisals, assumptions, and cognitive reactions in the moment. A participant might say, 'I immediately thought this was going to be a mass casualty incident' or 'My first thought was about the safety of my team'. The goal of this phase is to identify potential cognitive distortions or unhelpful thought patterns that contributed to their stress response. Therefore, the fact phase is about objectively recounting events, while the thought phase explores the immediate cognitive reactions to those events.