Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for autism and provides direction when autism removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Autism
Autism often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when autism has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult autism periods
- A basis for action independent of how autism makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Autism
Ask yourself: 'If my autism were less present, what would I be doing more of? What kind of person would I be?'
Values are not goals (achievable and done) but ongoing directions: being a present parent, creating beauty, contributing to others.
Values-Based Action in Autism
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when autism is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite autism, are more sustainable than waiting for autism to lift first.