Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for bullying and provides direction when bullying removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Bullying
Bullying often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when bullying has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult bullying periods
- A basis for action independent of how bullying makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Bullying
Ask yourself: 'If my bullying 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 Bullying
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when bullying is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite bullying, are more sustainable than waiting for bullying to lift first.