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