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