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