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