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