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