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