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