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