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