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