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