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