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