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