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