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