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