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