As a general rule, however we introduce values into a session, we use some or all of the following steps:
1. Give a rationale: Why do values matter?
2. Provide brief psychoeducation: What are values?
3. Do an experiential exercise: Directly connect with values.
4. Help clients put their values into words.
Step 1: Give a Rationale
Our first step is generally to give a rationale for clarifying values.
Here’s one way of explaining why values matter.
Therapist: Is it okay if we spend some time today clarifying what really matters to you in the big picture? I’d like to hear what sort of person you want to be, what you want to stand for in life, what sort of relationships you want to build with people, and what sort of strengths or qualities you want to develop or apply more in your life.
Specifically, what I’m referring to is something we commonly call values— basically your heart’s deepest desires for how you want to behave as a human being.
I’m suggesting we do this because it makes a huge difference to most people. It helps us set meaningful goals, helps give us strength and courage to deal with our challenges, helps motivate and inspire us, helps us deal with pain and stress, and, last but not least, helps us build a richer, fuller life.
Step 2: Provide Brief Psychoeducation
Next, we provide brief psychoeducation about what values are, pri-marily to distinguish values from goals. As this is covered in detail in any introductory ACT text, I won’t go over it again here.
Step 3: Do an Experiential Exercise
Remember the trap of talking about ACT instead of doing it? There’s an especial danger of doing this with values work, turning the session into an intellectual discussion about values, rather than a deep experien-tial connection with values. To avoid this trap, we need to slow down and lead the client into an experiential exercise aimed at values clarification.
Again, you’ll find plenty of these in any introductory ACT text; for a comprehensive list, see ACT Made Simple (p. 201).
It’s often useful to complement these exercises with the Bull’s- Eye Worksheet, especially in conjunction with the concept of “toward moves”
and “away moves.” In the transcript below, the therapist has already introduced the Bull’s- Eye Worksheet (described in chapter 6).
Therapist: A toward move is something you do that gets you closer to the bull’s- eye: something that’s meaningful and life enhancing for you, something that shows you’re
behaving like the person you really want to be. An away move is something you do that takes you away from the bull’s- eye: something that isn’t meaningful and life enhancing. Away moves are the things you do when you aren’t behaving like the person you really want to be.
Client: I see.
Therapist: So when you’re making a toward move, you’re doing what matters.
Client: Got it.
Therapist: Let’s use this to take a look at what’s been happening in this room today. For the last few minutes we’ve been talking about your desire to build a better relationship with your wife and kids. So in this quadrant here (pointing to relationships), would you say you’ve been moving toward the bull’s- eye or away from it?
Client: Toward.
Therapist: I agree. But what about earlier in the session, when you got hooked by all those thoughts about how much your
wife pisses you off and started blaming her for all the problems in your marriage. Was that a toward move or away move?
Client: That was definitely an away move.
Therapist: Cool. What about right now in this moment, in your interaction with me? To me, it seems like you’re being very open, trusting, and cooperative. And you’re also really engaging with me. So in terms of our interaction (pointing to the relationships quadrant) and the way you’re behaving right now toward me, can you place your finger somewhere on this diagram to show me how close you are to the bull’s- eye?
Client: (Seems surprised and pleased.) Pretty close, actually. (Puts his finger just outside the bull’s- eye.)
Therapist: Okay, so take a moment to notice what this is like— to be doing something that matters.
Client: (Pauses.) It’s good.
In this way, we can use the bull’s- eye as a scale indicating congru-ence with values. Whatever area of life the client is talking about, we can ask him to point out on the diagram where he currently is. Here are a few other examples of how we can use the bull’s- eye to help clients hone in on values and committed actions:
“If you let these feelings dictate what you do here, is that going to move you toward or away from the bull’s- eye?”
“If you go along with that thought, will that take you toward or away from the bull’s- eye?”
“Would doing that be a toward move or an away move?”
“What’s a small step you could take that would get you a bit closer to the bull’s- eye?”
Step 4: Help Clients Put Their Values into Words
Many clients come up with their own words to describe their values, but some have difficultly doing so. The Forty Common Values Worksheet (available as a free download at www.actmindfully.com.au) can be helpful for those who are struggling with this.