Values are chosen life directions — what truly matters to someone in terms of qualities of action. The opposite is a lack of clarity or disconnection, when people drift without purpose or rely solely on external rules and pressures.
In therapy, clarifying values helps clients move from avoidance to a deeper understanding of meaning. For example, someone avoiding intimacy to escape rejection may reconnect with their value of love or kindness, shifting their focus from fear to purpose.
Values work involves exploring what matters in relationships, work, growth, and contribution, and then articulating the qualities that embody these values (e.g., being compassionate, adventurous, honest). Unlike goals, values are never “done” — they’re ongoing directions. This process provides clients with motivation and resilience, helping them persist through discomfort for something greater than personal relief.
