Core values guide our principles, shaping our lives and adding meaning to our experiences. They influence our decisions, help us handle challenges, and support our sense of identity. For clients in therapy, understanding and clarifying core values can aid personal growth and healing.

When clients feel stuck, out of sync, or overwhelmed, reconnecting with their core values can provide stability and direction. Helping clients identify and prioritize their values allows therapists to support them in making meaningful changes and living a more genuine and satisfying life.

This article offers an extensive list of core values with definitions and practical ideas for incorporating values work into clinical practice. You will find out when and how to use values in therapy, along with common challenges and strategies for addressing them.

When to Use Core Values in Therapy

Exploring core values can be a powerful intervention across a range of therapeutic contexts. Values work helps clients clarify what truly matters to them—offering a sense of direction, motivation, and meaning, especially during times of emotional or existential uncertainty. Here are some key moments when integrating values can be especially impactful:

• During life transitions or identity exploration: Major changes—such as career shifts, relationship changes, parenthood, or aging—often prompt clients to reflect on who they are and what they want. Values work can anchor clients during these transitions by helping them reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose and identity.
  
  
• When addressing existential concerns, depression, or anxiety: Clients struggling with meaninglessness, hopelessness, or low motivation may benefit from identifying values that can guide action even in the face of discomfort. Naming what matters can be a grounding force in depressive states or when anxiety pulls clients away from their goals.
  
  
• In acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, and values-based goal setting: In ACT, values are central to helping clients take committed action. Similarly, narrative therapy may use values to help clients re-author their stories, aligning actions with personal meaning. Any goal-setting work gains depth and sustainability when tied to clearly defined values rather than external expectations.
  
  
• When clients express feeling “lost,” “empty,” or unsure of what matters: These are often signals that values exploration may be useful. Therapists can gently invite clients to reflect on what gives their life meaning, what kind of person they want to be, or what qualities they want to embody—even if they're not yet sure how to get there.
  
  

In short, value work is not just about identifying preferences—it’s about connecting to a client’s inner compass. When used skillfully, it can shift therapy from symptom reduction alone to a more expansive, purpose-driven process.

Core Values List for Therapy: Definitions and Clinical Relevance

Exploring core values in therapy can significantly enhance self-awareness, facilitate effective goal-setting, and aid in navigating life's challenges. The following list offers a detailed set of core values, along with their definitions to support your therapeutic work with clients:

Therapists are encouraged to adapt the list to meet the developmental, cultural, and situational context of each client. Consider using worksheets, card sorts, journaling prompts, or visual tools to help clients engage with the material in accessible, meaningful ways.

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How to Introduce Values Work with Clients

Starting values work in therapy requires a thoughtful, collaborative approach that respects the exploration process. Let clients know there are no "right" or "wrong" values, but rather a personal discovery of the principles that resonate most with them. You might say, "We're not here to find the 'right' values, but the ones that truly guide you."

It can also be helpful to explain the difference between goals and values early on. While goals are specific, measurable outcomes (like applying for a job or attending a support group), values are the deeper directions that give those goals meaning (like growth, connection, or courage). Framing it this way helps clients see that even when goals aren’t fully met, they can still live in alignment with what matters most—offering a sense of continuity, purpose, and self-compassion throughout the process.

To help with this introduction process, consider using a worksheet or card sort activity that presents a comprehensive list of core values. This allows clients to visualize and interact with a wide range of possibilities, sparking reflection and discussion. Ask open-ended, reflective prompts to deepen the conversation:

• Role models: "Who do you admire, and what qualities do they embody?"
• Legacy: "What do you want to be remembered for? What impact do you hope to have on others?"
• Authenticity: "When do you feel most like yourself? What activities or relationships bring out your best self?"

As clients engage with these prompts, encourage them to identify and prioritize their top 3-5 core values. Validate that all values hold importance, and the process is about identifying the ones that resonate most deeply with their true self.

Throughout the values exploration, maintain a stance of curiosity, openness, and non-judgment. Create a safe space for clients to share their thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism or expectation, fostering a strong therapeutic relationship. By modeling this open and reflective approach, you invite clients to engage in the same spirit of personal discovery and growth.

Clinical Applications of Values Work

Values work can be a powerful addition to various therapeutic approaches, helping clients with personal growth, healing, and achieving their goals. Here are some ways to bring values into clinical practice:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): In ACT, values are central to developing psychological flexibility. Therapists help clients identify their values and commit to actions that align with them, even when faced with difficult thoughts or emotions. By focusing on what truly matters, clients can lead more meaningful lives.
• Goal Setting: Including a client's top values in the goal-setting process boosts motivation and persistence. When goals connect to personal values, clients find a deeper sense of purpose and are more likely to overcome challenges. Therapists can assist clients in setting SMART goals that are based on their core values.
• Trauma Recovery: For clients recovering from trauma, values can help rebuild a positive self-image and future outlook. Therapists may use a strengths-based approach to help clients reconnect with their values, guiding them through recovery. Living by core values can encourage resilience and growth after trauma.
• Couples and Family Therapy: Exploring values in relationships can offer important insights and guidance. Therapists support couples and families in clarifying shared values and identifying areas of conflict. By encouraging open discussions about values, therapists help strengthen and deepen relationships.
• Career Counseling: Values significantly impact career satisfaction and choices. Therapists can assist clients in aligning their career goals and job decisions with their personal values. By matching work with values, clients are more likely to find fulfillment and meaning in their careers.

When incorporating values work into therapy, therapists should focus on collaboration and a client-centered approach. This means working closely with clients to understand their individual values, tailoring interventions to their cultural context, and regularly assessing how values alignment affects their well-being. By weaving values into therapy, therapists can help clients lead genuine and purposeful lives.

Common Challenges and How to Address Them

Working with values can deeply affect personal growth, but it’s not always easy. Clients may find it tough to pinpoint their core values or feel stuck in the process. Here are some common challenges and ways to address them:

• "I don't know what I value": Some clients might feel disconnected from their values or find it hard to express them. Use curiosity and storytelling to help them uncover hidden values. Ask about their heroes, proudest moments, or times they felt most alive. These stories often reveal deeply held principles.
• Values vs. "shoulds": Clients may confuse external expectations with personal values. Help them distinguish between true desires and societal pressures. Explore what they would choose if no one else knew or if they had unlimited resources. This can clarify which values genuinely resonate.
• Emotional pain tied to values: When clients have experienced loss, trauma, or significant life changes, reconnecting with values can be painful. Validate their grief and explore how values can change after a crisis. Highlight that it's normal for values to shift over time, and that aligning actions with current values is what matters most.
• Perfectionism and self-judgment: Some clients may feel they're constantly falling short of their values. Reframe values as a guide, not a strict destination. Encourage self-compassion and emphasize progress over perfection. Celebrate small steps toward living according to their values.
• Conflicting values: Clients may feel torn between competing values, such as balancing work and family. Help them explore creative solutions and compromises. Emphasize that values inform our choices, but they don't remove difficult decisions. Acknowledge the complexity of living according to one’s values.

The aim is not to dictate values but to support clients in identifying and living by their own genuine principles. Approach values work with openness, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit. Trust that your clients have the wisdom and resilience to navigate this meaningful journey.

Key Takeaways

Core values go beyond mere concepts or ideals; they act as practical guides for navigating life's ups and downs. When we root ourselves in our deepest values, we find the strength to handle difficulties, the courage to chase our dreams, and the insight to build meaningful connections with others.

As therapists, we have the privilege of supporting clients on their journey of self-discovery and growth. Incorporating values work into our clinical practice can produce meaningful results:

• Strengthening therapeutic alliance: Helping clients clarify and connect with their core values builds trust, rapport, and a shared sense of purpose.
• Clarifying goals: Values act as a compass, guiding clients toward the life they want to live. By aligning therapeutic goals with personal values, we help clients find deeper meaning and motivation.
• Supporting lasting change: When clients learn to make choices and take actions based on their values, they develop the skills and resilience to create lasting, positive change.

The path of values-based living is not always clear or easy. It requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to step into the unknown. As therapists, we can walk alongside our clients, offering support, guidance, and a steady reminder of what matters most.

So, let's encourage our clients to live boldly, love deeply, and lead with their values. Let's help them trust in their own wisdom, strength, and resilience. And let's celebrate the profound transformation that occurs when we center ourselves in the truth of who we are and what we stand for.

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