Values: Self-Exploration Worksheet
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Exploring values can help a great deal in therapy. When a client understands their values, they can gain a better understanding of their goals and what they want from life. They also learn about the type of person they want to be and how they want to behave.
When a person lacks a clear understanding of their values, they can feel lost. They can struggle to make healthy decisions and can have difficulty relating to people. Not being aware of your values makes it difficult to embrace your own identity and understand what you expect from yourself.
About This Worksheet
Exploring a client's values can be a powerful exercise for clients in therapy. The Values: Self-Exploration worksheet encourages the client to explore their values. It asks thought-provoking questions about the client's values and history and prompts them to reflect on themselves and their lives to build a stronger sense of self-worth and self-acceptance.
The Values: Self-Exploration worksheet is great for adolescents and adults. It can work well in individual and group therapy sessions. When appropriate, this worksheet may also be used in couples counseling.
Instructions
Introduce the Values: Self-Exploration worksheet to your client or group and review the introductory paragraph with them. Explain that understanding values helps people create a path in life. You may also explain that values bring purpose and motivation, so it is important to be in tune with them.
Have your client or group complete the questions on their own. When they are ready, reflect on their answers with them. Use the worksheet to facilitate a conversation about healthy, constructive values to live by. You may ask questions, like:
- After completing this worksheet, what are 2 values that feel meaningful to you right now?
- How in line do you feel with your values?
- What can you do to boost your alignment with your values?
Encourage the client or group to use their reflections to prioritize healthy life decisions. Instruct them to use the worksheet to explore ways to incorporate their values into building mental health.
References
Barney, J. L., Lillis, J., Haynos, A. F., Forman, E., & Juarascio, A. S. (2019). Assessing the valuing process in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Experts' review of the current status and recommendations for future measure development. Journal of contextual behavioral science, 12, 225–233.
Kemp, K. (2021). The ACT workbook for perfectionism: Using acceptance and commitment therapy to live a life of values, not fear. New Harbinger Publications.
