In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), values play a fundamental role in guiding the therapeutic process and fostering meaningful change. Values refer to the deeply held principles that give purpose and direction to an individual’s life. Unlike goals, which are specific achievements, values are enduring and provide a compass that helps clients steer through life’s complexities. By identifying and clarifying their core values, clients are better equipped to make choices that are congruent with what truly matters to them, thus enhancing their sense of fulfillment and well-being. This alignment with personal values is crucial for therapists to emphasize, as it helps clients break free from the cycle of avoidance and begin to engage in actions that are meaningful and purposeful.

You will learn many ways to assist clients in exploring and clarifying their values so that they may move in the direction of a meaningful life. We will examine the connections between values, authenticity and creating a life worth living. In addition, you will learn how our clients’ belief systems, typically the result of trauma and/or attachment wounding, can be an obstacle in generating authentic values. The good news is that belief systems can change, and we’ll explore the clinical work that is necessary for that to occur.

In addition, you will discover how clients can also use values as a guide for setting goals. By setting value-based goals, clients can prioritize what truly matters to them and focus on actions that bring them closer to living a purposeful, fulfilling life.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the concept of “values-based living” and its role in ACT 
• Discuss how “committed action” is related to values
• Describe how mindfulness is related to values
• Describe at least twenty ways for client to explore their values
• Explain how a client’s belief system can influence values-generation in both positive and negative ways
• Demonstrate how clients can connect their values to their goals
• Identify obstacles that prevent clients from living a life aligned with their values
• Construct treatment plans with clients that reflect their values
• Utilize values as a way to empower clients and generate hopefulness about the future
• Social workers completing this course receive 6 Cultural Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.

Social workers completing this course receive 6 Cultural Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.

For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 6 hours of Clinical continuing education training.

Course Instructor: Dreya Blume, LCSW

Recording Date: 03/22/2025