Values Versus Goals In Acceptance And Commitment Therapy

Values are the foundation of Acceptance and commitment therapy which is also known as ACT. In this video I will explain what are values, how they differ from goals and why they are so important. I also share an exercise that will help you identify your values and an exercise that will help you implement your values.

🔵 CHAPTERS

0:00 What are values?
1:16 Table of values versus goals
1:38 Why are values so important in ACT?
3:01 Whom do you look up to exercise
4:21 The flavouring and savour exercise

🔵 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

🔵 WHAT ARE VALUES?

Values are the qualities that you want to bring to your actions. For example, it’s important for Jo to be a kind and caring person so these values underpin her actions and behaviours towards other people. Harry has the value of humility, to be humble or modest and let his achievements speak for themselves. Values are how you behave as a person, how you treat yourself and and how you treat others. They are often confused with goals. Goals are an outcome that you’re aiming for.

🔵 WHY ARE VALUES SO IMPORTANT IN ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY?

Values inspire and guide your life. For example, one of Stacey’s values is to help other people whenever she can. That value has guided her to train as a psychological therapist and most recently it has guided her to set up a mental health charity. Getting in contact with her values has helped her find her way in life and given her a sense of purpose. Her values have provided motivation and given her the strength and courage to do what really matters. She also experiences a sense of fulfilment because she is being true to herself, living her life her way and behaving like the sort of person she really want to be.

You may find it hard to connect with your values as they are buried under years of abuse, trauma or depression or perhaps you feel disconnected from our feelings or have a poor sense of self. Once you identify your values they can become a powerful source if inspiration and motivation to build a meaningful life.

🔵 LIST OF VALUES

Acceptance
Adventure
Assertiveness
Authenticity
Beauty
Caring
Challenge
Compassion
Connection
Contribution
Conformity
Cooperation
Courage
Creativity
Curiosity
Encouragement
Equality
Excitement
Fairness
Fitness
Flexibility
Freedom
Friendliness
Forgiveness
Fun
Generosity
Gratitude
Honesty
Humour
Humility
Independence
Intimacy
Justice
Kindness
Love
Mindfulness
Order
Open-mindedness
Patience
Persistence
Playfulness
Pleasure
Power
Reciprocity
Safety
Self-awareness
Self-care
Self-development
Self-control
Sensuality
Sexuality
Spirituality
Skilfulness
Supportiveness
Trust

🔵 WORK WITH ME

If you'd like to work with Teresa, or a member of the Lewis Psychology team, please click on the links below:

🔵 ABOUT TERESA LEWIS

Teresa Lewis is the founder and Director of Lewis Psychology and a Senior Accredited psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Snr. Accred). Qualified in 1995, Teresa has been providing counselling and psychotherapy treatment for nearly 30 years. Teresa holds a masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy and is a qualified EMDR Practitioner having completed training accredited with EMDR Europe. Teresa is also a qualified adult educator and an accredited Mindfulness teacher As a recognised expert in her field Teresa is frequently asked to conduct editorial reviews and endorse counselling and psychotherapy books for international publishing houses.

🔵 GRAPHICS AND THUMBNAIL

#LewisPsychology

[ryarya]

I really think you are an excellent therapist! I am so disconnected from my values (poor sense of self, parental authority and extremely heavy societal expectations) that I reached a point of not knowing who I am at the age of 60! And I have a love/hate relationship with the values of the society I live in

[Anurag_Saxena]

Well, for a few months, you are my inspiration. Your calm and composed speaking, your subject matter expertise, and crisp and to the point content Sometimes make me aspire to be a psychologist by doing my higher studies in psychology.

[gailrosenberg]

I just found and subscribed to your channel. The short format and dense content, plus your compassionate delivery really draw me in. So much wisdom to apply to real life. As a survivor of emotional abuse and trauma bonding, I have moved into a new level of acceptance of my past and am interested in acquiring more skills for better relationships and being of help to others in my future. Thank you so very much.

[shaunhayward]

I love this! This is so simple yet so brilliant and insightful. Thank you!

[Anurag_Saxena]

There may be another quality: listening to somebody to understand, not to react or reply. And i feel psychologists like you are great listeners too.

[paulgriffiths]

Hi, these videos are fab. Thanks for these. I represent a well being charity and I share these with my team. Very useful.

[robhimslf]

In the example, Stacy's values lead her to pursue the goal of becoming a psychological therapist and to set up a mental health charity. So in the end, it's all about achieving goals after all?

[manaldal]

Really good therapist ✨
A question please : How are values formed in us ? I mean what makes me feel that something is important !??

[sheetalanuragpatil]

Wonderful your videos are really valuable Thanks a lot

[emily-vqkn]

Lewis, can health consideredas a value? 
And do anyone needs to love there values?
For example,
If a person's health is becoming bad and then he decided to do exercise for improving his health by doing exercises, eating health, good sleeping routine etc.
But that person don't actually love to be healthy instead it's just important for him.
So in this type of case can 'Health' still become a value for him?