Values Clarification – Additional DBT Tool

Values Clarification

Definition

Values Clarification is a reflective skill used to help you identify what matters most to you—your core principles, priorities, and deeply held beliefs.
It guides you in aligning your actions with these values, increasing a sense of purpose and meaning.

Purpose

Used to:

  • Gain clarity on what you truly care about.
  • Make decisions consistent with your values.
  • Reduce confusion about conflicting goals.
  • Increase motivation to engage in valued actions.

When to Use

Use Values Clarification when:

  • You feel lost, aimless, or unmotivated.
  • You struggle with making decisions.
  • You notice that your behavior conflicts with your beliefs.
  • You want to set long-term goals.

When Not to Use

Avoid using if:

  • You are in immediate crisis (use crisis survival skills first).
  • You are too emotionally dysregulated to reflect calmly.
  • You feel pressured to choose values to please others.

How-To

1. Reflect on What Matters

  • Ask yourself: What do I care most about? What would I want my life to stand for?

2. Identify Core Values

  • Examples: Honesty, compassion, family, growth, stability.

3. Rank or Prioritize

  • Which values feel most central right now?

4. Explore Gaps

  • Are there areas where your actions don’t match your values?

5. Set Values-Based Goals

  • Choose small steps that embody your highest values.

6. Revisit Regularly

  • Your values may shift over time. Check in with yourself.

Tips & Variations

  • Use journaling to explore values.
  • Try the “Funeral Exercise”: Imagine what you’d want people to say about you at the end of your life.
  • Consider using values cards or lists to prompt ideas.
  • Combine with Build Mastery or Cope Ahead to set specific goals.

Example

Scenario: Maya feels unmotivated and stuck.

Reflection:

  • What matters most? Helping others, personal growth, and authenticity.

Identified Values:

  1. Service
  2. Learning
  3. Honesty

Values-Behavior Gaps:

  • Not volunteering despite valuing service.
  • Avoiding feedback, which conflicts with growth.

Action Plan:

  • Sign up for a volunteer shift.
  • Ask a trusted colleague for constructive feedback.

Inventor / Origin

Values Clarification originated in humanistic psychology and was popularized by Louis Raths, Merrill Harmin, and Sidney Simon (1966).
It has since been integrated into DBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Related Skills

  • Build Mastery
  • Mindfulness
  • Radical Acceptance
  • Problem Solving
  • Goal Setting

Limitations

May not be effective if:

  • You rely on others’ values rather than your own.
  • You expect clarity without reflection.
  • You become overwhelmed by perfectionism.

Evidence Base

Research shows:

  • Values clarification increases motivation and engagement.
  • Aligning actions with values improves well-being.
  • It helps reduce experiential avoidance and indecision.

Further Reading

References

  • Raths, L.E., Harmin, M., & Simon, S.B. (1966). Values and Teaching: Working with Values in the Classroom. Charles Merrill.
  • Linehan, M.M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets. Guilford Press.

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