One of the classic ACT techniques for exploring values is the “imagine your 80th birthday” or the “imagine your funeral,” exercise. There are many ways to do this exercise. Attached to this page is a script showing one example of how to do this. (Be sure to be logged in with a current membership in order to download it). Enjoy!

This is an alternative to the Life/Values Compass exercise and can be used to organize behavioral activation efforts.

I have used this as a metaphor when talking with clients about issues that are otherwise a bit abstract: helping connect them to the contingencies in their natural environment. Several clients have appreciated the metaphor as a simple and common language for having this discussion.

Attached, you can find it in exercise form. I would recommend doing this after you have done some other values assessment/clarification so the client has specifics in mind for each valued domain.

This exercise is a good one for helping clients who do not have a strong sense of their values. Rather than needing to 'know' which value is important to them in order to behave, is it possible to behave for a while to learn from direct experience how it feels to a) commit to behaving consistent with a freely chosen value, and perhaps b) learn over time which values may have meaning for the person? Some work with the client around this issue (e.g., willingness, defusion/letting go of 'needing' to know the answer) will be helpful. My experience is that it's a good idea to assign this as homework for an extended period of time -- at least a few days, a week or two, or longer if possible -- to help the client build up a longer history of behaving consistently with this value before coming to any 'decisions' about continuing to move forward in the direction of that or another chosen value.

Use this worksheet to demonstrate the two sides of the same coin metaphor. Print each slide on one side of the same piece of paper and cut out the circle. Have the client fill out their top 5 most painful internal experiences on one side and their top 5 most important values on the other. Discuss the relationship between the two sides and how you can't have one side without the other. Ask the client to turn the "painful" side up and then "get rid" of it - hide it, push it away, rip it up. Then discuss how trying to push away our painful experiences also results in pushing away our values.

I wanted to share this little gem with the greater ACT community. The Forstara Personal Values Sort for iphone and android (based on Miller,C’de Baca, Matthews, and Wilbourne's card sort exercise) has been a great way to get clients exploring their values. It takes the somewhat cumbersome task of the card sort and makes it a simple exercise anyone can complete on a smart phone in a few minutes.

Please note, the app listed above is no longer available but another has been suggested if it is of use:

Values Discovery by PanPlus Global, Inc. It’s a card sort app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Pinnguaq.PPLegacyCards&hl=en

I've created a downloadable Values List PDF and an Interactive Online Tool to help your clients pinpoint what's truly important to them.

These easy-to-use resources are great for guiding clients through ACT values clarification, whether as part of homework or during live sessions via screen sharing.

They're practical, straightforward, and ready to be integrated into your work. Give them a try and see how they can support your clients' progress!

→ Values List & Interactive Tool

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Please watch the video below (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4vbz8BPS0M&feature=youtu.be) that explains the virtual values card sort and then have a play around with the PowerPoint file attached that contains the cards. 

Please feel free to adapt, evolve and share the virtual values cards so that they are helpful to your context and so that other people may benefit from them too.

Please contact me at: drrichardcoates@gmail.com if you have any queries. I'd also love to hear how you get on with using them.

The virtual values card sort was a result of values-based behaviour of 'creativity, connection and learning.'

I hope they can be helpful and accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Warm wishes

Richard

Dr. Richard Coates

Clinical Neuropsychologist

UK