Modalities - Values Vault Cards

How to integrate values work into various therapeutic modalities:

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on helping individuals accept their thoughts and feelings, commit to actions that align with their values, and take steps toward living a meaningful life. Values are central to ACT because they serve as a guide for clients in making decisions that bring them closer to the life they want to live, despite the challenges they may face.

In ACT, values help shape the foundation of the therapeutic process. Here's a breakdown of how values integrate into the key components of ACT:

1. Clarifying Core Values

Purpose: In ACT, clients are encouraged to identify their core values, which act as a compass for their behavior and decision-making. These values are not things the client "should" do, but rather things that are personally meaningful and worth pursuing.

Using Values Vault Cards in ACT: The Values Vault cards can be used to help clients identify and clarify these values. By sorting through the cards, clients can pinpoint what truly matters to them in areas such as relationships, career, health, and personal growth. This step helps set a clear direction for therapy and for life in general.

Example Exercise in ACT:

A client may be asked to sort the cards into categories like "Most Important," "Important," and "Less Important." The therapist can then help the client explore why certain values hold significance, and how they relate to personal goals or life satisfaction. This process creates a sense of clarity and focus for the work ahead.

2. Mindfulness and Acceptance

Purpose: One of the core principles of ACT is mindfulness—being fully present and aware of thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. ACT teaches clients to accept difficult emotions (e.g., fear, anxiety, sadness) rather than trying to control or avoid them.
Values and Acceptance: Once values are clarified, clients are encouraged to accept uncomfortable thoughts or feelings that might arise when taking steps toward their values. Instead of letting fear or discomfort guide their decisions, clients can continue to move forward based on what matters most to them.

Example Exercise in ACT:

A client may feel anxious about pursuing a career that aligns with their core value of "creativity." In ACT, the therapist would guide the client to accept that anxiety without letting it control their actions. The client can then commit to actions that align with their creativity, even in the face of discomfort.

3. Commitment to Values-Based Action

Purpose: ACT emphasizes committing to values-based actions, regardless of how uncomfortable or difficult those actions may seem. The idea is that living in alignment with one’s values is inherently fulfilling and meaningful.
Values as a Guide for Commitment: Once the client has identified their core values, the therapist helps them set values-based goals and take concrete steps toward those goals. This requires commitment to action, even in the face of psychological discomfort.

Example Exercise in ACT:

If a client’s value is "health," they might commit to taking small, consistent actions like exercising or eating healthier meals. While these actions might be challenging at first, they align with the client’s core value and bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

4. Cognitive Defusion

Purpose: ACT uses a technique called cognitive defusion to help clients detach from negative or unhelpful thoughts, reducing their impact and influence on behavior. The idea is that clients don’t have to believe every thought or feeling that comes to mind.
Values and Cognitive Defusion: Cognitive defusion can help clients separate their values-based actions from the negative self-talk or doubts they may experience. When clients are moving toward a value (e.g., "leadership") but encounter thoughts like "I’m not good enough" or "I’ll fail," cognitive defusion helps them see those thoughts for what they are: temporary mental events, not truths that need to be acted upon.

Example Exercise in ACT:

A client may have thoughts like "I’ll never be successful in my career." Using defusion techniques, they learn to view this thought as just a passing mental event, not a reflection of their reality. They can then choose to take action based on their value of "achievement" rather than being held back by these thoughts.

5. Psychological Flexibility

Purpose: ACT aims to increase psychological flexibility, which is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, stay present, and act in alignment with one’s values, even when faced with challenges.
Values and Psychological Flexibility: When clients can stay true to their values, they develop the flexibility to adjust their behaviors, thoughts, and actions as needed. Values provide the clarity needed to make decisions that align with what is truly important, despite setbacks or obstacles.

Example Exercise in ACT:

A client might face a career setback (e.g., not getting a promotion). Rather than giving in to disappointment, they can use their core value of "growth" to evaluate the setback, learn from it, and continue to move forward in a way that aligns with their long-term goals.

How Values Vault Cards Enhance the ACT Process:

Clarifying Values: By using the Values Vault cards, clients can visually explore and identify their values in a structured, interactive way. This serves as a clear starting point for the therapeutic process, ensuring that clients understand what matters most to them before proceeding with action.
Engagement and Reflection: The card sorting process engages clients in self-reflection, helping them see how values align with their thoughts, behaviors, and life choices. This creates a deeper connection to their values and reinforces the importance of living in alignment with them.
Focus on Commitment: The cards can help clients identify values that are most important to them and make commitments to taking action toward those values. This supports the central goal of ACT—moving toward what matters, even in the face of discomfort or challenges.
Mindfulness and Acceptance: The cards can also be used in mindfulness exercises. For example, clients can be encouraged to reflect on how their values show up in their lives, acknowledge any discomfort that arises, and then accept it as part of their experience without letting it stop them from taking values-based action.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered, directive approach to therapy that emphasizes collaboration and empowers clients to explore and resolve ambivalence about change. Values play a critical role in MI, as they help clients connect with what truly matters to them, making it easier to commit to change.

In MI, the therapist’s role is to evoke the client’s intrinsic motivation for change by exploring the reasons they want to make changes and aligning those reasons with their core values. Here's how values are integrated into the key elements of MI:

1. Engaging the Client with Values

Purpose: The first step in MI is to build rapport and engage the client in the conversation. Establishing a connection around shared values helps the therapist understand what drives the client and builds trust in the therapeutic relationship.
Using Values Vault Cards in MI: The Values Vault cards can be used as an icebreaker or a tool to help clients articulate what matters most to them early in the session. This can provide valuable insight into the client’s intrinsic motivation for change, especially when they may be uncertain or ambivalent about taking action.

Example Exercise in MI:

Ask the client to sort the Values Vault cards into categories such as "Most Important" or "Least Important." Then, have them explore the top values and reflect on how those values align with the change they are considering. This provides a natural segue into discussing why these values are important and how they connect to the client's goals.

2. Exploring Ambivalence Through Values

Purpose: Ambivalence is common when clients are considering change. They may feel torn between their desire to change and the comfort of staying the same. In MI, the therapist helps clients explore both sides of their ambivalence, which can reveal how their current behaviors conflict with their core values.
Values and Ambivalence: Often, clients’ actions may be misaligned with their values. This discrepancy can fuel ambivalence, and values exploration can help clarify the issue. When clients see that their behaviors are in conflict with their values, it becomes easier for them to recognize the need for change.

Example Exercise in MI:

Use the values cards to explore ambivalence by asking, “How do you see your current behavior aligning with your values?” For instance, if a client’s top value is “health” but they’re struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exploring this conflict can help them better understand the reasons for their ambivalence and open the door to exploring ways to align their actions with their values.

3. Evoking Motivation for Change Through Values

Purpose: The therapist’s goal in MI is to evoke the client’s own reasons for change. Values are a powerful tool in this process, as they connect the client to the deeper motivations for change. When a client can see how change aligns with their core values, they are more likely to feel motivated and ready to take action.
Values as a Motivational Tool: In MI, values are used to activate intrinsic motivation. Helping clients link the change they want to make with what truly matters to them creates a sense of purpose and determination.

Example Exercise in MI:

Have the client reflect on how their goals or desired changes align with their core values. For example, “How would making this change bring you closer to the values of ‘authenticity’ or ‘personal growth’?” Exploring how the change aligns with deeply held values can strengthen the client’s motivation to act.

4. Commitment to Values-Based Action

Purpose: In MI, once the client has explored their values and the motivation for change, the therapist helps the client commit to specific actions that align with their values. This commitment to values-based action is the foundation of behavior change in MI.
Values and Commitment: The key to lasting change in MI is action. Once a client has articulated their core values and how change aligns with them, they can begin to set goals and commit to behaviors that support these values. The focus is on setting small, achievable steps that are connected to what is most important to the client.

Example Exercise in MI:

Have the client choose one or two actions that are in line with their values. For example, if “creativity” is a core value, they might commit to setting aside time each week for creative expression, like painting or writing. The therapist can help the client break down this action into manageable steps and hold them accountable.

5. Building Self-Efficacy Through Values

Purpose: MI helps clients build confidence in their ability to make changes. When clients take actions that align with their values and see positive results, they begin to believe in their ability to continue making meaningful changes.
Values and Self-Efficacy: Values-based actions provide clients with a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which enhances their self-efficacy. As clients start to see that living in accordance with their values leads to positive outcomes, their confidence in their ability to make future changes grows.

Example Exercise in MI:

After a client completes an action that is in line with their values, ask them to reflect on how they feel afterward. “How did taking this action make you feel in relation to your value of ‘honesty’ or ‘personal growth’?” This reinforces the connection between values-based action and positive outcomes, boosting the client’s belief in their ability to continue making changes.

How Values Vault Cards Enhance the MI Process:

Clarity and Focus: By using the Values Vault cards, clients can gain clarity about their values, which serves as a foundation for exploring motivation and ambivalence.
Eliciting Change Talk: MI focuses on evoking “change talk,” or the client’s own reasons for change. The values cards can facilitate this process by prompting clients to articulate how their current behaviors align or conflict with their values, fostering intrinsic motivation.
Facilitating Values-Based Goal Setting: Once values are identified, clients can use the cards to set goals that are in alignment with what truly matters to them. These goals are more likely to be motivating and meaningful, helping clients move from contemplation to action.

Practical Application with MI and Values Vault Cards:

Pre-session or Homework: Clients could use the cards to identify their top values before the session. This helps set the stage for discussing ambivalence and motivation for change.
In-session: The therapist can guide clients through the card sorting process to clarify their values and connect them with the client’s reasons for change. This can be a powerful way to initiate the change conversation.
Post-session: After identifying their values and setting goals, clients can reflect on how their actions are aligning with their values and track their progress. Follow-up sessions can revisit the cards to assess progress and make adjustments as needed.

How Values Vault Cards Enhance the EMDR Process:

Clarity and Empowerment: The Values Vault cards provide a tangible way for clients to clarify their core values, which serve as a guide throughout the entire EMDR process. This clarity can empower clients to navigate difficult memories and emotions with a sense of purpose and strength.
Anchoring Positive Beliefs: By using the cards to identify positive cognitions aligned with their values, clients can create a more adaptive and empowering belief system that helps them heal from trauma.
Support During Reprocessing: Values can act as an anchor during the reprocessing phase. Whenever a client experiences distress or resistance during trauma processing, they can use their values as a reminder of their inner strength and resilience.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps clients process and heal from distressing memories by using bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements) to reprocess traumatic memories and integrate them in a more adaptive way. In this process, values play an important role in helping clients develop more adaptive beliefs and strengthen their sense of self.

Practical Application with EMDR and Values Vault Cards:

Pre-session or Homework: Encourage clients to explore their values using the cards before the session. This helps them clarify what is most important to them and provides a sense of internal stability as they prepare to process difficult memories.
In-session: Use the cards during the preparation phase to identify core values. This can also be helpful when reprocessing trauma, as clients can focus on their values as an anchor for emotional resilience.
Post-session: After processing trauma, revisit the values cards to help clients reinforce their positive cognitions and ensure they have integrated the new beliefs in alignment with their values.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) or Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP)

In Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), fostering intrinsic motivation and helping clients connect with their deeper values is a critical part of the process. The Values Vault cards offer an innovative and structured approach to facilitate this connection by helping clients identify and explore their core values.

Building Self-Awareness with KAP:
One of the key benefits of using the Values Vault cards in KAP is that they provide a practical tool for building self-awareness. Before beginning a ketamine session, clients can use the cards to reflect on and identify their most important values. This pre-session activity allows clients to come into their therapeutic experience with greater clarity about what truly matters to them, providing a solid foundation for the journey ahead.

Empowering Clients During Their KAP Journey:
KAP often brings clients face-to-face with profound emotional and psychological material. By having already identified their core values, clients can use these values as touchstones during the session. For example, if a client is confronted with fear or uncertainty, they may use the values identified during the card sort—such as courage or authenticity—as reminders of their inner strengths. This can help the client navigate difficult experiences during the session with a sense of purpose and grounding.

Post-KAP Integration:
After the session, therapists can revisit the values with the client as part of the integration process. Reflecting on how the experience aligns with or challenges their core values can be an essential part of helping clients make sense of their insights and integrate them into their daily lives. The Values Vault cards can act as a reflective tool, prompting deeper exploration of how the ketamine experience intersects with their personal values and how they can use these insights to guide their future decisions and growth.

Tailored Questions for KAP Integration:
To further enhance the therapeutic process, therapists can create follow-up questions that tie the client's values directly to their KAP journey. For example, "How did your values of 'courage' and 'authenticity' come up during your experience?" or "What new insights about your core values emerged during your session?" This type of reflective inquiry can deepen the client's understanding of their experience and support ongoing healing and growth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a structured, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. Values play an important role in CBT by helping clients identify the underlying beliefs that drive their thoughts and behaviors, guiding them toward more adaptive and meaningful actions.

In CBT, values can be used to help clients reframe negative thought patterns, make decisions that align with what’s truly important to them, and shift behavior toward goals that reflect their authentic self. Here’s how values are integrated into the different stages of the CBT process:

1. Identifying Core Values and Cognitive Distortions

Purpose: In the early stages of CBT, clients learn to identify their negative thought patterns, known as cognitive distortions (e.g., all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, etc.). Values can help clients recognize how their negative thought patterns are rooted in deeper beliefs and unexamined assumptions.
Values and Cognitive Distortions: When clients identify cognitive distortions, it’s useful to tie them back to their core values. For example, a client who constantly feels like a failure (catastrophizing) might have an underlying value of "achievement." By identifying this value, the therapist can help the client realize that their self-worth is not solely dependent on achieving perfection or avoiding mistakes.

Example Exercise in CBT:

Use the Values Vault cards to have the client identify their top values. Once these values are identified, explore how cognitive distortions (e.g., "I’m a failure if I don’t meet my goals") might conflict with their core values. Help the client reframe these thoughts to align better with their values (e.g., “Growth and learning are more important than perfection”).

2. Cognitive Restructuring Using Values

Purpose: Cognitive restructuring is a core component of CBT, where clients challenge their negative or unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more balanced and realistic ones. Values help guide this process by offering a framework for the client to evaluate the validity and utility of their thoughts.
Values as a Guide for Restructuring: Values provide a foundation for clients to reframe their thoughts in a way that’s consistent with what they care about most. By identifying how a negative thought conflicts with their values, clients can more easily shift toward a healthier perspective that supports their well-being.

Example Exercise in CBT:

If a client has a negative thought like, "I’ll never be successful," have them explore how this thought aligns with their core values. If "resilience" is one of their values, help them reframe the thought: “I’ve faced challenges before and have the ability to bounce back and learn from setbacks.”

3. Behavioral Activation and Values-Based Goals

Purpose: Behavioral activation in CBT focuses on helping clients engage in positive, value-driven activities. Many times, clients struggle with depression, anxiety, or other issues that prevent them from participating in meaningful activities. Using values as a guide can motivate clients to take action and engage in behaviors that lead to a more fulfilling life.
Values-Based Action: By identifying values, clients can set meaningful goals that are aligned with what truly matters to them. Behavioral activation in CBT involves breaking down these goals into small, manageable steps that reflect the client’s values, which increases motivation and reduces feelings of overwhelm.

Example Exercise in CBT:

After identifying a core value (e.g., "family"), a client might feel disconnected from their loved ones due to depression. Help the client set a small goal, like reaching out to a family member for a phone call, as a way to reengage with the value of connection. The therapist can break this goal into smaller steps to ensure it feels achievable.

4. Values and Thought Records

Purpose: Thought records are a tool commonly used in CBT to help clients track and evaluate their negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Clients are encouraged to write down their automatic thoughts, examine evidence for and against these thoughts, and then develop more balanced thoughts.
Values and Thought Records: By integrating values into thought records, clients can evaluate their thoughts not only for accuracy but also for how well they align with their core beliefs and what they want to prioritize in life. This process helps clients challenge beliefs that may be inconsistent with their values and replace them with more value-driven perspectives.

Example Exercise in CBT:

When the client identifies an automatic negative thought, have them reflect on how this thought connects to their values. For instance, if a client believes, "I’m not good enough" (which may trigger anxiety or low self-esteem), ask them to consider how this belief contradicts their value of "self-compassion" or "personal growth." This helps the client challenge the thought and adopt a more supportive, value-aligned mindset.

5. Relapse Prevention and Values-Based Coping Strategies

Purpose: In the final stages of CBT, the focus shifts to preventing relapse and maintaining progress. Values play a critical role in this phase by providing clients with tools to cope with stressors, challenges, or setbacks in a way that is consistent with their values.
Values-Based Coping Strategies: When clients encounter challenges, they can use their values as a guide to navigate these situations. For example, if a client’s value is "integrity" and they face a temptation to act in a way that conflicts with their ethics, they can refer back to their core value to make decisions that align with their sense of self and long-term goals.

Example Exercise in CBT:

When a client encounters a difficult situation (e.g., feeling tempted to skip an important meeting), the therapist can help them identify which of their core values is at stake (e.g., "commitment" or "professionalism"). Then, the client can choose to take action that supports these values, reducing the likelihood of relapse into old patterns.

How Values Vault Cards Enhance the CBT Process:

Clarity of Values: The Values Vault cards provide clients with a tangible and interactive way to identify and reflect on their core values. This clarity enhances self-awareness and provides a solid foundation for challenging negative thoughts and behaviors.
Guiding Action: The cards help guide clients toward values-based goals and actions. By aligning behavioral activation with values, clients are more motivated and likely to follow through with positive changes.
Reframing Negative Thoughts: By using the cards to explore how thoughts align with core values, clients can more easily identify and challenge cognitive distortions. Values provide a positive anchor that clients can use to reshape their thought patterns.

Practical Application with CBT and Values Vault Cards:

Pre-session or Homework: Ask clients to sort the values cards before the session, then review their top values to guide the focus of the conversation.
In-session: Use the cards to clarify values when working through cognitive distortions or helping the client set values-based goals. This can be particularly helpful during cognitive restructuring exercises.
Post-session: Encourage clients to track their thoughts and behaviors in relation to their values. Use thought records to help them evaluate whether their thoughts are aligned with their core beliefs.

Career Counseling

Values are a key factor in career development, as they help clients make informed decisions about their career paths, align their work with what is truly meaningful to them, and enhance job satisfaction. In career counseling, exploring and clarifying values is essential for helping clients identify goals, assess career options, and make decisions that align with their authentic self.

In career counseling, values guide clients through career exploration, goal-setting, decision-making, and navigating challenges in their professional lives. Here's how values are integrated into the different stages of career counseling: