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Values in Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide to Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life
Values in Therapy is a powerful and practical guide for any therapist—chock-full of insight and tools to conceptualize, integrate, and effectively apply values work in-session. With an emphasis on cultivating meaning and vitality in client lives, the values component of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is what draws many clinicians to the treatment model. Yet, until now, there have been no practical guides available on values-based practice written from an ACT perspective. And while values work may appear deceptively simple, it’s often difficult to effectively carry out in practice. That’s where this comprehensive guide comes in. Values in Therapy emphasizes the facilitation of specific qualities inherent in effective values conversations, such as vitality, choice, present-focused awareness, and willing vulnerability. This book will help you move away from basic techniques and exercises and toward the nuance and skills you need to do effective values work. You’ll also learn how to use these tools, with detailed scripts for in-session exercises, handouts for clients, homework ideas, assessment and tracking tools, case examples, practical vignettes, and more. Whether you’re an ACT clinician, or simply looking to incorporate values-based work into your treatment, this essential guide provides everything you need to help clients connect with what really matters to them, so they can live full and meaningful lives.
232 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2019
20 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2022
This was a very heavy book to digest. Filled with interventions and framework around getting to something so core to our sense of purpose and meaning: values. A great resource for therapists who especially work with individuals. Certain chapters can even be used to present to clients in therapeutic settings to engender a deeper process and understating when they become stuck. A great read! Wish there was a smaller version of this that felt more digestible/accessible.
August 22, 2020
I am not an ACT devotee. Either you are or you aren't, there's not much of a middle ground. I had gone to a 2 day training by Robyn Walsh, did two 2 days with Steven Hayes and an ACT boot camp.
At the latter, one of this book's authors was a presenter and I specifically asked, "you guys just made up some of these words..didn't you, to get people into ACT--your own lingo" and the presenter agreed. Other therapies do that, too, but the words come from behavioral therapy or make sense.
I gave up at page 114. I could not make myself finish. I need to take a break. I bought the book to see if there was a way to discuss values that would make more sense to a sub group of clients I work with. It is always good to get another perspective.
People new to values work may feel this' helpful. People who come from another therapy may be biased with their original learning. Some of this is right out of behavioral therapy just with ACT speak and that's what drove me nuts. Because I am not drinking the ACT kool-aid.
ACT is a solid therapy. Steven Hayes and his therapists do good work and help many people all over the world. They provide training and have work shops, publish books. I probably have 5 or 6 books, a set of CDs and (forgive me) the values cards because every few years I forget how irritating it is to me personally.
There's room for all of us. I am hoping it will be at least another 5 years before I fall for this again.
At the latter, one of this book's authors was a presenter and I specifically asked, "you guys just made up some of these words..didn't you, to get people into ACT--your own lingo" and the presenter agreed. Other therapies do that, too, but the words come from behavioral therapy or make sense.
I gave up at page 114. I could not make myself finish. I need to take a break. I bought the book to see if there was a way to discuss values that would make more sense to a sub group of clients I work with. It is always good to get another perspective.
People new to values work may feel this' helpful. People who come from another therapy may be biased with their original learning. Some of this is right out of behavioral therapy just with ACT speak and that's what drove me nuts. Because I am not drinking the ACT kool-aid.
ACT is a solid therapy. Steven Hayes and his therapists do good work and help many people all over the world. They provide training and have work shops, publish books. I probably have 5 or 6 books, a set of CDs and (forgive me) the values cards because every few years I forget how irritating it is to me personally.
There's room for all of us. I am hoping it will be at least another 5 years before I fall for this again.
December 1, 2019
Values in Therapy is an essential resource for any practitioner who is interested in providing for a more meaningful therapeutic experience for the persons they serve. There are very specific and user-friendly examples that can easily be implemented in sessions.
As a school psychologist, we often set discrete and short-term goals to work with students. Often these goals are related to “problem” behaviors with a focus on avoiding or managing “triggers”. This book shines a light on a different perspective and was eye-opening to me. By shifting the focus of our work with students on cultivating their values, and proactively moving towards the students’ individual set of values, we are not only improving the student’s immediate well-being, but are also teaching lifelong skills that will provide the foundation for more long-term meaningful living.
In addition to being a professional resource, it also provides space for introspection as a human being. Working through the exercises allows for a fresh opportunity to explore your own values and return to the “why” we do this work. I highly recommend this book for all therapists working in any setting.
As a school psychologist, we often set discrete and short-term goals to work with students. Often these goals are related to “problem” behaviors with a focus on avoiding or managing “triggers”. This book shines a light on a different perspective and was eye-opening to me. By shifting the focus of our work with students on cultivating their values, and proactively moving towards the students’ individual set of values, we are not only improving the student’s immediate well-being, but are also teaching lifelong skills that will provide the foundation for more long-term meaningful living.
In addition to being a professional resource, it also provides space for introspection as a human being. Working through the exercises allows for a fresh opportunity to explore your own values and return to the “why” we do this work. I highly recommend this book for all therapists working in any setting.
September 8, 2024
Jenna Lejeune is an amazing human being, and fantastic writer. Her connection to her own personal values shines through in this books, with her openheartedness, emotional sensitivity, compassion, authenticity, and humility. It felt like sitting on the couch with her.
As a client, working with Jenna helped me reconnect with what is most important in my life, and to live a life full of vitality and meaning. Reading values in therapy helped me go even deeper into values exploration, theory, and has deepened my understanding of ACT and the psychological flexibility model as a whole. I now understand how the entire process of flexibility is specifically in service of helping us live out our values in the here and now, and have improved at recognizing barriers in my own practice to greater freedom.
This is a clinician centered book, but as a client I found it incredibly helpful and interesting. If you see this Jenna I highly recommend a client facing values book, as many humans would deeply benefit from this work. Thank you so much for this gift. -X
As a client, working with Jenna helped me reconnect with what is most important in my life, and to live a life full of vitality and meaning. Reading values in therapy helped me go even deeper into values exploration, theory, and has deepened my understanding of ACT and the psychological flexibility model as a whole. I now understand how the entire process of flexibility is specifically in service of helping us live out our values in the here and now, and have improved at recognizing barriers in my own practice to greater freedom.
This is a clinician centered book, but as a client I found it incredibly helpful and interesting. If you see this Jenna I highly recommend a client facing values book, as many humans would deeply benefit from this work. Thank you so much for this gift. -X
December 13, 2019
Very approachable and engaging read that taps into the heart of identifying and aligning with values...with clients and with ourselves as clinicians.
The writing goes far beyond explanation. Metaphors, scenarios, tools, questions are woven together in such a way to keep the book dancing.
I so much appreciated the insights addressing those places where I get stuck in my own patterns. The specific strategies and helpful perspectives offered have helped me shift my approach and sense of connection with values work in the room and in my life.
Unnervingly, the suggestions and exercises that I found myself resisting the most were often exactly the places where I most needed to learn.
I will be definitely be reading this book through again.
The writing goes far beyond explanation. Metaphors, scenarios, tools, questions are woven together in such a way to keep the book dancing.
I so much appreciated the insights addressing those places where I get stuck in my own patterns. The specific strategies and helpful perspectives offered have helped me shift my approach and sense of connection with values work in the room and in my life.
Unnervingly, the suggestions and exercises that I found myself resisting the most were often exactly the places where I most needed to learn.
I will be definitely be reading this book through again.
January 2, 2023
Defining values to fully buy into the ACT school of thought is challenging. Pretty much all the tools and literature on the internet for discovering values you can commit to are too vague or outright useless. The author had a tall task to establish a process for defining, exploring, and committing to values - and, she has done a spectacular job. I have not seen a better blend of anecdotes, required literature, and actionable insights assembled in a book. If you are not a therapist and working through the book to find your own values - some chapters will obviously not be of great interest to you. That said, the book still manages to deliver what it promises and does not deviate from the goal for any chapter. Would strongly recommend it to people who are working on ACT all by themselves.
January 12, 2021
An excellent book for any clinician who wants to help clients live a more meaningful life, whether they are interested in ACT or working from another model. I found the style of writing really refreshing and engaging - whilst there were adequate links to theory and technical resources, the writer spoke from the heart in a way that helped me to reconnect to feeling excited about my work as a therapist and what it's in service of. I loved how throughout the book there were prompts and tools to help you relate what you are reading to your work, and get started on connecting to your values from the very beginning. Would highly recommend!
July 5, 2023
I'm not a therapist, but I heard this was a great introduction to the concept of values. And I think it is. This is pretty heavy meaning-of-life stuff, but it's explained well, in simple language, and using a fair number of examples (I would have liked more examples - especially examples of values). It's clearly aimed at therapists, but the subject is pretty fascinating. To me, this was a very unique way of looking at how to intentionally "steer" one's life. It's given me a lot to think about already and I'm certain it would reward a re-reading at a later date to get more insights.
January 15, 2025
This is an exceptionally valuable read for the ACT practitioner trying to understand values-driven therapeutic techniques.
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January 6, 2023Extremely useful
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews