Values Clarification - Why Is It Important?

Edited 9th March 2026

Adlerian therapy, also known as Individual Psychology, is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Alfred Adler, a prominent psychologist in the early 20th century, initially working closely with Freud and eventually diverging off to further develop his own interpretations.

Adlerian therapy focuses on understanding the individual within the context of their social relationships and the influence of their subjective perceptions and beliefs.

The work of Alfred Adler taught us that, compared to the simplicity of the Freudian theories, a more holistic view of a person and their lifestyle might be useful in understanding behaviours. I want to concentrate particularly on an approach he called 'Values Clarification'.

Adler believed that humans have an inherent drive for significance and a desire to feel valued and capable.  Values Clarification is a concept within Adlerian Therapy which looks to help an individual understand the basis of their feelings or behaviours, from the perspective of the impact of external influences on what they might perceive to be their own personal values and belief system. A therapist would encourage the individual to recognise their own reactions and make their own connections back to how certain things may be affecting the way they see or feel about themselves. This can then open a door for the individual to decide which of their values and beliefs are their own, and potentially to begin to further develop their own values.

Why would our values not be our own?

Alfred Adler believed that our values can be influenced by birth order or by early experiences particularly the dynamics within the family and the relationships and interactions with parents and caregivers during our formative years. They can be influenced by something called social context, which means the cultural norms, societal expectations, and the values transmitted by significant others, such as parents, teachers, and community members. They can be influenced by subjective perceptions (i.e. how we perceive ourselves and others and our beliefs about what is important and meaningful, or interpretations of success and happiness). And, lastly he believes that they could be influenced by the pursuit of significance - our drive to feel valued, capable, and to contribute meaningfully to our social environment - and by the goals we set for ourselves.

A few years ago, my own personal experience of a deterioration in my mental health is what drove me to return to studying psychology and, ultimately, train as a practitioner in the profession.

Values clarification is one of the first key subjects when studying psychological approaches that really resonated with me, so I want to share this passage from my upcoming book, 'Tyrannic Bosses and How to Survive Them':

"If you’ve not undergone any kind of talking therapy previously, you may find it unlikely that a few questions that you ask of yourself could give you any real clarity, but I would encourage you to give it a go before writing it off.

By undergoing this introspective process, you can gain profound insights into your motivations, desires, and the values that drive your behaviour. This newfound self-awareness is invaluable when dealing with difficult bosses. It empowers you to better understand your own reactions, choices, and emotional responses in the workplace. It acts as a mirror, reflecting your true self, allowing you to approach challenging situations with a greater sense of clarity and authenticity.

The full therapeutic process goes a little deeper, also helping individuals to identify where their values originated and whether those values are true friends or foes, or even still relevant to their lives today, as they were when those values were originally formed in the mind.

Some Examples:

If one of your core values is integrity (prioritising honesty and moral principles, a tendency to be truthful, keep promises, and uphold high ethical standards in your personal and professional life), how do you respond when your integrity is challenged? How crucial is it for you that others recognise your integrity?

Different individuals may interpret and hold different standards for integrity so different people may challenge your integrity in various ways. Some individuals with this value may despise being accused of lying, cheating, stealing, breaking promises, betrayal, discrimination, harassment, conflict of interest, violating confidentiality, or ignoring personal responsibility.

If you ever felt accused (whether you directly were accused, or just indirectly perceived that someone was accusing you) of having low or no integrity how did/would you respond? Do you let it go immediately and ignore the accusation? Do you withdraw, avoiding the accusers? Do you fight it with anger or abrasiveness? Do you double down on proving your integrity beyond doubt? Maybe a combination of these reactions?

Could this challenge to your integrity lead to feelings of sadness or anxiety?

My personal experience of this, unfortunately, is that I can, depending on the accuser, display any one of those three behaviours.  It doesn’t even have to be a direct accusation anyone has made of me. But I have been guilty of assuming I can read other people’s minds, and certainly assuming that they are thinking the worst of me – something else that I’ve had to admit to and look to adjust through my own experiences of therapy.

In response to an assumption I am making about how someone perceives me, I might withdraw, fight back in anger, or fight back in the form of over-work, to prove myself. None of these responses are at all good for me.  They all result in an increased stress for my own mind, and possibly, my body.

Another example could be the value of self-sufficiency. Being self-sufficient is undoubtedly valuable, especially if you've grown up in a self-reliant environment. Traits associated with self-sufficiency include assertiveness, independence, self-trust, comfort in solitude, decisiveness without seeking permission, and minimal reliance on others for decision-making.

While these traits are highly desirable, especially in a work environment, they can have negative consequences if taken to the extreme. Excessive assertiveness may transform into aggression, staunch independence might hinder teamwork, and making hasty decisions without gathering all the facts could lead to poor outcomes.

These are just two examples of values you may or may not relate to. You undoubtedly have your own values and motivations that you could add to the list. How do you respond when your values are challenged? Could they be influencing your feelings and behaviours in ways that aren't conducive to a positive working environment?"

This is, of course, focussing on a very specific case of values in relation to the working environment, but values affect the way we interact in most of our everyday relationships.

While therapy can help with the above, I am all for free and self-led alternatives, if you feel able to give the time and effort to it, here are a few routes which I can personally recommend:

1. Head to this FREE website, Life Values Inventory and take yourself through the process, using the very handy guided process, with worksheets and useful information to help you along the way.

2. If you'd like something that allows you to follow the above process but gives you useful feedback and challenge along the way, minus the paperwork, you can use the Happy Citta AI Therapist, Zenny. This tool has been specifically designed in this method, to ensure a fully ethical and authentic process, to help you to map your values and how they might be affecting your everyday feelings and behaviours.

3. Speak to a therapist, who can guide you through this introspective process to discover more about yourself, ultimately leading to the opportunity to change what you don't feel serves you any longer.

If you'd like to talk about any of the above, or book a session to progress with Option 3, above, don't hesitate to contact me, Katy, at Happy Citta for a chat!

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