Kirschenbaum H. Values Clarification in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Practical Strategies for Individual and Group Settings

Oxford University Press, 2013. — 215 p. — ISBN 978–0–19–997218–0.Values clarification is perhaps best known for the many values clarification strategies that can be used with individuals and groups to explore a myriad of counseling topics. Values clarification is compared and contrasted to other approaches to counseling and psychotherapy, including person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, reality therapy-choice theory, existential, individual psychology, solution-focused, narrative, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, appreciative inquiry, life coaching, and positive psychology. Helping clients determine their priorities, set goals, make decisions, and take action to improve their lives are common tasks for virtually all helping professionals when engaging with clients. This is the process known as "values clarification" (or "Values Clarification"). While counselors and psychotherapists widely practice values clarification-some knowingly, others unaware-they typically do so with a limited understanding of its theory, methods and various applications. The book illustrates extensively how strategies can be carried out in individual counseling and psychotherapy, group counseling and psychotherapy, and psychoeducational work, whatever the subject or topic. The examples throughout the text are often grouped around more specific applications for marriage and family counseling, career counseling, substance abuse and recovery counseling, geriatric counseling, grief counseling, pastoral counseling, financial counseling, school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, counselor/clinical education and supervision, health counseling and personal growth.Paul’s Case: A Brief Example of Values Clarification Counseling
The Values Clarification Approach
Implementing Values Clarification
The Value-Clarifying Question
The Clarifying Interview
Values Clarification Strategies
Tara's Case
Handling Strategic, Values and Moral Conflicts With Clients
Some Applications of Values Clarification Counseling
Values Clarification and Other Approaches to Counseling and Psychotherapy
Theory and Research