Values Assessment
Explore what matters most to you across key life domains to guide goal-setting and behavioural activation.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
Assign and Download open signup, then return you to this worksheet. No card required. Resource access depends on your plan or trial. Already have an account? Sign in
Worksheet preview
Values Assessment
PreviewLive preview — type in any field to try it. Nothing is saved here.
Life Domains
For each domain, rate its importance to you and how well your current life reflects this value.
| # | Life Domain | Importance (0–10) | Current Consistency (0–10) | What would living this value look like? | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 8 |
Priorities
Based on your ratings, which areas have the biggest gap between importance and consistency?
Try it here — nothing you type is saved. Sign up to assign it and let clients complete it on any device.
When to use the Values Assessment
The Values Assessment is an interactive acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) worksheet. Consider this resource when a client is caught up in difficult thoughts or feelings and wants to explore actions that fit what matters to them.
It is designed to be used within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it, works through it collaboratively, and helps make sense of what it surfaces. You can preview the full worksheet above, then assign it digitally for clients to complete between sessions on any device or download it as a print-ready PDF.
How it works
Most people work through it in around 20 minutes. It moves through two short steps:
- Life Domains: For each domain, rate its importance to you and how well your current life reflects this value.
- Priorities: Based on your ratings, which areas have the biggest gap between importance and consistency?
Completed on the Formulate platform, your client's answers are saved automatically and shared straight back to you, so you can review them before the next session rather than waiting for a paper copy to come back.
The ACT approach behind it
The Values Assessment draws on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT centres on psychological flexibility: making room for experience while choosing actions guided by values. Acceptance involves willingness to experience thoughts and feelings; defusion means noticing thoughts as thoughts. Attention to the present moment and committed action connect these ideas with choices in daily life.
It is intended as one part of a wider course of therapy rather than as advice or a diagnosis. The therapist can help decide how it fits the work and discuss what emerges.
Evidence & sources
This worksheet draws on acceptance and commitment therapy. Key sources include:
- Martell, C.R., Dimidjian, S., & Herman-Dunn, R. (2010). Behavioral Activation for Depression. New York: Guilford Press.
- Miller, W.R. & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational Interviewing (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
For use alongside professional support
Formulate provides educational CBT resources for use with a qualified therapist. They are not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or crisis care.
If you need urgent help now:
- Emergency services: 999 — if you or someone else is in immediate danger
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
- SANEline: 0800 689 5555 — 4:30pm–10:30pm, every day
More General CBT Skills worksheets
View all General CBT Skills worksheets →General CBT Skills
Longitudinal Formulation (Beckian)
Map the developmental pathway from early experiences through core beliefs and rules to the current maintenance cycle.
General CBT Skills
Cross-Sectional Formulation (5-Area Model)
Map how thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviour interact around a triggering situation using the CBT 5-area model.
General CBT Skills
Safety Plan
A structured 6-step safety plan for crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
General CBT Skills
5-Column Thought Record
The classic cognitive restructuring tool. Identify automatic thoughts, evaluate the evidence, and develop more balanced alternatives.
General CBT Skills
7-Column Thought Record
The full extended thought record with evidence for and against, balanced thought, and re-rating of emotion.
General CBT Skills
Cognitive Distortions Checklist
Identify common cognitive distortions present in your automatic thoughts.
Want to assign this to a client?
Create a free therapist account to use the homework and library download tools. Clients can complete assigned homework online or use a blank PDF. See how the homework workflow works.
No card required. The Free plan includes 10 worksheet uses a month. Check plan access and limits.