Values clarification as a psychotherapy

There are a wide variety of values in the Parent ego state, ranging from primitive to sophisticated. When the values in the Parent conflict with one another, there seems to be no built-in sense of discrepancy. Something has to bring the values together to be considered in the Adult. Events, conversations, information, education, experience... any of these things can cause the person to become aware suddenly that they have conflicting values, and therefore conflicting behaviors.

When the majority of the values present in the Parent support one of the conflicting values, it's fairly easy and quick for the person to make a choice and reinforce that value. The conflict may still exist, since there is no way to erase Parent beliefs and values. But the person will experience decreasing conflict as the person begins to act on their chosen value. However, when there is no clear weight of value and choice on the side of one of the conflicting values, the situation does not readily resolve, and the conflict in fact becomes more acute since it is now more conscious (i.e. within the purview of the Adult).

Moreover, when the person attempts to resolve their internal conflict, they are limited to the problem-solutions about which they already know. If their repertoire of problem-solutions is limited, their ability to change behaviors and resolve their internal values conflict in a new way is equally limited. This is why people with personality disorders are so rigid and inflexible in solving new problems.

The job of the growth therapist seems to be that of bringing the person's awareness to conflicting values, and to assist them to find new solutions to the conflict. This frequently is a very difficult and painful process, especially when the person has a great deal of emotional investment in the "wrong" value. It is not usually effective for the therapist to take sides, but sometimes it's the only way the patient can find a way to move on.