Value Sort Cards

Use With: Teens, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Setting: Individual or group sessions

Purpose: Explore personal and relational values that influence choices and priorities.

How They’re Used: Clients sort and rank values by importance, creating space for dialogue about alignment, conflicts, or overlooked priorities.

Benefits: Builds self-awareness, clarifies decision-making, and strengthens relationships through deeper understanding of what truly matters.

Individual Use

Value Sorting – Have clients sort cards into three piles: Most Important, Somewhat Important, Not Important. Then reflect on why.

Top 5 Selection – Client chooses their five most important values and explains how they show up in life.

Conflict Clarification – Explore inner conflict by identifying two cards that feel in tension (e.g., independence vs. family)

Life Mapping – Pick cards representing past, present, and future values. Discuss how these shifted over time.

Weekly Focus Card – Client pulls one card each session to “practice” living out that value intentionally. Strength Mirror – Client picks a card they believe describes them. Counselor reflects additional examples. Challenge Work – Identify a value they want to live more fully. Create small, concrete action steps
Values vs. Shoulds – Differentiate between cards that feel authentic vs. socially pressured.

Group Use

Icebreaker Picks – Each member picks a card that resonates with them today and shares why.

Value Line-Up – Place a value continuum across the room (e.g., “least to most important”) and have members physically place their card. Discuss differences.

Storytelling Round – Everyone tells a short story from their life that connects to the value card they pick.

Celebration Circle – At group closure, each person selects a value card to affirm in someone else.

Journey Mapping – Each member picks three values and arranges them in sequence to represent their personal growth path.

Future Vision – Group collectively chooses the top 5 values they want to characterize their team or family moving forward.