Adolescence is a time of discovery — teens are figuring out who they are, what they care about, and how they want to show up in the world. Helping them explore their personal values builds self-awareness, resilience, and a stronger sense of identity.
In counseling or school settings, values-based activities can also give teens a safe way to talk about what matters most to them. This guide shares creative therapy games and exercises for exploring values with teens, blending self-expression with emotional growth.
1. Values Card Sort
How it works:
- Create a deck of cards, each with a different value (honesty, creativity, family, adventure, kindness, independence).
- Teens sort them into categories: “Very Important,” “Somewhat Important,” “Not Important.”
Why it helps: Prioritizing values makes abstract ideas concrete. Teens often discover surprising insights about what drives them.
Tip: Follow up with reflection questions: Which value feels most true to you right now? Which do you want to grow into?
2. The Values Compass
How it works:
- Draw a large compass on paper or a whiteboard.
- Label four directions with guiding areas (Family, Friends, School, Self).
- Ask teens to place sticky notes with values under each direction.
Why it helps: This visual map shows how values can shift depending on life domains. It sparks discussion about balance and conflict.
Tip: Encourage teens to notice when values overlap — for example, kindness toward friends vs. responsibility at school.
3. Art-Based Values Collage
How it works:
- Provide magazines, colored paper, and markers.
- Teens cut out images, words, or colors that represent what they value.
- Assemble into a personal collage to display or keep in a journal.
Why it helps: Art opens up nonverbal expression, perfect for teens who struggle to put feelings into words.
Tip: End with a sharing circle where each teen names one value shown in their collage.
4. Values in Action Scenarios
How it works:
- Present short scenarios (e.g., a friend asks for help with homework, someone is left out of a group, you’re pressured to skip class).
- Teens discuss or role-play what choice they’d make and which values guide their decision.
Why it helps: Shows how values aren’t just ideas — they influence behavior. Teens reflect on how values show up in daily choices.
Tip: Ask: Which value did you use? Was it hard to stick to it?
5. The Values Timeline
How it works:
- Draw a line representing past, present, and future.
- Teens mark values that mattered to them as children, those that matter now, and values they want to carry forward.
Why it helps: Encourages perspective-taking and shows how values can evolve with age and experience.
Tip: Invite teens to circle one value they want to “grow into” over the next year.
6. Gratitude & Values Journaling
How it works:
- Ask teens to write about a moment they felt proud of themselves.
- Then guide them to connect that moment with the underlying value (e.g., honesty, bravery, kindness).
Why it helps: Builds self-esteem by connecting positive memories with personal strengths.
Tip: Turn this into a weekly routine where teens reflect on how they lived out a value.
Final Thoughts
Exploring values gives teens the language and awareness to understand themselves better. Whether through card sorts, collages, or scenario role-play, these values-based therapy activities help them connect with what truly matters.
By making values fun and creative, you also normalize reflection as part of growth — giving teens tools they can use long after counseling sessions.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Eve, a former school counselor with a master’s degree in School Psychology and a passionate advocate for children and families navigating sensory challenges. As a mom of children with sensory sensitivities, I deeply understand the journey special-needs parents face, and I dedicate myself to researching and sharing practical solutions to help children thrive and feel comfortable in their bodies. My goal is also to empower counselors, therapists, and psychologists with creative strategies and supportive resources to enrich their everyday practice. When I’m not writing or exploring new therapeutic approaches, you’ll find me spending quality time with my family and continually seeking inspiration from everyday moments.
