What do we need and strive for? The importance of core emotional needs and the work with values in ST

Core emotional needs (CENs) and values are two psychological constructs intrinsically linked to human motivation and behavior (Dweck, 2017). CENs represent universal psychological requirements essential for healthy development. When unmet, they form the basis of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) (Young et al., 2008), which play a central role in shaping personality, behavioral patterns, and mental representations across the lifespan. Values, on the other hand, are verbal constructions that guide purposeful and committed action. Unlike goals, values cannot be fully achieved but are continuously enacted, serving as a compass for meaningful living (Hayes et al., 1999).

These two constructs are fundamental in clinical practice, and their theoretical proximity has already been recognized (Dweck, 2017). Values can be understood as abstract extensions of CENs, evolving over time into broader life principles. In this sense, values may represent the developmental unfolding of CENs, offering patients a pathway to reconnect with what truly matters despite adversity.

Beyond the theoretical understanding of this integration, its clinical relevance is crucial for therapeutic progress. Working with CENs and values often involves intense emotional activation, as patients confront profound vulnerabilities when reconnecting with unmet needs or neglected values. Without this connection, individuals risk living a life disconnected from their true meaning. Effective therapeutic work, therefore, requires assisting clients in both understanding past developmental deficits and fostering present-oriented engagement with values.

The integration of CENs and values can enrich Schema Therapy by addressing human suffering in a way that transcends symptom reduction, emphasizing the construction of meaningful, value-driven lives. This perspective invites therapists to expand their focus beyond symptom management, supporting patients in aligning therapeutic change with what they most deeply need and strive for.