5/26/2015

1

BEYOND MORAL INJURYTRANSFORMATION AND RECOVERY

A Soldier’s Heart Webinar

with

Edward Tick, PhD

Kate Dahlstedt, MA

Rev. Chris Antal

Soldier’s Heart, Inc:

Restoring Our Warriors and Communities

500 Federal St., #303

Troy, NY 12180

518-274-0501

www.soldiersheart.net

WELCOME

WHO IS HERE?

Which of the following describes you?

1.Active duty military

2. Veteran

3. Military or veteran family member

4. Helping professional, counselor, teacher

5. Clergy

6. Concerned citizen

7. Other

Welcome Home!

WHO IS HERE?

WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM?

1. Northeast

2. Southeast

3. Midwest

4. Southwest

5. Pacific northwest

6. California

7. Canada

8. Other

Thank you for joining us!

5/26/2015

2

SGT Richard KirklandBattle of Fredericksburg, Civil War

COL Theodore Westhusing

The highest ranking soldier to commit suicide in Iraq.

Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

A 2011 DOD report indicates that 3,192 cases of MST were reported in that year alone. MST is greatly under-reported

Victims are not believed, or worse, they are blamed.

Command is reluctant to take formal action as it reflects badly on the unit.

Reporting can result in the victim being transferred, demoted or diagnosed with a mental illness, or all three.

Victims must continue to work along side of their perpetrators, often in a war zone situation.

Victims are told to “suck it up.”

5/26/2015

3

MORAL INJURY

The lasting psychological, biological, spiritual, behavioral, and social impact of perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations

We experience moral injury when we deny and/or act against what we know to be good, true and beautiful. Moral injury is “….betrayal of what is right…” Jonathan Shay

Moral injury is:

• Inevitable during warfare,

• Inevitable in any trauma when we experience the shattering of the cosmos, loss of innocence, betrayal by authority, a/o betrayal of what is fair, good or right,

• Inevitable under modern combat conditions of multiple deployments, massive civilian and infrastructure casualties, rules of engagement that require unwanted violent actions, distant killing without being in direct danger, lack of civilian involvement and responsibility, questionable missions motivated by anything other than pure and truthful defense,

• Best understood as an honorable soul wound that is proof of the warrior’s humanity.

Why Has It Taken So Long To Get

Serious About Moral Injury?

• We have not asked the right questions

• Fear-based models of care

– Shame and guilt not targeted in CBT

• Shame may prevent disclosure

• Clinicians may feel helpless or unprepared

• Clinicians may be too frightened of their own reactions

• Clinicians may be judgmental

Brett Litz, Natl. Cntr. for PTSD, Boston U.

POLL QUESTION

I myself, or warriors I work with, feel

comfortable with the concept of moral injury

and spend time examining the rightness or

wrongness of our behaviors and experiences.

• 1. Agree

• 2. Disagree

• 3. Unsure

5/26/2015

4

STORIES OF MORAL COURAGE

• Tommy - Stopping Atrocities

• Michael K. – Refusing to

serve

• Everett – Planting Trees

• Michael A. – Saving children

Key Concepts

• Moral Values

• Moral Dilemmas

• Moral Injury

• Moral Disengagement

• Social Contract

• Spiritual Disciplines

Morality

VALUES

• Compassion

• Fairness

• Honesty

• Respect

• Responsibility

DILEMMAS

• Truth versus loyalty

• Individual versus

community

• Short term versus long

term

• Justice versus mercy

(R. Kidder)

5/26/2015

5

Moral Disengagement

• Avoiding applying an ethical framework to a situation by using rationalizing techniques:

• Reconstruing the conduct

• Obscuring personal responsibility

• Misrepresenting or disregarding the harmful consequences of ones actions

• Vilifying the recipients of maltreatment by blaming or devaluing them

MORAL INJURY IS A SOUL WOUND

“Medications don’t heal this kind of pain.”

Dick, Vietnam combat veteran

“The soul is that in us that distinguishes right from wrong… and is improved by doing right and harmed by doing wrong.”

Socrates

Recover = to regain what was lost or taken away

Rectify = to make right

We recover our souls, honor, spirit and goodness from moral injury by making right the injustice. We help where we have harmed. Directly or symbolically we act to make right the wrong. We restore order to ourselves and our world and fulfill the spiritual or elder warrior’s calling.

POLL QUESTION

I have uncovered a/o helped others uncover wounds that are better understood as moral injury than PTSD?

• 1. Yes

• 2. No

• If yes, please share any names you give to such experiences now.

5/26/2015

6

Principles for Protection and Recovery

from Moral Trauma• Be sure!

• Moral reflection & engagement

• Forgiveness

• Atonement

• Restoration

• Restitution

• Spiritual disciplines:– Confession

– service

• Creative Expression

• Identity transformation

• Rehumanization

• Meaning

• “Make good karma”

• Witness

• Catharsis

• Renegotiate covenant

• Corrective experiences

• Blessing

• Reconciliation with:– The nation

– The dead

– The former foe

– Anyone and anything harmed

Moral and Psycho-Spiritual Redemption After Service:

Some Practices

• Honoring the Fallen: altars, rituals,

memorials and prayer

• Reconciliation: sharing with family

members, other vets, former foes,

civilians, politicians; receive overdue

awards

• Corrective experiences

• Philanthropy: leaving good behind

• Legacy: family service history; it

doesn’t begin or end with me

• Expressive arts: transform energies;

tell stories; create

• Storytelling: remembrance and

teaching

FURTHER PRACTICES FOR MORAL

PROTECTION BEFORE, DURING AND

AFTER SERVICE*The family as veteran

*Prayer and blessings: sanctifying

service and sacrifice

*Truth telling by elder warriors before,

during and after conflict

*Training and preparation for the harsh

realities

*Retaining humanity of self, others and

foes even though we must fight

*Honoring, recognizing and rewarding

moral courage

5/26/2015

7

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Fasting

Prayer

Meditation

Study

Service

Simplicity

• Solitude

• Submission

• Guidance

• Confession

• Worship

• Celebration

POLL QUESTION

Regarding healing from moral trauma, I feel

comfortable seeking spiritual discipline,

guidance, support, practice and encouragement

and/or guiding it in others.

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

THE CHAPLAIN CORPS:

OUR WARRIOR-PRIESTS

The two key functions of the Chaplain Corps:

*Pastoral: Religious observance, Counseling,

Spiritual Guidance, Pastoral care of visible and invisible wounds

*Prophetic: Moral guidance, protection and recovery for command and troops

*If either function is compromised, chaplains and/or troops can experience moral wounding

5/26/2015

8

ANGELITO AND THE CHAPLAIN

HOPE AND REDEMPTION

RECONCILIATION BETWEEN FORMER FOES

American, Native American, ARVN, Viet Cong and NVA veterans

together in reconciliation ceremony on former battlefield

UNIVERSAL BROTHER/SISTERHOOD OF SURVIVORS“From now on Vietnamese and American veterans must be the lips and tongues

of the same mouth telling the world the same story.”

Tam Tien, Viet Cong veteran

5/26/2015

9

ATONEMENT THROUGH SERVICE

AND MEMORIAL PRACTICES

CORRECTIVE EXPERIENCES: “Surrounded and Overrun”

“THE HOLIEST SPOT ON EARTH IS WHERE AN ANCIENT HATRED

BECOMES A PRESENT LOVE.” A COURSE ON MIRACLES

5/26/2015

10

TENDING MORAL INJURYProposals for National and Systemic Response

For the Military:

Medal for Moral Courage – Medals are awarded for doing right, saving lives and resisting wrong under dangerous and life-threatening conditions.

For the Nation:

National Day of Restitution – Leadership and the country take public vows of service to all warriors and accept collective responsibility for all actions done by warriors in our names.

HONOR, MEANING AND

BLESSING FOREVER

SOLDIER’S HEART:Some Upcoming Events, 2015

Next Webinar:

Veterans, Sex and Love, June 24

Retreats:

Women Veterans Intensive Retreat, Saratoga, NY June 11-14

Veterans Healing Retreat, Oct. 22-25

Trainings:

Soldier’s Heart Level II Intensive Training, Saratoga, NY, July 16-19

Veterans’ Caregivers Training, Rowe Conference Center, MA, Oct. 2-4

Journeys:

Hiroshima/Nagasaki, July 31-Aug. 11

Vietnam Healing and Reconciliation, Dec. 1-15

For more information or to register contact Soldier’s Heart:

518-274-0501; info@soldiersheart.net