Providing Chaplain Support to Morally Injured Servicewomen

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/allons-y.v7i0.11478

Keywords:

Moral injury, chaplain, support, servicewomen, pastoral care

Abstract

The following article may serve as a learning tool for chaplains who are available to provide care to servicewomen suffering from moral injury. Moral injury occurs when someone experiences, takes part in, or witnesses a traumatic event that violates their deeply held beliefs about truth, justice, or morality. Using a gendered approach rooted in feminist principles and research, the text provides a list of traits and attitudes that effective chaplains possess, five principles of support, and recommendations for how chaplains can enact those concepts in specific counseling situations. The five principles of support are: establish trust, enable storytelling, be empathetic and calm, listen for special themes, and offer alternative perspectives. Together, the principles help create an environment in which a military woman can receive vitalizing pastoral care. The article describes in detail the five special themes of disempowerment, sink holes, guilt and shame, loss of identity, and low self-worth and explains how chaplains can offer alternative perspectives so that a woman client might experience post-traumatic growth and recovery.

Author Biography

Daniel L. Roberts, Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc.

Dr. Daniel Roberts is the President and CEO of the Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that conducts world-class, women-centered education and research in spiritual leadership and spiritual support. Daniel has over 20 years of experience in providing emotional and spiritual support to men and women in the armed forces. He also provides training and mentorship to thousands of military, VA, and civilian chaplains through conferences, classroom instruction, and one-on-one coaching.

Published

2023-03-31

Issue

Section

Policy Articles