Contemplative practice, acceptance, and healing in moral injury

Abstract

Moral injury is a soul struggle for many veterans. It includes a deep sense of regret, shame, and division within themselves due to morally injurious events. Spiritual practices like Centering Prayer are complementary disciplines that help veterans heal from moral injury and process embedded trauma, guilt, and shame. Contemplative practices can help with acceptance of difficult emotions and thoughts connected to past moral injury and help veterans refocus on values that are part of their community, faith, and social backgrounds. At the Loveland VA, a group of veterans are following the guidelines outlined by Contemplative Outreach for a Centering Prayer practice. The guidelines and the intended outcomes are outlined in this paper and include previously researched benefits of mindfulness and meditation-based practices for PTSD, which often co-occurs with moral injury. Veterans’ feedback from both in-person and online versions of the Centering Prayer group are included in the paper. While encouraged as an individual discipline, veterans are also encouraged to practice Centering Prayer within groups at the VA or in the community for deeper inter-relational healing and trust. Veteran peer supports provide links to Contemplative Prayer outreach groups as well as AA groups in the community. As a mindfulness-based spiritual practice with Judeo-Christian roots, Centering Prayer is a powerful addition to a chaplaincy program that promotes whole health healing and growth.