Moral Injury Therapy

When Harm Is About Betrayal, Not Just Trauma

Moral injury refers to the psychological and emotional harm that occurs when deeply held values, trust, or ethical expectations are violated—particularly within relationships, organizations, or systems that were meant to protect, guide, or uphold responsibility.

While moral injury has been widely studied in military contexts, it is also experienced in healthcare systems, religious institutions, corporate and organizational environments, educational settings, and other relational or institutional structures where power, authority, or responsibility is involved.

In these contexts, moral injury often develops through betrayal, misuse of power, ethical conflict, silencing, or being forced to act against one’s values in order to survive, belong, or remain employed.

Unlike fear-based trauma alone, moral injury often shows up as:

  • Shame or guilt that does not make sense
  • Anger, grief, or disillusionment
  • Loss of meaning or faith—in yourself, others, or institutions
  • Confusion about who you are or what you believe
  • A sense that something fundamental was broken

Many people experiencing moral injury wonder why “traditional trauma language” does not fully capture what they feel. That’s because moral injury is often rooted in betrayal, misuse of power, or ethical violation, not just threat or danger. 

 

Common Experiences of Moral Injury

Moral injury commonly arises in environments where individuals are expected to trust leadership, follow ethical standards, or rely on systems for safety and guidance. This includes:

  • Healthcare settings marked by moral distress, burnout, or systemic failure

  • Religious or spiritual institutions where authority was misused or harm was minimized

  • Corporate or organizational environments involving coercion, retaliation, or ethical compromise

  • Educational or nonprofit systems where values conflicted with survival or belonging

  • Military or first responder roles, where moral injury has been most formally studied

In each of these settings, the injury is not only about what happened—but about what it required someone to suppress, sacrifice, or betray within themselves.

 

How Therapy Can Help

Therapy for moral injury is not about fixing you or reframing away what happened. It is about: 

  • Naming and validating the harm
  • Restoring clarity and self-trust
  • Making meaning without minimizing
  • Reclaiming your voice and values
  • Rebuilding a sense of agency and integrity

At May Tree Counseling, our work is grounded in advanced training in the neurobiology of complex trauma and anxiety and centers attunement and therapeutic presence. To learn more about her background and clinical approach, visit the About Lisa Long page.

 

You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone

Moral injury often leaves people feeling isolated, misunderstood, or hesitant to trust again. Therapy offers a space where your experience is taken seriously, your values are respected, and your healing unfolds at a pace that feels right for you.

If this resonates, I invite you to reach out.