ACT for Moral Injury: Introduction and Pilot Program

Introduction and Pilot Program

March 4th or 11th

After years of work addressing moral injury with veterans and community members at the U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) we are honored to offer this pilot project to our sangha. We invite veterans and community members to join us. Not sure?  Check out our orientation/introductory sessions, either March 4th or 11th.  And, visit a web page with short videos introducing the principal facilitators and their personal experience with the program.   Here is the link.

What is Moral Injury?
Moral injury is harm caused by perpetrating, failing to prevent, witnessing, or learning about actions that violate deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. The key precondition for moral injury is an act of transgression, which shatters moral and ethical expectations that are rooted in religious or spiritual beliefs or in culture-based, organizational, and group-based rules about fairness, the value of life, and so forth. It causes inner pain that seems unbearable and unresolvable. The weight of moral injury can be so heavy that a person becomes alienated and stuck, unsure of how to connect, keep going, and live a meaningful life. You can view a YouTube video about moral injury by clicking this link.

Why ACT for Moral Injury?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Moral Injury is an evidence-based, nationally recognized 10-week program that brings together veterans and community members to care for and heal moral injury. ACT uses acceptance and mindfulness techniques, values clarification, behavioral commitments, and the enriching space of a genuine community. Reflections on poetry, self-compassion practice, small group discussion, and loving play are key parts of this program. Within the community, you will make meaningful connections with yourself and others and cultivate an inner loving power capable of pursuing what is meaningful and valuable to you, even in the presence of ongoing emotional pain.

Who Are We?
Ben Mikolaj, Stephanie Mikolaj, and Rebecca “Keiki” Morris are Nalandabodhi members, mental health professionals, and elders within this program. Ben is a Karunika, Nitartha teacher-in-training, combat veteran, and psychiatric nurse pursuing his doctorate in mental health nursing. Stephanie is a Nalandabodhi PI, Nitartha teacher-in-training, and hospital chaplain with experience in hospice, mental health, and substance abuse care, currently completing a residency at UC Anschutz, the largest hospital in Colorado. Keiki Morris is a Karunika, co-creator of the ACT for Moral Injury program, and a board-certified mental health and substance abuse chaplain who trains mental health and chaplain teams nationwide.

Who is the target audience?  This program is for Nalandabodhi members including veterans, those with moral injury, interested community members, chaplains training in these areas, and other mental health providers.

Interested In Learning More?
We will hold an introductory sessions on March 4th and a repeat on the 11th from 630pm to 8 pm MST/530pm to 7 pm PT, open to any Nalandabodhi member who is interested in this 10-week program.

The program will begin Monday, March 25th, and run weekly through Monday, May 20th, from 630pm to 8 pm MST/530pm to 7 pm PT, with the remaining 9-sessions. This program requires a commitment to attend all sessions, as each session builds upon the previous one.

You may also view a PowerPoint about moral injury and the ACT for moral injury program by clicking this link.

At a recent Nalandabodhi Colorado community meeting, Keiki, Ben, and Stephanie each introduced themselves and described the benefits of the program. There is so much power in the words that they spoke about their experiences with the program.   We encourage all of our members to take a little time to listen.  And, encourage your participation.   Here is the link to the post.

Please note that this is a members only program while the pilot is being developed and tested.