Providing Chaplain Support to Morally Injured Servicewomen

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