Session Six - Shame and Moral Injury and Their Roles in Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders

Session Description
This session will explore the intertwined roles of shame and moral injury in trauma, dissociation, and clinical treatment. Shame is a core aftereffect of traumatic experiences, often internalized as a way to manage overwhelming emotions such as humiliation and rage. Meanwhile, moral injury arises when individuals perceive themselves as having violated their own moral code when they are betrayed. Both shame and moral injury can lead to profound psychological suffering and dissociative symptoms, complicating treatment for trauma survivors.  Participants will review key research on how shame and moral injury manifest in clinical populations. The session will emphasize the importance of integrating shame-sensitive and moral injury–informed practices into trauma treatment

Readings

1. Dorahy, M. J. (2017). Shame as a compromise for humiliation and rage in the internal representation of abuse by loved ones: Processes, motivations, and the role of dissociation. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 18(3), 383–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2016.1241850
2. Lathan, E. C., Sheikh, I. S., Guelfo, A., Choucair, K. C., Fulton, T., Julian, J., & Fani, N. (2023). Moral injury appraisals and dissociation: Associations in a sample of trauma-exposed community members. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 24(5), 692–711. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2023.2182337
3. Park, S., Thrul, J., Cooney, E. E., Atkins, K., Kalb, L. G., Closser, S., & Veenema, T. G. (2023). Betrayal-based moral injury and mental health problems among healthcare and hospital workers serving COVID-19 patients. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 25(2), 202–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2023.2189042
4. Theisen-Womersley, H. (2022). Beyond a trauma-informed approach and towards shame-sensitive practice. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01322-7