Depth-oriented group psychotherapy for moral injury with military veterans: relational psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theory, mechanisms of action, and clinical implications

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Moral injury in veterans arises from actions or betrayals that violate deeply held moral beliefs, leading to significant psychological distress.
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The developed group psychotherapy utilizes Relational psychoanalysis to help veterans construct narratives about their morally injurious experiences.
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Key therapeutic techniques include team-building activities, reflective listening, and sharing personal narratives to facilitate recovery.
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Moral injury is distinct from PTSD, often resulting in shame, social withdrawal, and altered perceptions of self and relationships.
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Current treatments for moral injury are limited and often do not address the underlying causes of shame and guilt associated with these experiences.

Frontiers In Psychiatry

by Sheila O’Brien, Ghislaine Boulanger, Jonathan Yahalom, Seamus Bhatt-Mackin, Marianne Goodman
April 20, 2026

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