Moral Injury: Naming Unseen Wounds with Dr. Daniel Roberts

Moral injury is a term many in the military community are only beginning to hear, yet it names something countless service members, veterans, and spouses have lived with for years.

Unlike PTSD, which is often rooted in fear-based trauma, moral injury stems from a deep violation of one’s core values. Moments where right and wrong are compromised, or when betrayal, guilt, or shame take root. It might come from something witnessed, something done, or something left undone.

For military spouses, it can also arise from years of feeling unsupported, silenced, or left to carry the burden alone.

Why does this matter? Because moral injury doesn’t just stay tucked away in the past. It surfaces in transition, in family relationships, in the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we deserve.

Naming it is the first step toward healing it.

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Roberts joins us to unpack what moral injury really means and why understanding it is vital for both military families and the communities that support them.

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Meet our Guest

Dr. Daniel Roberts, President & CEO of Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. (MISNS.org)

Dr. Daniel Roberts is a distinguished leader in the field of mental health and veteran care, serving as the President and CEO of the Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc.

This esteemed non-profit organization is dedicated to pioneering women-focused education and research on moral injury, providing vital support to those who have served our nation.

With over two decades of experience, Dr. Roberts has been a cornerstone in offering emotional and spiritual guidance to both male and female members of the armed forces.

The Conversation Topics

What is moral injury? How would you define it for the military community?
How does moral injury differ from PTSD or trauma?
When you talk about the moral component, does it vary person to person? Could one person feel moral injury from an event while another does not?
Are there other types of military experiences that can cause moral injury, beyond assault or combat?
How does moral injury show up during the transition out of active duty—for service members, spouses, and even children?
What are the signs and symptoms of moral injury? What should we look for?
What kinds of therapies or approaches can help military families address moral injury?
What do you see as the future of this topic in the military community? Will the DoD or government address it?
What would you say to service members or spouses who think their pain “doesn’t count” or isn’t severe enough to seek help?

Things We Talked About in This Episode

When it comes to healing moral injury, there’s no single path—but several proven approaches mentioned by Dr. Roberts can help.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are often used effectively with trauma and can support recovery from moral injury as well.

Dr. Roberts also highlighted the role of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), which focuses on reprogramming self-talk and reshaping the way we frame our experiences.

Beyond formal therapy, everyday practices like mindfulness, meditation, prayer, and journaling can give individuals tools to process difficult emotions and reclaim a sense of calm.

And at the heart of many recovery journeys is forgiveness—of oneself, of others, or of the situation—acknowledging what happened without excusing it, and finding a way forward.

Studying Moral Injury

Dr. Harold Koenig is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Associate Professor of Medicine, and Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. Learn more about his research on moral injury through Duke University School of Medicine.

Jay Shay studied moral injury with Vietnam Veterans. While his organization, the Shay Moral Injury Center, has closed, I found this oral retelling of his work to be quite interesting for anyone wanting to dive deeper into what he did.