Understanding Moral Injury and Healing Pathways in Domestic Violence

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Beyond Betrayal: Understanding Moral Injury and Healing Pathways in Domestic Violence (3HR)

$32.00

Course Description

Domestic violence is not only a violation of physical safety but often a profound assault on a person’s core beliefs about trust, love, self-worth, and justice. This workshop explores the concept of moral injury, or the deep psychological, emotional, and spiritual wounds that occur when one’s moral expectations are shattered by intimate partner violence. Participants will examine the unique ways moral injury manifests in survivors, how it differs from traditional trauma responses, and why standard trauma treatments may not fully address its impact. The session will also introduce therapeutic pathways that foster moral repair, meaning-making, and holistic healing. Clinicians will leave with concrete strategies to better support survivors in rebuilding a sense of trust in themselves, others, and the world.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

Define and differentiate moral injury from post-traumatic stress and complex trauma in survivors of domestic violence.
Identify and describe key emotional, psychological, and relational symptoms associated with moral injury.
Evaluate the effectiveness of traditional trauma treatments in addressing moral injury and identify alternative therapeutic approaches.
Demonstrate strategies to promote moral repair, restore survivor agency, and support value-based healing.

Social workers completing this course receive 3 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.

For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 Clinical continuing education training.

Course Instructor: Aseem Garg, LPCC-S, LMFT

Recording Date: 09/12/2025

Course Format

NBCC ACEP # 7091, CE Training Workshops has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP #7091. Programs that do not qualify are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. CE Training Workshops designates this continuing education activity for 3 continuing education hours.

CE Training Workshops, LLC, #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/02/2025 to 08/02/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 Clinical continuing education credits.

Meet Your Facilitator

Aseem Garg, LPCC-S, LMFT is a seasoned clinician, supervisor, and educator with over seven years of experience in the behavioral health field. As a licensed professional clinical counselor and marriage and family therapist, he specializes in trauma-informed care, adolescent mental health, dual diagnosis cases, and couples and sex therapy. His work spans direct clinical practice, program development, and leadership roles in both nonprofit and startup mental health settings.

Aseem is a skilled trainer known for delivering engaging, research-backed workshops on topics such as implicit bias, trauma-informed care, and best practices for working with diverse client populations. He has a strong background in therapist development, having hired, trained, and supervised clinicians across various levels of experience. His approach to training is both practical and reflective, encouraging clinicians to integrate data-driven insights with real-world application.

Passionate about fostering professional growth, Aseem creates dynamic learning environments that challenge assumptions, build clinical confidence, and enhance therapeutic effectiveness. His workshops empower mental health professionals with the tools and perspectives needed to navigate complex client dynamics with empathy, ethical integrity, and cultural humility.

Syllabus

Introduction

Overview of workshop objectives and structure
Presenter background and clinical context
Session flow: Foundations → Clinical Implications → Healing Pathways

Objective 1: Define moral injury within the context of domestic violence.

Domestic violence as erosion of trust, self-worth, and moral meaning
Core features of moral injury: shame, guilt, betrayal, alienation, loss of meaning
Distinctions between PTSD, complex trauma, and moral injury
Survivor narratives reflecting moral rupture and identity contamination

Objective 2: Identify clinical implications and assess moral injury in survivors.

Parental shame and perceived moral failure
Layers of betrayal: partner, community, and institutions
Institutional betrayal and its impact on shame and suicidality
Assessment strategies: MISS-C, narrative listening, DV-adapted screeners

Objective 3: Apply evidence-based pathways for healing moral injury.

Moral repair, meaning-making, agency restoration, and reconnection
Narrative and existential approaches for re-authoring meaning
Self-compassion practices to reduce shame and foster resilience
Spiritual integration when aligned with client values

Objective 4: Integrate moral injury interventions into clinical practice.

Case applications involving family, faith, and legal system betrayal
Identifying moral injury language in client narratives
Reframing survivor self-blame and supporting values-based healing
Practical tools: journaling, values clarification, expressive practices

Objective 5: Support resilience and systemic advocacy in survivor care.

Post-traumatic growth and moral clarity
Survivor-centered clinical resources and community supports
Clinician advocacy within legal, healthcare, and institutional systems

Summary & Q&A

Moral injury as distinct yet co-occurring with trauma
Importance of targeting shame, meaning, and agency
Role of institutional accountability and advocacy
Participant discussion and resources for continued learning