This presentation will describe Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI). Presenters will discuss the social-functionalist and functional contextual background of ACT-MI and how these theories support a functional understanding of moral injury. Using these theories and definitions, moral injury will be differentiated from DSM-5 PTSD. Examples of typical ACT-MI exercises will be presented along with discussion of how moral injury commonly manifests in clients through the core processes associated with psychological inflexibility. A case example of ACT-MI will be provided to illustrate the application of ACT-MI to military-related moral injury. Finally, the presenters will introduce an ongoing research grant where they are investigating the acceptability and feasibility of ACT-MI.
Target Audience: For behavioral health/healthcare providers who treat military personnel, veterans, and their families.
Instructional Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives
This activity is approved for 1.5 continuing education credits (CEs)
The Center for Deployment Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Center for Deployment Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
APA CE Approval Advertising Memo CDP Presents Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI)_ Approaching moral pain through contextual behavioral science (84.6 KB) | Download |
CDP Presents Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI)- Approaching moral pain through contextual behavioral science Handout (9.8 MB) | Available after Purchase |
Jacob Farnsworth, PhD is a staff psychologist at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System specializing in the treatment of co-occurring PTSD and substance use. Jacob’s primary research interest is in the area of military-related moral injury. His most recent efforts have focused on further developing the construct’s definition, its assessment and on comparing existing treatments to novel interventions for moral injury. He is a co-author of the ACT for Moral Injury treatment protocol and the Expressions of Moral Injury Scale-Military Version.
Sean Barnes is a clinical research psychologist at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Veteran Suicide Prevention. Dr. Barnes contributes to the MIRECC through investigatory research, consulting, and psychotherapy. Dr. Barnes is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. His research and clinical work focus on moral injury and suicide risk assessment and prevention. Dr. Barnes and his collaborators have created and are evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy treatment protocols for (1) Veterans recovering from suicidal crises and (2) Veterans with moral injury. Dr. Barnes enjoys spending time outdoors in the Rocky Mountains with his family and is an avid mountain biker and skier.