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Operation Restore Meaning is a small-group counseling program designed for military-connected individuals experiencing moral injury: the deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual conflict that arises when actions, experiences, or betrayals violate one’s core values (Litz & Kerig, 2019). The group offers a structured, supportive environment to address moral injury through resilience-building, identity exploration, and the restoration of a sense of purpose.

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All members will require written consent before participation so they are aware of the risks, benefits and voluntary nature of the program. This ensures transparency exists and participants are electing to be present and seeking help. This is extremely important, as moral injury is a sensitive and emotionally challenging struggle.

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Participants will demonstrate improvement in: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making.

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Chapel Social Media: Information about the group will be posted on the official chapel Facebook. This builds visibility among both service members and families.

Referrals: Chaplains and mental health professionals will be the primary referral sources. Since moral injury often surfaces in spiritual counseling or clinical contexts, these professionals can identify individuals who would benefit from peer-based group support (Currier et al., 2018).

Base Weekly Newsletter: Group details will be included in the installation’s weekly e-mail bulletin, reaching all units and families. This ensures command and community leaders are aware of the group as a resource (Litz & Kerig, 2019).

Flyers: Flyers will be posted in high-traffic areas such as the gym, base exchange, and dining facilities. These locations maximize visibility for those who may not attend counseling but still benefit from group participation.

Leadership Briefings: Unit commanders and first sergeants will be briefed on the group’s goals and provided with information to distribute within their units. This reinforces leadership buy-in and helps normalize participation.

Word of Mouth: Participants and supportive leaders will be encouraged to share information informally, helping reduce stigma and promote trust.

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Informing Participants: One-on-one explanation of the group’s purpose, confidentiality limits, and expectations.

Assessing Readiness: Structured questions to gauge emotional preparedness, willingness to engage, and alignment with group outcomes.

Format: Individual screenings to promote openness and confidentiality.

Outcome: Ensures balanced group composition, creating safety for discussing moral injury

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All participants will sign an informed consent form that covers the purpose of the counseling, risks, benefits, confidentiality limits and the voluntary nature. It will highlight that topics related to moral injury may trigger emotional responses and we have staff on standby. Attached is an example informed consent form from the VA.

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Predetermined: Confidentiality, respect, active listening, punctuality, no rank hierarchy.

Group-Determined: Norms for phones, feedback, and pacing of disclosure.

Plan: Start with a written resource and adapt collaboratively to fit moral injury themes (Corey et al., 2021).

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Stage 1 – Orientation (Trust and Safety): Build trust by validating that moral injury is common and often stigmatized. Use values-based icebreakers (e.g., “What value has guided you in tough times?”). Discuss confidentiality limits clearly (Litz & Kerig, 2019).

Stage 2 – Working (Exploration and Processing): Engage in structured meaning-making through narrative storytelling, guided journaling, and peer dialogue. Focus on reconciling morally distressing events with personal values. Regular check-ins and grounding techniques will ensure safety (Currier et al., 2018).

Stage 3 – Closure (Integration and Renewal): Conclude with reflection exercises, such as writing “restored meaning statements” or letters to self. Discuss ongoing resources (chaplains, counseling, peer support) and reinforce confidentiality beyond the group (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020).

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Universality: Realizing others share similar moral injury struggles.

Instillation of Hope: Witnessing peers’ recovery and growth inspires resilience.

Altruism: Helping others strengthens participants’ own moral worth.

Existential Factors: Central to moral injury; confronting purpose, guilt, and values directly

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Supportive/Empathic: Essential for working with moral injury, where participants often feel guilt, shame, or betrayal. A supportive stance fosters trust and psychological safety so members feel comfortable sharing painful experiences (Litz & Kerig, 2019).

Facilitative/Democratic: Encourages participants to co-create norms, validate one another, and share responsibility for the healing process. This approach empowers members to reclaim agency, which is often damaged by moral injury (Currier et al., 2018).

Directive When Needed: While group ownership is encouraged, some sessions may require a more structured approach. Directive leadership ensures participants remain safe and the group stays focused on meaning restoration (Corey et al., 2021).

I chose multiple leadership styles because I find it difficult to apply only one. Blending various techniques is most effective in guiding everyone through the healing process.

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Confidentiality must be explained to all members of the group. The Chaplain Corps offers a unique 100% confidentiality and we do not have the restrictions all other counselors have. We are unable to share anything. With that being said, other participants in the group can't be held to the same 100% confidentiality standard. This needs to be communicated clearly; members of the Chaplain Corps will lead the sessions, but participants should also strive to maintain the confidentiality of their teammates. Members of the group may disclose combat or duty-related actions that led to moral injury, so boundaries need to be set early on.