WC25 Program_LR 8

TRACK WORKSHOPS

205. Moral and Spiritual Injury: Therapeutic Approaches for Addressing Guilt, Shame, Anxiety, and Compulsive Behaviors 1.25 credit hours Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop: APA, ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling Continuing Medical Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, AOA Category 2A credits, Georgia Nurses Association, AAFP Level: Advanced Harold Koenig, M.D. Duke University

2. Identify the complexities of grief, including complicated and traumatic grief, and acquire practical strategies to sup port individuals through these challenges using both thera peutic approaches and faith-based practices. 3. Integrate therapeutic scripts with Scripture with Chris tian clients, utilizing the Bible to foster comfort, peace, and healing while comparing the “both/and” approach to grief and balancing spiritual and therapeutic practices to enhance caregiver and counselor effectiveness in providing holistic support. 204. The Increase in Covert Teenage Suicide Ideation and Self-injury: Practical Ideas for Changing Dynamics 1.25 credit hours Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop: APA, ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, IBCC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling Education CEUs applicable to this workshop: ACSI Continuing Medical Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, AOA Category 2A credits, Georgia Nurses Association, AAFP Level: Intermediate Mark Mayfield, Ph.D. American Association of Christian Counselors Summary According to current research, teen suicide has become the second leading cause of death in the United States, with warning signs increasingly subtle and often masked by the digital landscape of social media and online interac tions. Unlike previous decades, when suicide ideation was more overt, today’s struggles with suicide and self-injury are frequently concealed and more complex. This session, designed for psychologists, licensed mental health profes sionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders, will ex plore the evolving and covert signals associated with teen suicide ideation and self-harm, providing participants with actionable strategies to recognize and respond to these is sues effectively with clients. Through the examination of current social and cultural factors contributing to the rise of youth suicide and self-harm, attendees will gain valu able tools to support at-risk adolescent clients. Addition ally, focusing on building a compassionate and authentic approach to care will incorporate a theology of suffering, enabling clinicians to offer informed, sensitive emotional support to clients in need. Learning Objectives 1. Analyze current social and cultural factors contributing to the rise in youth suicide ideation and self-harm. 2. Identify new, subtle indicators of distress that often go un noticed by even the most vigilant caregivers. 3. Evaluate the concept of a theology of suffering to build a compassionate and authentic approach to care.

Jennifer Wortham, Dr.PH Harvard University

Summary Moral and spiritual injury describes the lasting psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress that can occur when individ uals act, fail to act, witness, or are victim of events that violate deeply held moral beliefs or spiritual values. Initially identi fied in military personnel following combat, these injuries are now recognized in first responders, healthcare providers, clergy, and civilians exposed to trauma or moral conflict. In January 2025, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) formally recognized “Moral Problems” within the Spiritual and Religious Problems Z-code category of the DSM-5-TR, providing a standardized framework for diagnosing and ad dressing moral and spiritual struggles. The resulting guilt, shame, and loss of meaning can intensify anxiety, disrupt relationships, and impair overall well-being. In some cases, these unresolved emotions contribute to maladaptive cop ing, including compulsive behaviors, as individuals attempt to avoid or numb emotional pain. This session equips mental health professionals, chaplains, clergy, and Christian coun selors with evidence-based and spiritually integrated strate gies to assess and treat moral and spiritual injury. Practical approaches will address moral repair, emotional regulation, restoration of identity, and service to others that will help cli ents move toward lasting healing, meaning, and purpose. Learning Objectives 1. Define moral and spiritual injury and describe its origins, core symptoms, and impact on mental, relational, and spiri tual health. 2. Clinically differentiate moral injury from PTSD, moral dis tress, and compulsive coping behaviors (focused on relieving the anxiety aroused by guilt and shame). 3. Apply evidence-based and spiritually-informed interven tions that address guilt, shame, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors while supporting moral and spiritual restoration through doing good.

2025 AACC UNITED WORLD CONFERENCE

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