moral injury
historical context + framing for decolonizing how we understand and address moral injury in mission-driven spaces
This moral injury terrain map is for practitioners, leaders, and care workers who want to understand moral injury beyond the clinical definition — including the origins of the concept, influences, and the limitations of definitions and interventions rooted solely in Western frameworks. This terrain map includes:
- an overview of moral injury
- a brief history of the concept and whose views have historically been centered and those that have been left out
- an examination of how colonial logics continue to shape moral injury in mission-driven systems today
- five suggested pathways for decolonizing how we understand and respond to moral injury
one last thing
become a founding member
Join as a founding member of rōot | by dimple dhabalia at $100/year before July 1, 2026 and get unlimited access to all rōot circles, the full member library of downloadable integration guides, videos, and toolkits, and a 15% discount on other offerings — plus a signed copy of Tell Me My Story — Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self.
a note on mental health
I am not a therapist, and these resources are not a substitute for therapy or professional mental health support. If you are navigating something that feels beyond the scope of this work, I encourage you to engage with these resources alongside therapy or other forms of professional care. And if you're not sure where to start, reaching out to a mental health professional is always a worthy first step. Your well-being matters, and it's important to have the support you need to navigate what you're carrying.
Written by
subscribe
subscribe to receive new pieces as they're written
Member discussion