Moral injury in veterans involves regret, shame, and internal division from morally injurious events. Centering Prayer, a contemplative practice with Judeo-Christian roots, helps veterans heal by fostering acceptance of difficult emotions and refocusing on personal values. At the Loveland VA, veterans follow Contemplative Outreach guidelines for Centering Prayer, with feedback from in-person and online groups. The practice is encouraged individually and in groups to deepen inter-relational healing and trust. Peer supports connect veterans to Contemplative Prayer and AA groups. As a mindfulness-based spiritual discipline, Centering Prayer complements chaplaincy programs for whole health growth.
Incorporating compassion meditation training into clinical pastoral education reduces burnout and anxiety among hospital chaplain residents, but the benefits may not last without ongoing practice. In a small study, 15 chaplain residents were assigned either to Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) or a waitlist. Those who received CBCT reported significant decreases in burnout and anxiety compared to the waitlist group, though these effects were not maintained at a 4-month follow-up. Compassion satisfaction did not differ significantly but trended in the expected direction. The findings suggest that extending CBCT throughout residency could help sustain wellbeing improvements.
Anxiety is a known predictor of suicide attempts in adolescents, yet little research has examined mindfulness meditation (MM) for this population during acute psychiatric hospitalization. Fifty-three adolescent inpatients aged 13–19 attended optional 30-minute MM groups led by a chaplain. State-anxiety was measured immediately before and after each session. State-anxiety decreased significantly after the first MM session, regardless of age, sex, or prior MM experience. Patients experiencing symptoms of psychosis may have benefited more than others. Admission symptom severity did not predict attendance. MM may be an effective, relatively immediate transdiagnostic intervention to lower state anxiety in hospitalized adolescents.