Len Sperry, MD, PhD, is Emeritus Professor at Florida Atlantic University and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Licensed as both a psychologist and physician, he is a prolific researcher who has authored 1,200+ publications, including 100+ professional books. He was a founding editor of the APA journal, Spirituality in Clinical Practice.
Dr. Sperry is widely recognized as one of the early architects of spiritually integrated psychotherapy, contributing foundational texts and frameworks that continue to guide clinical practice today, including Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Infusing Spirituality into Clinical Practice, Third Edition. He is also recognized for his groundbreaking research on moral injury, particularly Sacred Moral Injury, which addresses trauma involving violations of sacred trust, including clergy sexual abuse. His innovative contributions have reshaped trauma therapy by emphasizing the moral and spiritual dimensions of healing.
Sacred Moral Injury and the Recovery Process
This presentation explores the concept of sacred moral injury, a profound breach of sacred trust that occurs within faith-based contexts. Distinct from conventional moral injury, sacred moral injury involves spiritual and institutional betrayal, systemic failure, and deep psychological and moral wounds. Its core features are defined and differentiated from related constructs like moral and spiritual distress as well as its impact on individuals and communities. Like moral injury, sacred moral injury is best framed as a spectrum from distress to disorder. Emphasized is the value of a focused ps...Read moreychological and spiritual assessment that identifies both personal and institutional dynamics. Finally, the presentation outlines and illustrates an integrative treatment and recovery process to support healing and restoration. Less...
Learning Objectives
- Define and describe the spectrum of moral injury and sacred moral injury.
- Describe how and why sacred moral injury develops in some but not others.
- Describe various presentations of sacred moral injury.
- Illustrate the treatment and recovery process of sacred moral injury.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Live Interactive Webinar
01:00 PM EDT - 03:00 PM EDT
EARN 2 CE Credit Hours
About the speaker
Dr. Len Sperry, M.D. PhD
Emeritus Professor at Florida Atlantic University and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Agenda
1:00-Introduction1:10: Sacred moral injury: Definitions and spectrum features
1:55: Focused assessment
2:10: Case material: Presentations and recovery process
2:50: Q&A
2:10: Case material: Presentations and recovery process
2:50: Q&A
2:55: CE process
3:00: Conclusion
CE Information - Earn 2 CE Credit Hours
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PLANNERS AND REVIEWER
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FACULTY
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