Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery and Prevention (MB-tr): A Mindfulness–Somatic Approach to Healing Moral Injury in Frontline Populations
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| 4:22 PM - 4:23 PM |
Speaker
Ms Rachael Day
Chair Of The Board
Frontline Yoga
Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery and Prevention (MB-tr): A Mindfulness–Somatic Approach to Healing Moral Injury in Frontline Populations
Abstract Document
Moral injury arises when an individual’s deeply held moral or ethical beliefs are transgressed, often through experiences of betrayal, guilt, shame, or helplessness in the face of human suffering. For veterans and frontline personnel, these experiences are often intertwined with operational trauma and can lead to profound psychological and spiritual distress. Effective treatment approaches must therefore address not only the cognitive and emotional dimensions of moral injury but also its embodied and relational impacts.
Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery and Prevention (MB-tr) is a trauma-informed adaptation of the established Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) framework. Co-developed in 2020 by psychologist Lisa Brown and firefighter-paramedic Kate Duncan, in collaboration with Frontline Yoga, MB-tr integrates mindfulness meditation, somatic-based yoga, breathwork, relaxation, and self-compassion practices. The program is delivered over eight weeks online, complemented by a three-day in-person immersive retreat, and is specifically tailored for veterans, first responders, and other frontline workers.
Independent evaluation of MB-tr demonstrates significant reductions in PTSD and depressive symptomatology (approximately 40%), alongside a 38% increase in psychological wellbeing. Substantial gains were also recorded in interoceptive awareness and body trust (improvements of 115% and 77% respectively), as well as in self-compassion and mindfulness. Qualitative participant feedback highlights a shift from hopelessness and moral despair to renewed self-trust, compassion, and meaning in life. Participants frequently describe moving from feeling “untreatable” to experiencing a tangible sense of moral and emotional repair.
Within the context of moral injury recovery, MB-tr offers a community-based, holistic, and scalable model that complements existing psychotherapeutic interventions. Its emphasis on embodied awareness, compassion, and reconnection supports restoration of moral integrity and identity—key dimensions of moral repair. Ongoing program development will explore integration of explicit moral injury measures and structured values clarification modules to deepen this recovery process.
MB-tr demonstrates that mindfulness-somatic interventions can offer a compassionate and accessible pathway toward moral repair and sustained wellbeing for those who serve.
Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery and Prevention (MB-tr) is a trauma-informed adaptation of the established Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) framework. Co-developed in 2020 by psychologist Lisa Brown and firefighter-paramedic Kate Duncan, in collaboration with Frontline Yoga, MB-tr integrates mindfulness meditation, somatic-based yoga, breathwork, relaxation, and self-compassion practices. The program is delivered over eight weeks online, complemented by a three-day in-person immersive retreat, and is specifically tailored for veterans, first responders, and other frontline workers.
Independent evaluation of MB-tr demonstrates significant reductions in PTSD and depressive symptomatology (approximately 40%), alongside a 38% increase in psychological wellbeing. Substantial gains were also recorded in interoceptive awareness and body trust (improvements of 115% and 77% respectively), as well as in self-compassion and mindfulness. Qualitative participant feedback highlights a shift from hopelessness and moral despair to renewed self-trust, compassion, and meaning in life. Participants frequently describe moving from feeling “untreatable” to experiencing a tangible sense of moral and emotional repair.
Within the context of moral injury recovery, MB-tr offers a community-based, holistic, and scalable model that complements existing psychotherapeutic interventions. Its emphasis on embodied awareness, compassion, and reconnection supports restoration of moral integrity and identity—key dimensions of moral repair. Ongoing program development will explore integration of explicit moral injury measures and structured values clarification modules to deepen this recovery process.
MB-tr demonstrates that mindfulness-somatic interventions can offer a compassionate and accessible pathway toward moral repair and sustained wellbeing for those who serve.
Biography
Lisa is a Registered Psychologist, Senior Yoga Teacher (Yoga Aust), Certified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Teacher (Brown University, USA), Insight Dharma Teacher (IMI) and Mindful Self-Compassion facilitator.
She teaches meditation and yoga regularly at Insight Meditation Retreats and as an Adjunct Lecturer at Charles Sturt University taught mindfulness and intensive retreats for post-graduate students.
Since 2008, Lisa has been facilitating Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs, the ground-breaking work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
In 2020 Lisa and her friend and colleague Kate Duncan adapted MBSR for trauma recovery and prevention for frontline workers (MB-tr) and continue to collaborate with Frontline Yoga delivering grant funded programs in Australia and overseas.
With a strong interest in the conjunction of western science, yoga, buddhadharma and earth-based wisdom traditions in health, prevention, healing and trauma recovery, Lisa has been practising meditation and yoga for more than 25 years.
Lisa also works in private practice in Coffs Harbour NSW and also provides clinical supervision and mentoring.
