Recognizing Moral Injury through an Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy lens - Recognizing the occupational limitations and depravations that can occur from a broken soul
| Friday, May 22, 2026 |
| 12:05 PM - 12:06 PM |
Speaker
Mr Dan Johnson
Rehabilitation Advisor
Veterans' Affairs, NZ
Recognizing Moral Injury through an Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy lens - Recognizing the occupational limitations and depravations that can occur from a broken soul
Abstract Document
Poster Abstract
Title:
Recognizing Moral Injury through an Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy lens - Recognizing the occupational limitations and depravations that can occur from a broken soul:
Abstract:
Following a career split predominantly between working in public health care systems and with military veterans, I proudly wear the badge of 'lessons learned along the way', often labeled as 'burnout' or 'vicarious trauma'. In Clinical Supervision sessions, it is not uncommon to hear words and semantics that are easily brushed aside as 'part of the job', or simply as 'being human' in a health care setting.
As time has passed, research and clinical observations have demonstrated that a person's words remain the primary approach and source of evidence when we seeking to understanding a person's experience of trauma and moral fragility, yet observable patterns of daily functioning and enrichment of their chosen actions can often provide further clues which may be contrary to verbal self-reporting. We may continue to observe unhelpful or self-harming actions & behaviors despite without the gravity of the emotionally laden words being expressed or whispered. Indeed, in times of stress, fear and human suffering that a person's actions & behaviors (occupations) are more indicative of their true sense of emotional functioning & stability.
Voluntary (chosen) occupations & duty-bound (routine-based) occupations, and the sense of meaning a person assigns to such tasks, can often shed a different light into the dark spaces that we often find it hard to articulate with words, no matter how welcomed or professionally structured, clinical enquiries may be, when delivered in therapeutic settings.
This presentation will take an occupation-based approach to both identifying potential mortally injurious events and Injury, whilst also considering how an occupation-focused approach to healing and recovery may help people or groups with traumatic histories overcome existing barriers to accessing impactful clinical services.
The presentation will also briefly look at the history of Occupational Therapy / Science and how the profession's history has been using occupation-based healing from morally injurious events for over a century.
Please join me for a different perspective on the topic of Moral Injury.
Recognizing Moral Injury through an Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy lens - Recognizing the occupational limitations and depravations that can occur from a broken soul:
Abstract:
Following a career split predominantly between working in public health care systems and with military veterans, I proudly wear the badge of 'lessons learned along the way', often labeled as 'burnout' or 'vicarious trauma'. In Clinical Supervision sessions, it is not uncommon to hear words and semantics that are easily brushed aside as 'part of the job', or simply as 'being human' in a health care setting.
As time has passed, research and clinical observations have demonstrated that a person's words remain the primary approach and source of evidence when we seeking to understanding a person's experience of trauma and moral fragility, yet observable patterns of daily functioning and enrichment of their chosen actions can often provide further clues which may be contrary to verbal self-reporting. We may continue to observe unhelpful or self-harming actions & behaviors despite without the gravity of the emotionally laden words being expressed or whispered. Indeed, in times of stress, fear and human suffering that a person's actions & behaviors (occupations) are more indicative of their true sense of emotional functioning & stability.
Voluntary (chosen) occupations & duty-bound (routine-based) occupations, and the sense of meaning a person assigns to such tasks, can often shed a different light into the dark spaces that we often find it hard to articulate with words, no matter how welcomed or professionally structured, clinical enquiries may be, when delivered in therapeutic settings.
This presentation will take an occupation-based approach to both identifying potential mortally injurious events and Injury, whilst also considering how an occupation-focused approach to healing and recovery may help people or groups with traumatic histories overcome existing barriers to accessing impactful clinical services.
The presentation will also briefly look at the history of Occupational Therapy / Science and how the profession's history has been using occupation-based healing from morally injurious events for over a century.
Please join me for a different perspective on the topic of Moral Injury.
Biography
Kia ora, I’m Dan Johnson, a UK-trained Occupational Therapist, who has been living and working in New Zealand since 2012. I currently hold the position of World Federation Occupational Therapy non-indigenous delegate for Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Over my 20+ year career I have worked across public, private and corporate sectors, helping to deliver health and rehabilitation services in areas that include in-patient and community physical rehabilitation & mental health, vocational rehabilitation, Accident & Emergency, Insurance Compensation and with military veterans in my current role of 8+ years.
My additional Occupational Therapy international learnings include work in Romania and Vietnam (NGO Sector), alongside visits to Occupational Therapy schools and workplaces in South America, Asia, Europe and New Zealand
I have a passion for cross-cultural learnings which have led to guest lecturing and presentation across the globe, including most recently on the topic of Moral Injury at CIMVHR 2024 (Canadian Institue of Military, Veteran, Health & Research), and the Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress, Japan 2024. This is in addition to accepting an invitation from Ukraine Society of Occupational Therapists to speak on the topic of 'Developing the professional Identity of Occupational Therapists in the midst of war'.
