Moral Injury & Scrupulosity: Faith-Aware ART

Written By Matthew Benavidez, LMFT

Clarifying terms

  • Moral injury: Pain from actions/inactions that violated your moral code (yours or others’), often with shame or spiritual distress.

  • Scrupulosity: Obsessions about morality/sin with compulsive checking/confession (often overlaps with OCD—ERP remains first-line).

Where ART fits

ART can lower the heat on specific images/moments fueling shame or panic so you can re-engage prayer, conscience, and values from a steadier place. For scrupulosity/OCD, ART may support distress reduction while ERP carries the lead (when appropriate).

How we keep it faith-aware

  • Language and imagery aligned with your tradition

  • Consent and boundaries: you choose what to share

  • Collaboration (by request) with clergy or mentors

  • No value overrides: we don’t “rewrite” beliefs—only the distress

Gentle supports

  • Short, value-aligned breath or reflection practices

  • Rituals that embody compassion and repair

  • Skills for tolerating uncertainty (especially with scrupulosity)

Learn more
Matthew Benavidez, LMFT

Matthew’s passion for therapy began early on in his life. Working through his own trauma at a young age, Matthew knows what the healing process looks like from all sides. Matthew’s own healing has varied from adjusting through divorced parents all the way to religious trauma. This has helped Matthew become more empathic towards his clients from all walks of life. Rest assured that you will be heard in a secure, shame-free environment.

https://benavidezlmft.com
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