SOULJOURNER
We all may just be “passing through,”
but what we do while we’re here matters.
Dr. Michele DeMarco
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
I’m Michele — an award-winning writer, therapist, clinical ethicist, and academic researcher working at the leading edge of one of the most important, but little-known areas of trauma and resilience today. It’s called moral injury and its cousin moral distress (the field is, generally, also referred to as moral trauma). And it’s different than depression, anxiety, feelings of burnout or defeat, even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These painful experiences are not a “disorder” of the mind, but rather a weight upon the heart and soul, which is why they are commonly called “soul wounds,” because they cut to our core or essence — to the very things that define us.
Moral trauma can feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world. While these painful and disorienting fundamental human struggles have plagued people for millennia, finally, we know what to call them, how to identify them, and increasingly, how to help people heal and transform from them.
Here’s what I do, and how I can help.
PUBLICATIONS
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I write a lot about trauma, generally, meaningful challenge and loss, moral injury/moral distress, and resilience, specifically.
- Check out my blog for Psychology Today called “Soul Console”, which has accessible, science-backed information, as well as practical tips and advice for transforming moral pain and “losses of innocence” and building resilience.
- Check out my Medium page — I’m one of their top writers for mental health and health, respectively.
- Other articles, Op-Eds, and Letters to the Editor can be found on my Publications page.
Read (or listen to) my books—Holding Onto Air: The Art and Science of Building a Resilient Spirit and Writing the Wrongs: A Guided Journal for Healing Moral Injury.
What People Are Saying
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“Michele DeMarco has written a wise and welcoming guide to what comes after survival—the rebuilding of hope, spirit, resilience, joy.” –ANNE LAMOTT, NEW YORK TIMES Best-selling Author“Penetrating wisdom … a profound story of near-death, loss, and renewal … and a powerful new model for resilience.” –RICKI POLYCOVE, MD, Clinical Faculty, University of California, and co-author of Mother Nurture“Michele’s writing and instruction expands my understanding of managing stress in hard, scary times and holds my hand as I try out her strategies.” –KATE GREEN TRIP, Director, Stanford Impact Labs, Stanford Univeristy“Powerful science and scholarly research … moving personal material … far beyond the usual feel-sad/feel-happy dynamic of loss, trauma, and major change. Strongest recommendation.” –Amazon.com, Verified Reader Review“Inspiring and hopeful - something we can all use a bit of these days!” –Amazon, Verified Reader Review |
“An intelligent and well thought out guide to going inside and journaling both one's pain and release. Anyone who takes the time to engage with the book and do the work will find help for their suffering.” –FRED LUSKIN, PhD, author of Forgive for Good. Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project"A crucial resource that adeptly combines scientific rigor with compassionate insight ... provides the tools necessary for individuals to reclaim their narrative and begin the journey to recovery.” —BILL EDMONDS, LTC (Ret) and the author of God Is Not Here: Torture, Trauma, and the Moral Injuries of War“Thoughtful and reassuring … Writing the Wrongs brings a valuable new perspective to how writing can resolve traumatic inquiry, while envisioning and, importantly, compassionately re-visioning the lives people want for themselves.” –CINDY SHEARER, DA, Program Chair, MFA in Writing, and PhD in Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies“In a world experiencing a dearth of soul, DeMarco's compassionate approach to moral injury is a poetic answer to tending the personal wounds of the individual self.” —VALERIA MCCARROLL, PhD, LMFT; Faculty - CIIS |
Speaking, Workshops, and Programs “Michele quickly became an expert upon whom I relied extensively to deliver important information about resilience, surviving adversity, coping with extreme stress, and finding new directions in life to improve health and vitality. –BLOOMBERG RADIO, WNBP“DeMarco presents a right-on-time articulation of this new collective moment we find ourselves in. She calls it ‘moral distress’ and shows how to cultivate moral resilience … I loved [her piece], as did millions of others. –SIOBHAN O’CONNOR, former Vice President Editorial at Medium“Without exception, when Michele spoke, you could hear a pin drop in the room. She managed to make a hotel ballroom room of 1500 people feel like an intimate gathering among friends.” –JUDY SOROKO, Former Patient Ombudsman Services at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital“There is no exercise better for the human heart and soul than reaching down and lifting people up. This is what Dr. DeMarco does so well–through her knowledge and expertise, her perspective and insights, and her presence and compassion. When you find Michele, you simply find the best. –DEBORAH CHIARAVALLOTI, Vice President, Partners Healthcare |
SPEAKING & MEDIA
I talk a lot about about trauma, meaningful challenge and loss, moral injury/moral distress, and resilience too.
If you’re a journalist, editor, or producer and would like to request an interview for a podcast, story, video, or speaking engagement, please reach out here.
For specific topics and recent projects, see my Speakers page.
WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS & CONSULTING
I work with individuals and groups a lot to address all the subjects above as well.
If you’re an institution, organization, or group who is interested in consulting, workshops, programs, or partnerships, please contact us here.
Frequent populations I work with are:
- Military/Veterans/Special Operations Forces
- Healthcare Professional and Organizations
- Law Enforcement and Emergency Services (EMS)
- Natural Disaster and Conflict Groups
- Suicide and Families
- Abuse (including human trafficking)
- Clergy/Religious and Spiritual Leaders
- Abortion
RESOURCES & CLASSES
I offer a lot of materials to help people through some of the hardest times of their lives, including self-assessments, FAQs, gifts of inspirations, infographics, creative arts exercises, distress tolerance techniques, and more. (Scroll down or click the link below).
Honoring pain, reconciling difficult truths, and restoring integrity for a whole, healthy, and fully engaged life starts here.
Explore
Not sure where to begin?
We can help with that.
Featured
Michele has lots to share.
Get started here.
Here is a curated collection of writings, conversations, and resources that are the heart and soul of my work. I hope you’ll check them out.
Featured
Assessment
Gauge your moral strengths and areas for growth
Assessment
Do I Have Moral Injury or a Soul Wound?
Featured Articles
Moral Injury and the Agony and Power of Love
Bouncing Back From Moral Injury
6 Underestimated Drivers of Well-Being
How to Cultivate Moral Resilience
What Not to Say to Someone Dealing with Moral Injury
Soul Console Community
Welcome to the Soul Console Community
Soul Console is a burgeoning community, grounded in trust and validation, and chock-full of resources that can help you regain a sense of wholeness and integrity. Whether you’re feeling crushing emotion, the fear of stigma, numbing from scars, the sense that others “wouldn’t understand,” “couldn’t understand,” “don’t really care,” or would “judge you,” you needn’t suffer any longer in solitary and self-severing silence.
Resource Hubs
