Many grieving people wonder how to stay connected to someone who has died. Is it healthy to keep talking to them? To celebrate them? To include them in your life moving forward?
In this episode of The GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold are joined by Dave Roberts to explore the concept of continuing bonds — the idea that connection doesn't end with death. We discuss practical ways to maintain meaningful connection while still living forward.
In this conversation, we explore:
What continuing bonds theory means in grief
Healthy ways to stay connected to loved ones
Why grief evolves over time
Shadow work and meaning-making after loss
Celebrating the life of the person who died
This episode connects to the Finding trail marker in our G.R.I.E.F. Framework — focusing on discovering what comes next and integrating connection into everyday life.
If you've ever questioned whether staying connected is "normal" or helpful, this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and practical ideas you can explore in your own grief journey.
Guest Bio: David J. Roberts, MSW, LMSW, became a parent who experienced the death
of a child, when his daughter Jeannine died of cancer on March 1, 2003, at
the age of 18 due to a rare and aggressive form of cancer.. He is a retired
addiction professional and an adjunct professor in the psychology child life
department at Utica University in Utica, New York. Dave also teaches
psychology classes at Pratt Munson School of Art and Design. He is the host
of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, which can be found on most podcast
platforms and YouTube. Dave has presented grief workshops nationally and has been a keynote
speaker as well.
He has been a past HuffPost contributor and has contributed numerous
articles to other online publications. Dave also co-authored a book with
Reverend Patty Furino titled, When The Psychology Professor Met The
Minister, which was published on March 1, 2021.
Connect with Dave:
Email: bootsyandangel@gmail.com
Podcast Link: https://rss.com/podcasts/theteachingjourneys/
Web Links and Social Media Links:
Personal Website: https://davidrobertsmsw.com/
Author Website: https://psychologyprofessorandminister.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.j.roberts1/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roberts-56690513/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daver3103/
YouTube :https://www.youtube.com/@daveroberts301/podcasts
GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next
If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.
🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/
Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/
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The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.
