Continuing Bonds: Staying Connected After Loss with guest, Dave Roberts

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: [email protected] 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/ Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ 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.