Episode 26 - Beyond the Unthinkable: A Father's Journey Through Child Loss and Transformation
Beyond the Unthinkable: A Father's Journey Through Child Loss and Transformation
In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Dave Roberts, MSW LMSW, who shares his profound journey of loss, grief, and eventual transformation after the death of his daughter Jeannine in 2003. Dave offers valuable insights into male grief, the integration of spiritual and science-based perspectives, and finding meaning after a devastating loss.
About Dave Roberts
Retired addiction professional
Adjunct professor in Psychology & Child Life at Utica University
Psychology professor at Pratt Munson School of Art and Design
Host of the Teaching Journeys podcast
Co-author of "When the Psychology Professor Met the Minister"
Grief workshop presenter and keynote speaker
Former Huffpost contributor
The Journey Through Loss
Dave shares the story of his daughter Jeannine, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma) just weeks after giving birth to her first child. He discusses:
The impact of anticipatory grief
The challenges of being both a father and caregiver
Processing the loss while supporting other family members
The transition from a science-based worldview to embracing spiritual perspectives
Finding new meaning and purpose through grief
Key Insights on Grief
Grief is not linear but circular
The importance of allowing all emotions to surface
How men and women may process grief differently
The value of support groups and shared experiences
The concept of "transient angels" - people who appear at crucial moments
The integration of joy and sadness in the grief journey
Understanding Male Grief
Dave offers valuable perspectives on male grief:
How men process emotions differently than women
The importance of action-based grieving
Ways to support men through loss
The role of vulnerability in healing
The impact of societal expectations on male grief
Spiritual Transformation
Dave shares his unexpected spiritual journey:
The serendipitous meeting with Reverend Patti Furino
Signs and connections with his daughter
The integration of scientific and spiritual perspectives
How this transformation influenced his teaching and grief work
Resources
Book: "When the Psychology Professor Met the Minister"
Available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats
Signed copies are available directly from Dave through Venmo @Dave-Roberts-61
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/david.j.roberts1/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/daver3103/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roberts-56690513/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@daveroberts301/podcasts
Personal website www.davidrobertsmsw.com
Author website www.psychologyprofessorandminister.com
Quote from Dave
"Grief is a marathon, not a sprint... if you take two steps forward and one step backward, guess what? You're still one step ahead."
