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."