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UC Adjunct Professor Helps Others Cope with Loss

Roberts Pens Books, Plans Conference, Does Podcast

Written By Katie Prue and Sydney Bell, PR Interns

Contact - cleogrande@utica.edu

Utica, NY (12/09/2009) - When David Roberts lost his 18-year-old daughter Jeannine to cancer in 2003, he thought his life was over. But the adjunct professor of psychology at Utica College has taken his devastating experience and created a way to help others who are also bereaved. His book, “Mourning Discoveries: A guide to help families navigate through grief toward healing … During the Holidays,” aims to help others suffering from loss.
   The book, coauthored with Linda B. Findlay, is a concise, easy-to-read guide with poems, proverbs, quotes, anecdotes and narratives that illustrate the challenges of dealing with grief during the holiday season.
   “For bereaved individuals, the pain and the physical and emotional weight of grief make the demands and obligations of the holidays far more stressful,” Roberts said. “It becomes increasing difficult if they are experiencing their first holiday without their loved ones or if their loved ones died during the holidays.”
   The book - based on Roberts’ personal experiences with grief as well as quotes and stories from many bereaved individuals - has the feel of a support group meeting. “Our book emphasizes that the grief process is individualized and in many cases lifelong,” Roberts said. “Rather than look at a person’s ability to achieve closure with a loss, it is important to see how he/she has adjusted over time to a forever-changed reality, while finding meaning and significance in the aftermath of loss.”
   Roberts, now also a contributing writer for the Open to Hope Foundation (www.opentohope.org), will participate in a podcast on “Healing the Grieving Heart” to air on Dec. 24.
   Roberts is involved in planning a national conference, “Beyond Words: Redefining Loss Through Creative Approaches,” to be held at the Turning Stone Casino next September.
   Roberts and Findlay have also written a book for those dealing with the loss of their beloved pets, “Mourning Discoveries: A guide to help families navigate through grief toward healing … The Loss of a Pet.”
   For more information about Roberts’ work, visit www.bootsyandangel.com and www.mourningdiscoveries.com or contact him at info@bootsyandangel.com or 315-269-4522.



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