In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts interviews Debbie Gail Zane, who shares her harrowing yet inspiring journey as a single mother dealing with her son Alex’s schizoaffective disorder, addiction, and his eventual passing. Debbie discusses her process, Peace Beyond the Pain, which includes holistic strategies for navigating Grief and loss. She also describes her efforts to help parents facing similar challenges, the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction, and her book, Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears.

Debbie’s Bio and Contact Information

Debbie has been through unimaginable tragedy and come through it with inspiring strength. She received the call that is every parent’s worst nightmare – her twenty-six-year-old son Alex had been found dead. Just nine years prior to that, he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and became addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Today, Debbie inspires others who are facing the challenges of having a child with mental illness and addiction or who have lost a child. She walks with them on their journey, helping them regain their natural emotional resilience and self-love and find peace and purpose in their lives. Debbie has developed a unique process called Peace Beyond the Pain, which provides holistic tools and strategies for navigating grief, loss, pain, hopelessness, overwhelm, fear, and guilt.

Debbie is the author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction and is the host of the internet tv/podcast show Finding Peace Beyond the Pain on the Bold Brave TV Network.

Websites:

https://www.debbiegailzane.com

https://debbiegailcoaching.com

Social Media :

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100021353857859

https://www.facebook.com/debbiegailcoaching

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3075560526105218/members

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/debbiegailcoaching/

You Tube Channel:

Debbie Gail Coaching

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnzy7Tb9wV7O6yfnuT8LBMQ/featured

The Teaching Journeys Podcast can be found on your favorite podcast platforms.

If you wish to find out more about Dave, please go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

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Dave Roberts LMSW, Author, Podcaster

David J. Roberts, LMSW, became a parent who experienced the death of a child, when his daughter Jeannine died of cancer on 3/1/03 at the age of 18. 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 MWP School of Art and Design. He is the host of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, which can be found on Apple, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

Dave has presented workshops at national conferences of The Compassionate Friends as well as for the Bereaved Parents of the USA. He was also a keynote speaker at the 2011 and 2015 national gatherings of the Bereaved Parents of the USA. Dave also co-presented a workshop titled “Helping Faculty After Traumatic Loss” for the Parkland, Florida community in May of 2018, in the aftermath of the mass shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School.

Roberts has been a past HuffPost contributor and has contributed articles to Medium, Open to Hope Foundation, Mindfulness and Grief, Thrive Global, and the Recovering the Self Journal. He has also appeared on numerous podcasts, as well as Open to Hope Television. In 2021,he co-authored and published a book with Reverend Patty Furino titled, When The Psychology Professor Met The Minister.