Continuing Bonds (CB) & After-Death Communication (ADC)​​​

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Research on grief has expanded in recent decades to better reflect how people actually experience loss. Two well-studied areas in this research are continuing bonds and after-death communication (ADCs).

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Together, they describe the many ways people remain connected to loved ones after death — emotionally, symbolically, and sometimes experientially.
 

Continuing Bonds
 

Continuing bonds (CB) research shows that healing does not require “letting go” of a loved one.
Instead, many people naturally maintain an ongoing inner relationship.

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This may include:

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• Carrying forward a loved one’s values or guidance

• Feeling their influence in daily decisions

• Internally hearing their voice of encouragement

• Experiencing comfort through memory or presence

 

The relationship changes, but it does not end.
 

After-Death Communication (ADCs)

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ADCs refer to experiences in which people sense contact or connection with a loved one who has died. Research suggests these experiences are common and reported across cultures, ages, and belief systems.

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They can show up in different ways: 

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• Direct experiences - Some people report seeing, hearing, or feeling their loved one, even briefly.

• Indirect signs - Others notice familiar scents, meaningful coincidences, objects moving, or natural events that feel personally significant.​

• A sense of presence - Many describe a strong feeling that their loved one is near, without seeing or hearing anything specific.​

• Dream experiences - Some people have dreams that feel unusually vivid, emotional, or real, and experience them as a form of connection rather than ordinary dreaming.

What the Research Emphasizes
 

Clinical and psychological studies consistently note that these experiences are not considered harmful or abnormal. For many, they bring comfort, reassurance, and a sense of ongoing connection while still fully acknowledging the reality of loss.

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Grief research now recognizes that maintaining a bond can coexist with healing, growth, and engagement with life.

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For those who want a deeper or more technical explanation, links to the underlying research are provided:

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This overview is based on established grief and bereavement research. 
 

The impact of continuing bonds following bereavement

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This research explores how bereaved individuals report spontaneous experiences of connection with loved ones after death, showing that these experiences are varied, meaningful, and often supportive during grief.

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Perceptual Phenomena Associated with Spontaneous Experiences of After-Death Communication

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If you need help to connect with your loved ones, you don’t have to walk this path alone. This organization and therapists offer comfort, clarity, and soul validation. 

 

​Trusted Mediums and ADC Therapists  

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• ​Forever Family Foundation  - A nonprofit showing, through science and spirit, that life continues after death. They offer certified medium listings, grief retreats, and loving community support. I led my sister here 20 years ago after she lost her 18-year-old son, and it became a vital part of her healing. –  

       https://foreverfamilyfoundation.org/

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Note: When choosing a medium, let your heart be your compass. A true connection leaves you feeling uplifted, comforted, and closer to your loved one. If you walk away feeling sad, confused, or disconnected, trust that this reader may not be aligned with your energy.
 

• Dr. Jamie Turndorf – Author of Love Never Dies, created a ground breaking new form of grief therapy that combines her acclaimed conflict-resolution techniques with after-death communication. Her intuitive approach supports both emotional and spiritual healing. www.askdrlove.com ​

• Dr. Allan Botkin (IADC Therapy) – A psychologist who developed Induced After-Death Communication (IADC), a groundbreaking grief therapy based in Chicago. This technique combines EMDR with a unique process that often helps clients experience a felt sense of connection or communication with a loved one who has passed. .www.iadctherapy.com​

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Visit my blog for posts and videos exploring the afterlife and ongoing communication with our loved ones: ✨The Light After Grief Blog ✨

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