Are Loved Ones Sending Us Signs?
- Bernard Beitman, MD
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Grief, Coincidence, and Staying Grounded in Extraordinary Moments.
Sometimes grief doesn’t just hurt—it opens. A song on the radio. A perfectly timed message. A symbol that feels too precise to ignore. Are these moments random… or are they invitations to pay attention?
In this episode of Connecting with Coincidence, Dr. Bernard Beitman is joined by clinical psychologist and researcher Jennifer Kim Penberthy to explore the meaningful coincidences many people experience after loss. Together, they examine how these moments can be acknowledged without being dismissed—or pathologized—and how staying both open and grounded can support healing, resilience, and an ongoing sense of connection.
Rather than asking whether these experiences are “real” in a literal sense, the conversation focuses on how people can work with them skillfully. Kim shares practical frameworks clinicians and individuals can use when a powerful coincidence occurs—how to notice it, name the emotions and meaning it carries, and gently reality-test without collapsing the experience or inflating it.
The episode also explores validating language therapists can use, reflective prompts that help translate coincidence into values-aligned action, and why curiosity may be more healing than certainty.
Meet Dean Radin now on the Connecting with Coincidence podcast:
About Kim Penberthy
Jennifer “Kim” Penberthy, PhD, ABPP is the Chester F. Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where she conducts research, teaches, and provides clinical care. She is a board-certified licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience and currently serves as President of the American Psychological Association’s Society of Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Penberthy’s research explores the mechanisms of therapeutic and contemplative practices on wellbeing, performance, and human experience, including altered states of consciousness, meditation, psychedelic medicines, and spontaneous extraordinary experiences. She has published extensively, lectures internationally, and has presented her work for organizations including the World Bank, the United Nations, the American Psychological Association, and major health systems worldwide. Her most recent book, Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan: An Intergenerational Guide, was co-authored with her daughter, Morgan.
And be sure to check out our other fascinating podcast guests in our Connecting with Coincidence library of episodes:
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