Jan Canty

Jan Canty Bio: (feel free to abbreviate)

A native Detroiter, Jan Canty, Ph.D. is a psychologist of over 40 years, author, speaker, photographer, educator, consultant, and podcast host. She holds a terminal degree in psychology as well as a post-doctoral fellowship in family therapy from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine in Detroit. It was in the last month of her fellowship training that her life pivoted.

The stormy evening of July 13, 1985, her spouse of 11 years failed to come home. A week later she was called to Detroit Homicide Division to meet with Inspector Gil Hill. She was informed her still-missing spouse had likely been a victim of homicide. The following she was called back to identify them at the Wayne County Morgue.

So began her 30-year redacted life. Two years later she quietly moved deep into the Midwest and taught psychology at a small, rural college away from tourists, airports, memories and intrusive questions. She did not speak of this tragedy for over 30 years.

Life circumstances delivered her to be uniquely qualified to speak about surviving murder - both professionally and personally. She now hosts a twice-monthly podcast to bring awareness to the aftermath of murder. The broadcast is entitled “Domino Effect of Murder.” It is heard in 22 countries and is starting its sixth season. In 2020 she completed a true crime memoir “A Life Divided.” Her second release, in 2023 is a 450-page reference book “What Now? Navigating the Aftermath of Homicide and Suicide.” She is currently working a manuscript tentatively entitled Rekindled: Healing Grief: The Science, Stories and Significance of After Death Communication.

Dr. Canty is active with the Innocence Project.