Some faith-biased support groups, therapists, counseling centers, and other resources are not welcoming for LGBTQ+, minority religious, and/or secular identities. Yet everyone is impacted by grief.
Screen professionals before entrusting them with your care. Look at LinkedIn, Facebook, website, blog content. Disclose your identity to them and think about how their response makes you feel. Ask how your identity will be honored in your work together.
There are affirming deathcare and griefcare providers, and below are some organizations that can serve as a resource for you as you search for assistance.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
If you can’t locate resources, or if you have suggestions for resources not listed below, please contact us.
LGBTQ+ Resources
The Center Orlando Resource Guide: https://thecenterorlando.org/resourceguide
NAMI Resource Guide:
https://namigo.org/resources/lgbtq-services
26 Health, Mental Health Resources:
https://26health.org/service/mental-health
National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging:
https://www.lgbtagingcenter.org
PRIDE Chamber (LGBTQ+/Ally owned businesses and organizations):
https://ThePrideChamber.org
Secular Resources (Atheist, Humanist, and other minority or non-religious identities)
Recovering From Religion (local support groups):
https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org
Grief Beyond Belief:
http://griefbeyondbelief.org
Readings, Links, & Resources:
http://griefbeyondbelief.org/resources
Death, Grief, and Belief:
https://deathgriefandbelief.com
Secular Therapy Project:
https://www.seculartherapy.org
Humanist Community in Central Florida:
Central Florida Freethought Community:
http://CFLFreethought.org
Other groups & support
https://americanhumanist.org/get-involved/find-or-start-a-chapter/
Humanist Clergy in Central Florida
Humanist Celebrants and Chaplains serve the non-religious community in the same role as religious clergy. They can serve anyone of any identity (using only secular language) and are trained in serving all minority perspectives including Atheists, Humanists, Wiccans, and other underserved identities. There are several Humanist Clergy members serving in Central Florida.
Visit TheHumanistSociety.org or contact The Humanist Society for referrals: endorsement@humanist-society.org
Humanist Celebrant Orlando:
http://HumanistCelebrantOrlando.com
Secular grief readings
- http://griefbeyondbelief.org/library/
- https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources#grief
- Death, Grief, and Belief by Candace R.M. Gorham, LCMHCS
On Death, Dying, and Disbelief (American Humanist Association)
Some Secular Children’s Books on Grief
- Annabelle and Aiden, What happens when we die? By JR Becker
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
- The Fall of Freddy the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
- I Miss You: Grief and Mental Health Books for Kids by Pat Thomas and Lesley Harker
- Help me say Goodbye: activities for helping kids cope when a special person dies by Janis Silverman
- Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to children by Bryan Mellonie
- Tear Soup: a recipe for healing after loss by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck Deklyen
- Always and Forever by Alan Durant
- Always Remember by Cece Meng
- Ida, Always by Caron Levis
- Goodbye Sister, a children’s book for infant loss (publishing soon!) by Kimberly Newton