Grief Support

Healing Hearts Bereavement Support

After the loss of a loved one, coping with daily living can be hard. Knowing you are not alone in your difficult journey can make all the difference. Through generous community donations, Haven offers grief support in 18 counties across Florida as a community service.

Haven offers individual, family and group bereavement support, as well as educational programs for anyone who has experienced a loss. One-on-one counseling is currently conducted via telehealth on the phone, and we are pleased to offer the following in-person support groups:

Orange Park

Every second Monday of the month at 6 p.m.
Haven’s Custead Hospice Care Center
Administrative Building Meeting Room
745 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL

Lake City

Quarterly on Saturdays at 9 a.m.: April 20, July 20, October 26
Haven’s Suwannee Valley Hospice Care Center
Community Room
6037 W US Highway 90, Lake City, FL

Gainesville

Every third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.
Haven’s E.T. York Hospice Care Center
Downstairs Meeting Room
4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL

Palatka

Every third Monday of the month at 11 a.m.
Haven’s Roberts Hospice Care Center in Palatka
6400 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL

St. Augustine

Second & Fourth Tuesdays of the Month at 9:30 a.m.
River House
Boardroom
179 Marine Street, St. Augustine, FL

Chiefland

First Thursday of the Month at 6 p.m.
Haven’s Tri-Counties Hospice Care Center
311 NE 9th St., Chiefland, FL

If you or someone you know needs grief support, please contact Haven at 1.844.LIGHTEN (1.844.544.4836) so we can help you find the assistance that meets your needs.

All bereavement support is available to anyone in the community, and there is no charge for any of our services thanks to generous contributions to Haven. Donations are always welcome.

Anticipatory Grief Resources

Not all Mourning Happens After Bereavement

Anticipatory Grief | Stanford Medicine

5 Steps for Dealing With Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory Grief, Death, and Bereavement

Preparing for a Loved One’s End of Life

Camp Safe Haven

Haven offers camps at no cost for children, youth and families who have lost a loved one. Children and youth suffering a loss can often benefit from the development of coping skills to handle their emotions. Supported by Haven’s professionals and volunteers for over 15 years, Camp Safe Haven provides fun and therapeutic activities to help children work through feelings of grief. Please visit the Camp Safe Haven website for more information.

Community Grief

Autism & Grief Project

Grief Out Loud: The Realities of Black Grief

Speaking Grief: Public Media Documentary and Awareness Initiative

Modern Loss: Candid Conversation about Grief

10 Best & Worst Things to Say to Someone in Grief

Grief Resources and Guides

Bereavement Resource Sheet

What is Grief?

Crossing the Creek: A Practical Guide to Understanding the Dying Process

Grief Resources from the Hospice Foundation of America

Supporting Someone Who is Grieving

Grief Impacts our Brains

Grief and Loss – Family Caregiver Alliance

TED Talk by Nora McInerny: We don’t “move on” from grief. We move forward with it.

Holiday Grief Support

Many find it difficult to enjoy familiar activities or family traditions during the holiday season because of grief. They may not be prepared to deal with the emotional and physical aspects of grief, which can make getting through the holiday season challenging. Haven wants to offer you some helpful guidelines on how to prepare for the approaching holidays: “Caring for Ourselves Through the Holidays.”

Ten Tips for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

Podcasts

Commune with Jeff Krasno: Grief, Healing and Finding Meaning After Loss with David Kessler

Grief Out Loud: Can They Even Understand? – Preschoolers & Grief

Healing with David Kessler: Dr. Laura Berman on Unprocessed Grief & Trauma in the Body

Healing with David Kessler: Why Talk about Grief?

Shapes of Grief: Can You Just Sit With Me?

Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Happyish Holidays

Resources for Children and Families

Bereavement Guide for Children and Teens

Coloring Book

Grief Graphic Novel Template

Graphic Novel Facilitation Guide

Grief Journal for Teens

Grief – Sesame Workshop

Kids Grieve Differently than Adults

National Allliance for Children’s Grief

Resources for Grieving Students

Supporting Children After a Suicide

Telling the Kids: What Grown-ups Can Do When Someone is Seriously Ill

Teacher Training Module: Supporting Grieving Students in Schools

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families

Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children (Storytime)

Dragonflies coloring page

Spiritual Care

At Haven, we honor the value of each personal spiritual journey. Spirituality includes religious beliefs, rites and rituals. It may include religious or nonreligious points of meaning for an individual and their cultural practices and beliefs.

The Haven Spiritual Care Team is here to offer patients and families support, a listening ear, and helpful spiritual care. How you understand yourself, your beliefs, meaningful events, hopes, regrets, relationships and so much more are distinctive. The way we relate to others and the world around us impacts our life’s journey and is oftentimes a place of reflection during end of life.

Honoring the story of our lives is a rich tradition across all cultures throughout history and may serve to integrate one’s life’s experiences into a meaningful whole. If you have a Pastor, Rabbi, Imam, or other person who is important to your spiritual journey, we would be glad to contact that person for you. At Haven, we want you to have access to the people and spiritual resources you desire including music, poetry, sacred literature, prayer shawls, art and ritual.

For a visit from a spiritual care provider, simply mention it to a member of your Haven care team.