Holding Space for Grief and Life's In-Between

You're allowed to pause, feel, and begin again without pressure to "move on". You are welcome exactly as you are, for as long as you need.

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The Lotus Flower that is representative of loss and life's tough navigation.

A Safe Space for Every Emotion

Nothing to fix. Nothing to rush. Just space to be human.

Grief touches every life. It shows up in loss, in transition, in rupture, and in the quiet, everyday changes we don't always have words for. In a world that rushes healing, many people end up carrying their sorrow alone. 

The truth is, grief isn't a problem to fix. It's a natural response to a life that mattered, a moment that changed you, or a future that shifted. 

At The Waiting Place, we offer something different. A place where emotions don't have to be explained, minimized, or rushed. A place where grief is allowed to exist as it is. We meet each person exactly where they are with care, without judgment, and without expectation.

A support group meeting with diverse women, some comforting and listening to a woman grieving.
Two men hugging each other in an emotional embrace in a room with their grief healing circle.
A community of people that are volunteering to help support those struggling with grief.

A Community to Honor Grief and Life’s In-Between

The Waiting Place is a community for anyone navigating grief, change, or the tender in-between spaces of life. The Waiting Place grew from a simple conviction: people deserve a space where their emotions are met with compassion rather than discomfort, dismissal, or pressure to “get over it”.

Here, grief is not something to be fixed. It is something to be honored, held, and understood in community. We offer presence, education, and support so people can navigate their grief in their own way and at their own pace.

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Our Approach

Like Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, grief reveals its own story. This work unfolds slowly - with care and intention - not to erase what cracked, but to honor it.

Here, we sit with grief rather than rushing to fix it. We allow discomfort instead of turning away from it. We follow your pace, your story, your timing.

There is no deadline. No expectation to move on. You are welcome to be here for as long as you need.

  • community of people

    1:1 Therapy Sessions

    You will have access to licensed therapists who can support you through deep loss or trauma. Sessions will be rooted in presence, dignity, and safety.

  • Individual giving and volunteering

    1:1 Spiritual Grief Companionship

    You will be able to meet with Patti for one-on-one spiritual companionship that invites reflection, grounding, and gentle exploration of your story. Available online or in person, with a sliding scale.

  • Community of people.

    Community Circles & Support

    You will be welcomed in weekly or monthly gatherings designed to bring people together in shared understanding. Free or low-cost, facilitated by grief companions, with schedules coming soon.

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We are meant to walk together.

Here are our stories:

  • "I was always told to get over my grief. I held it quietly for years because I didn’t have a place where I could show up as I actually was. If I had The Waiting Place then, the things I buried would not have sat inside me for so long.

    This is the sanctuary I wish I had earlier in my life. Patti is the person I wish I had earlier in my life."

    - Mariah

  • "As a hospice social worker, I see every day how deeply our community needs a place like The Waiting Place. We live in a grief-adverse society, where many people feel they must grieve alone, and this center offers the compassion they’ve been missing.

    The Waiting Place provides much-needed comfort, understanding, and resources for true healing. I believe in its mission because I’ve seen firsthand the difference this kind of support can make."

    - Brenda

  • "The Waiting Place meets a deeply felt need in the community by offering a safe, steady, and compassionate space for people to experience, express, and work through grief in their own way. In a world that often rushes healing, it provides a rare environment where individuals can slow down, be seen, and be supported without judgment or pressure.

    This kind of space reflects the very heart of Patti’s work. My impression of her approach to grief and healing is one of profound gentleness and grounded wisdom.”

    - Angie

  • "I’ve had the honor of knowing Patti Merrill for more than 30 years. I’ve watched her walk through the fire of grief from the passing of those she loves. She’s rock solid on the source of healing, and she was built to be an anchor in the lives of others as they learn how to process their own pain. The Waiting Place is a natural extension of her talents and experience.”

    - Whitne

  • Having been a hospice chaplain myself, I can see what a tremendous help Patti will be to others. Living and experiencing grief herself will truly give her an understanding and empathetic way of helping others who are going through it.

    Patti is a gifted speaker and I would endorse her to speak on the subject in a variety of settings. Her vision for creating The Waiting Place Foundation is inspiring and needful in this world. I’m so thankful for Patti and all that she is doing.

    - Brenda C.

  • It is rare to find someone who is a natural healer. Patti understands your heartache and helps you find your way in spite of the pain. She allows your journey to be yours. Her own experience with loss, grief and suffering bring a depth of understanding and wisdom to her counseling. Patti will help you rebuild the life you lost after losing the one you loved. Her service is invaluable.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, or is unable to cope with their loss, please reach out to her. Our lives can never be the same, but with Patti at your side, you will find beauty, peace and love.

    - Daniel’s Mom

A beige background with a subtle pattern of the lotus flower, the representative of The Waiting Place.
A gravel path through a lush green forest with a small wooden bridge on each side showing a journey through loss.

Join Us in Redefining Grief

The Waiting Place is a community for the grieving - a place where emotions are allowed to exist without being rushed or minimized. Through companionship, gatherings, reflective practices, and shared connection, we walk with people through the in-between so they never have to carry their grief alone.

We invite you to join us in creating a space where compassion, human connection, and gentle healing can unfold together.

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