Waves of Grief™

Ocean Medicine. Community Connection. Ritual.

Waves of Grief™ aims to foster a sense of comfort, community and connection while creating new meaningful experiences. Our programs are grounded in somatic and nature-based modalities, mixed with constructivist loss theories to support individuals moving through grief. The ocean is rich in metaphor for healing and provides a unique opportunity to address both personal and collective grief in a non-traditional setting. These programs provide a natural space to gather in community and tend our grief while interacting with the ocean in any way that feels supportive.

We aim to foster a sense of comfort, connection and community while creating new meaningful experiences. The hope is that those who opt into Waves of Grief create their own sustainable and supportive practice in nature that is held and supported by the community.

Waves of Grief™, Santa Barbara, CA

Join us every Second Sunday of the month.

9:30-11:30AM at Leadbetter Beach

Look for the white tent with the TwoCan banner between the parking lot & the point.

Waves of Grief is a community drop-in space, held at the beach up and down the coast of California and beyond to normalize grief and heal in community, in and around Mother Ocean. TwoCan Retreats has partnered with the Waves of Grief Collective™ to help extend their reach and spread waves of love and compassion to our beautiful community in Santa Barbara, California (and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, annually).

For anyone navigating personal or collective grief. All grief is welcome, along with all forms of water engagement.

The ocean provides a beautiful, grounding container that inspires us to be fully present, embody our grief and share what’s on our hearts. We honor each person's practice with kindness and compassion; without judgment or fixing. Joy and laughter are encouraged as we welcome fun and build community together.

Our gathering begins with a 10-15 minute mindful walk along the shore, followed by brief a grounding practice, a poem or passage, and time to share or simply be witnessed. We close with an ocean flower offering and an invitation to dip, swim, paddle out, or observe from the beach.

Mike and Stacy McCrory are partners in life and co-founders of TwoCan Retreats, as well as Regional Directors for the Waves of Grief Collective™. In addition to leading grief retreats in Costa Rica and weekend retreats Santa Barbara, they host monthly Waves of Grief community gatherings at the beach in Santa Barbara.

After the loss of their oldest son in 2016, they committed themselves to creating spaces where grief can be met with honesty and compassion. Their work invites participants to learn how to carry loss while continuing to engage fully in life.

Rooted in their love of the ocean, family, and community, Mike and Stacy believe grief is meant to be carried together and that healing happens in community.

The Waves of Grief Collective™

Our Mission, Origins and Impact

The Waves of Grief Collective™  is a community of leading surf therapy practitioners and clinicians connected by our love for the ocean, working together to reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that accompany grief and loss. The ocean is our source of healing, connection and flow. 

In 2022, Waves of Grief™ was sought after by the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and presented at the International Surf Therapy 2022 Conference. Now with seven sites and partners, in community we continue to offer accessible surf therapy programs to support individuals, families, and communities navigating grief.

There are so many ways you can get involved and show your support!

Whether you're interested in volunteering, donating, or participating in our programs, there are many ways to get involved with Waves of Grief. Together, we can continue to create waves of positive change.