Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a therapy session and then I surf?
Our sessions are around 70% on land and 30% in the water. 100% of the session is an invitation to notice what is alive in your body, heart, and mind and to experience it, embody it, and play with it in the safe and brave container of surf therapy. On land our trained surf therapy facilitators hold space for your voice to be heard and honored.
In the sea space is held to connect to the feminine and Mother Ocean for guidance and wisdom. Our practices are rooted in somatic, expressive art, and trauma informed therapy, positive psychology, eco-therapy, feminist therapy theory, yoga and mindfulness welcome our bodies back into the healing process. On land we also make time to familiarize you with basic ocean and surf safety principles so that when it is time to step into the waves you will be able to connect more deeply with yourself and Mother Ocean.
Is this a surf lesson?
No, in our 4 or 8 week Groundswell Surf Therapy programs our goal is that you grow a deeper relationship with self, sisterhood and Mother Ocean through the modality of surfing. Some sisters learn how to surf through the process and we support them in accessing the gear and community to sustain their surfing for self care. Other sisters form a deeper relationship with Mother Ocean and self through increased safety and support to swim, body board, float, or jump around in Mother Oceans waves as a form of self care. You do not need to know how to surf, to swim, or even have any form of relationship with Mother Ocean to begin your journey with us. Our goal is that through our weekly sessions together and commitment to the weekly process that you will leave with the skills, knowledge, awareness, and community support to launch your own unique self love practice through the sustainable practice of surfing.
Do I need therapy to be here?
In Groundswell, showing up and opting in for “therapy” is not saying I am broken, sick, need fixing, or something is wrong with me. Rather, opting into “therapy” is stating that I am on a journey to re-covering and reclaiming my truest expression of self in the world.
We do not hold a hierarchical or linear understanding of healing. We honor that we are all on our healing journey. So we come together; whether you are a facilitator, a volunteer/mentor, or a participant… you are all surfsisters on your journey together to deeper self-love, sea love, and sisterhood.
If you would like to learn more about Groundswell’s Surf Therapy model and understanding of trauma and how surf therapy can be a transformational tool for healing of self, community, and the earth please join one of our Surf Therapy for Trauma Recovery trainings.
Am I expected to share my story?
No, there is space held open for you to speak your story if it feels an important part of your journey but it is not a requirement. The goal of Groundswell surf therapy is to welcome your whole self (body, mind and spirit) into the healing process, in the present moment. If talking about the past helps you arrive at the present, and allows you to feel heard, seen, and honored we welcome it and open up space for it in various forms from group circle shares, to 1-to-1 shares, as well as through written word in your surf journal.
Are there BIPOC people in the groups?
Groundswell’s mission is to hold safe and brave space for intersectional communities of womxn to come together and experience healing in Mother Ocean’s waves. We recognize that whether or not diverse womxn attend our programs; that we must constantly prioritize and work hard to resist and dismantle oppressive systems that can often undermine good intentions. To that end we take time to learn by observing organizations we admire, asking questions, reading, self inquiry, and seek guidance from trusted teachers, leaders, and Mother Ocean.
We have a BIPOC scholarship to specifically create equal and diverse access to our surf therapy programs, We also welcome your voice, your feedback, and your ideas on ways we support BIPOC sisters with surf therapy. See questions below to learn more about the work we are doing to elevate and celebrate diverse BIPOC leadership, volunteers, and access.
Why intersectional spaces?
Our intersectional trauma-informed approach celebrates diversity in race, sexual orientation, ability, bodies, and class differences. The uniqueness of our lived experiences and similarities in our human harmony with nature allow for powerful social justice work and intergenerational healing of self, community, and the earth to take place.
If you are interested in programs holding space specifically for Black, Indigenous, and people of color folx here are some of our esteemed partner orgs:
Are there BIPOC and diverse facilitators and volunteers?
The diversified surf therapy facilitator team we envision is one of our most active goals and an ongoing work in progress. At the International Surf Therapy Conference in 2019, we noticed a lack of BIPOC and women founders, facilitators, and volunteers active in the surf therapy field across the globe. We asked our BIPOC surfsisters, friends and family, and partner organizations that work specifically within BIPOC communities what they noticed, what barriers and systems of oppression are historically and currently alive in the surf world, therapy world, and surf therapy world. From this reflection and feedback we responded with Groundswell action steps to build awareness, accessibility, and tools for action:
We created our Surf Therapy for Trauma Recovery Training in 2019 that aims to raise education and awareness around understanding of trauma and how surf therapy can be a powerful tool for breaking down systems of oppression and recovering a way of being in harmony with self, sisterhood, and the sea that is rooted in diversity, inclusion, and joy.
BIPOC scholarships specifically to hold space for and welcome our black sisters, indigenous sisters, and sisters of color to explore and celebrate their voice, power, and leadership through our Surf Therapy trainings and programs.
Sharing new facilitator, volunteer, internship, staff, and board position openings as well as our BIPOC scholarship opportunities with our partner organizations who work specifically with BIPOC communities to make these opportunities for employment and involvement available and accessible to our BIPOC sisters.
We also acknowledge that diverse facilitators and volunteers are not tokens of wokeness or a “get in free pass” for creating safe and brave spaces for diverse groups. Groundswell’s founder, board, and facilitators are constantly engaging in workshops, training, and receiving consultation to continually uncover and dismantle systems of racism, violence, and oppression and recover ways of being rooted in inclusion, diversity, and joy so ALL of our facilitators and team can be aligned and supportive in this journey of healing and joy together.
What do you mean when you say “womxn” are welcome to join the program?
We welcome all womxn and GNC folks who are interested in exploring the unbounded feminine within them and around them in the ocean. Groundswell is in a constant process of listening, learning, and conversing around how to create brave spaces for all women to show up and feel seen, heard, valued, and honored as their fullest selves. We are accountable for our intentions of creating a bold and brave space for womxn to pursue healing and joy. We are also accountable to our surfsister participants, volunteers, facilitators, and board members who come from diverse bodies, minds, and ethnic-racial identities. We are committed to receiving consultations from LGBTQIA2+ and BIPOC community members and providing trainings for our volunteers and staff to continually be learning and growing in how to best weave a welcoming space that honors all womxn.
Certain programs labeled “Co-ed” welcome men, women, and non-binary folks to join.
Have an idea for how we can affirm and support you? Contact us here.
I am scared of the ocean, is this program right for me?
Yes! Our programs are built to intentionally meet each womxn where she is at. We welcome womxn with zero swimming or ocean experience and have trained facilitators and volunteers to support you in your individual goals and abilities.
Do I need to have my own transport, gear or my own wetsuit to participate?
Transportation: We currently are not able to provide transportation to programs, but we intentionally choose our program locations based off of convenience to local public transportation options and encourage carpooling. We are exploring partnerships with local rideshare companies to help with transportation needs. Please let us know if you are in need and we are happy to explore options and see how we can help overcome transportation barriers to support your participation best.
Surf gear: During Groundswell Surf Therapy Sessions all surf gear is provided. We have wetsuits, sunscreen, soft top surfboards, and boogie boards available. Our goal is to provide the surf gear support needed so you can simply show up. If you are in need of swimsuit, culturally appropriate water outfits, towel, water bottle, or other personal gear in order to participate in the program please let us know and we will work with you to overcome any gear barriers to support your participation best. Separate donation based Community Drop In events do not provide surf equipment or instruction.
Should I volunteer or participate? What is the difference between volunteering and participating?
We believe that we all are on our healing journey and invite you to join us exactly where you are at! We have various opportunities based on your water skills and ability to provide support to others. No matter if you are able to show up as a surfsister volunteer or surfsister participant, we celebrate that we are all surfsisters and we are all receiving healing and transformation as we come together in mother oceans waves together.
Surfsister Volunteer:If you have surf experience and feel confident in your ability to hold safe space in the waves for new surfsisters, we would love to have you as a surf sister volunteer.
Surfsister community member: If you do not have confident water safety and surf support experience or skills but do already have your own surf practice we encourage you to join our Waves of Grief and/or Sea&Sand Sister circles to continue developing your surf practice within sisterhood. You can also join us for our monthly WAVES and local community events.
SandSister or Stoke capturer Volunteer: If you do not have confident water safety and surf support experience or skills but do already have your own surf practice, photography experience, and/or have a gift for being a good listener and support a Sand Sister or Stoke sister volunteer may be a great opportunity for you! (read more about these volunteer roles in the volunteer role section)
Surfsister Participant: If you have little to none surf experience, swim experience, or ocean experience or it has been decades since your last time, we invite you to join us as a surf sister participant.