My Unforeseen Healing Journey through Surf Therapy
Well first… What even is Surf Therapy??
Surf Therapy is one of many holistic models of therapy where surfing is accompanied by structured activities to overcome trauma and improve one’s overall well-being.
Now, how did I get involved with this practice? During my last semester of college, I needed an internship related to my field and wasn’t having much luck. I reached out to an advisor in hopes they knew of an opportunity and to my luck, they did. I was introduced to Groundswell Community Project! This was during the peak of COVID so I met the small operations team virtually and decided to complete my internship with them.
I call this my unforeseen journey because this was a time in my life where I was really embracing the “I am exactly where I need to be” mindset. I believe you meet everyone for a reason and I’m so thankful for this community that has given me an awakened appreciation for Mother Ocean and her healing power.
My first assignment as an intern was participating in their Trauma Recovery Training. I did not know I was in for 2 hours of new awareness surrounding therapy. Prior to this training session, I held the belief that therapy was for mentally-ill individuals and those who had experienced severe traumatic events like physical abuse. This is where I was completely wrong and learned my first intro lesson: Trauma is in the eye of the beholder. No one can invalidate your trauma but you do need to allow yourself space to go through your emotions surrounding it. This is where surf therapy comes into play as a modality to cope through life’s waves. I could go on and on about the scientific explanations that surround trauma from the moment a traumatic event disrupts our nervous system to the coping mechanisms that regulate your mind, body, and spirit (and I encourage you to dive deeper into this if you’d like to learn more) but I want to share more about my experience with Groundswell.
I was fortunate to participate in a 4 week Summer Surf Therapy Session a couple years ago and these days quickly became my favorite days of the week. Here, I was surrounded by the most welcoming group of participants and therapy facilitators who created a safe space for all and taught me how to surf. The sessions started on sand and we began our practice by reciting our mantra, sharing our present emotions, our intentions for the session, some kind of mindful practice, and finally going out to play in the waves!
One of my favorite takeaways from Groundswell is reciting, “You make the world more beautiful”. This is a saying we say to one another as well as say it to yourself. At first, it was a strange thing to say to myself and sometimes it’s still difficult to say it confidently but it’s so important to remind yourself of your own magic!
Another thing to note, these sessions are created with all ocean comfort levels in mind. You decide what play looks like for you, be it staying fully clothes and dipping your toes along the shoreline, going bodysurfing in the whitewash, or taking a board out for the first time. I’ve always had respect for the ocean because of its powerful nature and during my sessions I caught my first waves and it is one of the most exhilarating feelings! It truly is such a rewarding activity at the end of a long day where you can set everything aside and be present in the water. Bonus if you get to participate in San Diego because you meet many dogs at OB’s Dog Beach. Once it’s time to come back and close out for the night, we share what Mother Ocean gave us that night and even though for most, this was the end of a workday, we left our sessions feeling refreshed, energized, and connected.
Not only does Groundswell offer these Surf Therapy programs, they have scheduled community drop-in sessions, private sessions, and retreats. With their roots in San Diego, they have expanded their practice to SoCal, NorCal, and are also overseas spreading the love. Aside from their therapy practice, they are an eco-conscious organization who recycles their materials and they support amazing local vendors at their fundraising events. Feel free to head over to their website or Instagram to learn more, connect, or donate to their organization!
