8 Week Surf Therapy Program: San Diego
“Groundswell Surf therapy has impacted my recovery journey by helping me learn what loving myself is. Helping me learn how to connect with other like minded women and helping me realize we are not alone in this world. Allowing me to connect with Mother Nature in ways I never have. Also allowing me to tap into my inner child and I am very playful now.”
-8 week surf therapy client, 2024
What to expect:
This groups meets every Tuesday from 5:30-7:30pm for 8 weeks in a row. Each 2 hour small group session we will focus on topics mental health topics (like fear, belonging, self expression & discovery, trauma healing, inner critique, emotional regulation, relationships, grief, and relationship with our body and others) while combining them with the powerful metaphors, life skills, and tools to learn to surf mother ocean’s waves. This program is intentionally created for those who are brand new to the ocean and surfing, who have had a traumatic experience in the ocean and are wanting a safe space to reclaim their relationship with the sea, or those who are simply looking to learn to surf through the support and stoke of community.
Our sessions provides about 40% of time on land exploring somatic practices, land lesson, and connection and 60% practicing what we learned in the water with the support of your facilitator team.
Your Facilitator Team
Our faciltiator team is made up of liscened mental health professionals, surf coaches and trauma informed and trained surf supproters. So wether you have never surfed before, don’t know how to swim, or are reclaiming your belonging in the sea after experiencing fear, injury, or birth...our team is trained and ready to meet you were you are at. We uphold the highest standards of psychological and physical safety providing 1:1 support in the sea from our trained team.
Sarah Fisher LMFT: has been facilitating Groundswell Surf Therapy programs for 4 years. This is one of her favorite offerings of the year as it combines art, community, connection, somatic movement, and ocean play as a tool for learning to surf and reclaiming your relationship with your body.
Arielle Katz AMFT: Ari is a life long surfer and water woman. Growing up in Baja California, Mexico, the ocean has always created a sense of home for her and she looks forward to combining her skills as a high level surf coach along with her passion for healing to support you in finding home in mother ocean as well.
Is this for me?
This 8 week program welcomes all femm and non-bionary folx looking to tap into the art & medicine of surfing. Over the 8 weeks we will heal and deepen our relationship with the ocean’s body and our bodies through somatic ocean based community practices. Our goal is that at the end of the 8 weeks you not only have a surf practice rooted in supporting your mental health but also a community to keep surfing with!
Cost
Sliding Scale: $1200-700
We also accept insurance: Aetna, UHC/Optum, CIGNA/Evernorth
*If we are outside of your network we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement
Cost includes: surf board, wetsuit, art materials, surf journal, 8 weeks of Surf Therapy group + a lifelong surf practice and community to continue enjoying life’s waves with
“I gained much more than grounding skills and a surfing experience. I was in crisis when I began the program and I gained a valuable support system with my surf sisters. My previous fear of the ocean is now a fond admiration of Mother ocean. I knew I could come as broken as I often was and would leave healed I treasure the bonds and hold each surf sister in my heart Now my son is excited for both of us to go out and surf!” Thankyou Groundswell!”
- Surf Therapy program participant 2019