Holistic Surf Coaching
What to expect:
Each 2 hour small group session will focus on mental health topics (like fear, belonging, self expression & discovery, trauma healing, inner critique, emotional regulation, relationships, grief, body relationship, and motherhood) while combining them with the powerful metaphors, life skills, and tools of surfing. This program is intentionally created for those who already have a surf practice and are looking to deepen it through a holistic mind-body approach to their surfing. You can attend single sessions or sign up for all 4. Each session will include about 1 hour on the sand in circle exploring the session topic through art, somatic and community engagement. Followed by time in the sea together putting to practice what we learned.
Dates & Topics
May 29 @ 6pm Tourmaline surf beach, Pacific Beach: Creating your Blue Mind Surf Practice
June 25 @ 6pm San Elijo State Beach: Let your breath guide you
July 17 @ 6pm Scripps, La Jolla: Overcoming fears
July 30 @ 6pm Tourmaline surf beach, Pacific Beach: You belong! (Navigating the line up)
Who are the Holistic Surf Coaching Groups for?
Those who already have a surf practice and are looking to expand their skills, wisdom, and relationship to mother ocean, community, and self. Holistic Surf Coach clients have their own surf gear and feel comfortable paddling out past the white water.
Your Facilitator Team
Our facilitator team is made up of licensed mental health professionals, surf coaches and trauma informed and trained surf supporters. 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.
Natalie Small LMFT is your lead facilitator for the Holistic Surf Coaching sessions. She co-created the curriculums with Holly Beck of Surf With Amigas. Her training and expertise is in Expressive Arts therapy Trauma Informed Somatic Therapy and is the author of Groundswell Surf TherapyTM. She grew up sailing and wave womping on the east coast and after moving to California in elementary school, surfing helped her find a sense of home in the Pacific Ocean. She has been working as a professional surf coach, therapist, and providing surf therapy for women and their families around the world for over 15 years and looks forward to time in circle and in the sea with you.
Can’t attend the San Diego Holistic Surf Coaching sessions? Join Natalie in Costa Rica for the Surf With Amigas Holistic Surf Coaching Retreats!
About Groundswell Surf TherapyTM
Groundswell’s Surf Therapy™ model is rooted in trauma-informed art therapy, somatic therapy, ecotherapy, feminist therapy theory, positive psychology, and play therapy with Mother Ocean as our main mentor, guide, and co-facilitator. Going to the ocean for healing has been practiced by our ancestors around the globe for centuries and Groundswell was birthed to help us remember and honor these ancient roots and build a bridge between Western and Eastern healing practices and ways of being.
Cost
Sliding Scale: $150-$60/session. Sign up for 1 or all of them!
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 journal, art materials, Holistic Surf Coaching, somatic and art based mental health tools + a lifelong ocean 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