learn how to add surfing to your work as a helper
Are you ready to bring the healing power of the ocean into your work with clients? Whether you’re a therapist, counselor, yoga teacher, healer, or surf instructor, this self-paced online training will help you safely and ethically integrate surf therapy into your practice.
Sea Love Healing’s Surf Therapy Training combines trauma-informed principles, clear protocols, and years of experience to give you the confidence to guide clients in ocean-based sessions with professionalism and heart.
Sea Love Healing’s Surf Therapy Training combines trauma-informed principles, clear protocols, and years of experience to give you the confidence to guide clients in ocean-based sessions with professionalism and heart.
What You'll Learn
In this self-paced course, you'll gain the tools and confidence to start offering ethical, trauma-informed surf therapy sessions. The training includes:
You’ll also receive printable samples, checklists, and guided reflections to help you feel prepared and inspired.
In this self-paced course, you'll gain the tools and confidence to start offering ethical, trauma-informed surf therapy sessions. The training includes:
- Foundations of surf therapy program including paperwork, insurance, intake process, safety and surf equipment
- Clarity on Scope of Practice for helpers who are not licensed therapists (eg. coaches, fitness instructors etc)
- Create a safe and inclusive environment in the surf
- Facilitate individual and group sessions from arrival to closing
- Understand trauma’s impact on the nervous system—and how surf therapy can support healing
- Establish clear boundaries and ethics around touch, dual relationships, and professional conduct
- Guidance on documenting sessions effectively using examples of DAP, SOAP, or basic notes for non-clinicians
- Options on how to adapt activities and approaches when surf conditions aren’t ideal
- Suggestions on how to support diverse populations through humility, educating yourself and recognizing you biases
You’ll also receive printable samples, checklists, and guided reflections to help you feel prepared and inspired.
Who This Training Is For
This course is designed for a variety of helping professionals including but not limited to:
This course is designed for a variety of helping professionals including but not limited to:
- Licensed therapists, counselors, social workers and psychologists
- Other healthcare professionals like Occupational or Physical Therapists
- Pre-Licensed therapists who either have a supportive licensed supervisor or wish to provide therapeutic surfing as a life coach or other non-clinical helper
- Yoga instructors, healers, coaches, and wellness professionals
- Surf instructors with a background in supportive work
- Anyone passionate about combining surfing and healing in a thoughtful, trauma-informed way
Advanced surfing skills are not required—just a willingness to learn and a commitment to practicing ethically. Guidance on maintaining safety based on your level of surfing skill is covered in the course
What's Included
This course is designed to be approachable, practical, and packed with real-world tools to support your growth as a surf therapy facilitator. Whether you're a clinician, coach, educator, or peer support provider, you'll find guidance you can adapt to your style, values, and setting.
35 CONCISE, INFORMATIVE VIDEO LESSONS
The content is grouped into ten modules that you can move through at your own pace. Run time totals three hours and includes visual aids and motion graphics to keep it engaging and approachable for students with a variety of learning styles. Each lesson is intentionally direct and focused, so you can take in the information and return to it when you need to. Here's a look at what you'll explore in each module:
Welcome
Meet your instructor, learn about the roots of surf therapy, and reflect on your personal "why" for showing up to this work.
Setting the Foundation
Get oriented with intake forms, waivers, scope of practice, liability, and contracts. For clinicians, there's also guidance on informed consent and insurance billing.
Safety and Preparation
Learn how to choose a location, understand surf conditions, and prepare both yourself and your volunteers. Topics also include safety and surf equipment, greeting clients, trauma-informed touch, and fostering a body positive environment.
Sand Time
Explore how to open sessions on the sand, facilitate on-land warmups and activities, deliver safety talks, and adapt when surf isn’t possible. Specific curriculum provided for 1:1 and group sessions.
Time in the Water
Build confidence with a simple, supportive approach to getting beginners started in surfing. Support clients in utilizing the gifts of the ocean and surfing including mindfulness and master. Learn to how to make a surf lesson therapeutic, give surf feedback with care, and create sessions where clients feel both safe and celebrated.
Ending the Session
Learn how to close sessions with intention—whether you’re working one-on-one or in a group. We’ll cover options for closing with reflection, and building in the positive psychology recognized benefits of gratitude.
Documentation and Curriculum Development
Get examples of documentation styles for both clinicians and non-clinicians, plus support in designing a curriculum that reflects your unique strengths and intentions.
Trauma-Informed Education
Deepen your understanding of trauma, nervous system responses, and how surf therapy can support healing. We’ll also explore boundaries around things like substance use and interpersonal dynamics that, while common in recreational surf culture, can lead to ethical concerns in therapeutic spaces.
Safe, Inclusive Space for Every Surfer
This module invites self-reflection and growth in cultural humility and encourages ongoing education. We’ll explore language, intersectionality, and how to challenge surf culture norms to better support all identities.
Closing
Celebrate what you’ve learned and reflect on what’s next. This final module offers encouragement and reminders of the joy that brought you here.
27 PAGES OF PRINTABLE PDFS
Sample Intake & Consent Forms
Includes sample intake questions, waiver templates, informed consent for clinicians, and release forms for media and photography.
Session Planning Tools
Beach scouting checklist, group and individual session curriculum, and sample structures for non-surf sessions.
Documentation Support
Sample progress notes, basic session notes, and a guide to creating your own therapeutic curriculum.
Values & Inclusion Exercises
Worksheets to explore personal values, identify bias, and support a commitment to inclusivity in your sessions.
Packing & Prep Checklists
Helpful lists for facilitators and clients to make sure everyone arrives ready—mentally and physically—for a safe, meaningful day at the beach.
This course is designed to be approachable, practical, and packed with real-world tools to support your growth as a surf therapy facilitator. Whether you're a clinician, coach, educator, or peer support provider, you'll find guidance you can adapt to your style, values, and setting.
35 CONCISE, INFORMATIVE VIDEO LESSONS
The content is grouped into ten modules that you can move through at your own pace. Run time totals three hours and includes visual aids and motion graphics to keep it engaging and approachable for students with a variety of learning styles. Each lesson is intentionally direct and focused, so you can take in the information and return to it when you need to. Here's a look at what you'll explore in each module:
Welcome
Meet your instructor, learn about the roots of surf therapy, and reflect on your personal "why" for showing up to this work.
Setting the Foundation
Get oriented with intake forms, waivers, scope of practice, liability, and contracts. For clinicians, there's also guidance on informed consent and insurance billing.
Safety and Preparation
Learn how to choose a location, understand surf conditions, and prepare both yourself and your volunteers. Topics also include safety and surf equipment, greeting clients, trauma-informed touch, and fostering a body positive environment.
Sand Time
Explore how to open sessions on the sand, facilitate on-land warmups and activities, deliver safety talks, and adapt when surf isn’t possible. Specific curriculum provided for 1:1 and group sessions.
Time in the Water
Build confidence with a simple, supportive approach to getting beginners started in surfing. Support clients in utilizing the gifts of the ocean and surfing including mindfulness and master. Learn to how to make a surf lesson therapeutic, give surf feedback with care, and create sessions where clients feel both safe and celebrated.
Ending the Session
Learn how to close sessions with intention—whether you’re working one-on-one or in a group. We’ll cover options for closing with reflection, and building in the positive psychology recognized benefits of gratitude.
Documentation and Curriculum Development
Get examples of documentation styles for both clinicians and non-clinicians, plus support in designing a curriculum that reflects your unique strengths and intentions.
Trauma-Informed Education
Deepen your understanding of trauma, nervous system responses, and how surf therapy can support healing. We’ll also explore boundaries around things like substance use and interpersonal dynamics that, while common in recreational surf culture, can lead to ethical concerns in therapeutic spaces.
Safe, Inclusive Space for Every Surfer
This module invites self-reflection and growth in cultural humility and encourages ongoing education. We’ll explore language, intersectionality, and how to challenge surf culture norms to better support all identities.
Closing
Celebrate what you’ve learned and reflect on what’s next. This final module offers encouragement and reminders of the joy that brought you here.
27 PAGES OF PRINTABLE PDFS
Sample Intake & Consent Forms
Includes sample intake questions, waiver templates, informed consent for clinicians, and release forms for media and photography.
Session Planning Tools
Beach scouting checklist, group and individual session curriculum, and sample structures for non-surf sessions.
Documentation Support
Sample progress notes, basic session notes, and a guide to creating your own therapeutic curriculum.
Values & Inclusion Exercises
Worksheets to explore personal values, identify bias, and support a commitment to inclusivity in your sessions.
Packing & Prep Checklists
Helpful lists for facilitators and clients to make sure everyone arrives ready—mentally and physically—for a safe, meaningful day at the beach.
Ready to Get Started?
Enrollment is open now. Begin whenever you're ready and move through the lessons at your own pace keeping in mind that you'll have access to the course for 6 months.
Click here to view full course details and enroll
The first five students can receive 40% off using promo code earlybird40 at checkout.
Click here to view full course details and enroll
The first five students can receive 40% off using promo code earlybird40 at checkout.
Note: This training is for educational purposes and does not certify you as a licensed therapist or surf instructor. Please follow all relevant laws, certifications, and best practices in your region.
Have questions? I'm happy to connect — [email protected]
Have questions? I'm happy to connect — [email protected]
certificate of completion and website badge
All students who complete the Sea Love Healing Surf Therapy Training and pass the quiz receive a Certificate of Completion, recognizing their foundational knowledge and skills in trauma-informed surf therapy.
Graduates also have the option to display a digital badge on their website, showcasing their achievement and connection to the training.
Graduates also have the option to display a digital badge on their website, showcasing their achievement and connection to the training.
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Optional 1:1 Consultation with Jess
As you begin to integrate what you’ve learned, you may want personalized guidance for your practice, client base, or professional goals. To support you, I offer optional 1:1 consultation sessions outside of the course. These are not required for certification, but provide clarity, mentorship, and support as you move forward. Email [email protected] to discuss availability and next steps.
Consultation Options:
Consultation Options:
- Single Session – $250: One 60-minute consultation tailored to your questions or needs.
- Three Session Package – $600: Three 60-minute sessions, scheduled at your pace for ongoing guidance.