Surf Therapy in San Diego
Surf therapy is a somatic, trauma-focused modality offered to clients in our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Element Q Healing Center. Element Q offers surf therapy in partnership with Groundswell Surf Therapy, a trauma-informed program co-facilitated by mental health professionals and certified surf safety instructors. Element Q clinical staff are also on-site at every session to support clients through difficult moments and provide continuity with the rest of their treatment.
Trauma often lives in the body long after the mind has tried to move on. For many LGBTQIA+ individuals, that includes the weight of minority stress, identity-based harm, and disconnection from the body itself. Surf therapy creates a structured space to begin reconnecting, guided by somatic and body-based healing practices that work alongside the rest of your treatment.
Who Surf Therapy Helps
Surf therapy can support clients navigating a wide range of experiences, including:
- Trauma stored in the nervous system, including PTSD and complex trauma
- Anxiety, depression, and persistent emotional overwhelm
- Substance use recovery and dual diagnosis
- Dissociation and feeling disconnected from the body
- Minority stress, identity-based harm, and healthcare trauma
- Body image concerns and gender dysphoria
No prior surf experience is required. Clients of all bodies, skill levels, and comfort levels in the water are welcome.
What to Expect In A Surf Therapy a Session
Sessions are held at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego. Wetsuits and boards are provided. You’ll be welcomed by Groundswell facilitators in green shirts and straw hats, alongside Element Q clinical staff who attend every session.
Approximately two-thirds of each session is land-based, and one-third is water-based. Water participation is always optional and consent-based. If you choose not to enter the water, you are fully supported on land, and Element Q staff are there to be with you through any moment that feels hard.
A typical session may include:
- Arrival and a grounding circle
- Somatic, mindfulness, and breathwork practices
- Ocean education and surf safety skills
- Optional supported water time with 1-to-1 or small-group guidance
- Reflection, journaling, and a closing circle
If surf therapy is part of your treatment, your clinical team can help you understand what to bring and how to prepare.
How Surf Therapy Fits Into PHP and IOP at Element Q
Surf therapy is integrated into Element Q’s PHP and IOP programming. It is not a standalone enrollment or a separate track. It works alongside individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric care, and other somatic modalities offered as part of treatment.
Continuity of care is built in. Element Q clinical staff attend each session, coordinate directly with Groundswell facilitators, and bring back into your individual and group work whatever surfaces during surf therapy. Every Groundswell facilitator holds trauma-informed training along with first aid, CPR, and/or water safety certifications.
What Makes This Approach Different
Element Q is a trauma-focused outpatient mental health and substance use treatment center built by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. Every therapist and case manager is a member of the community, bringing lived experience and advanced clinical training to their work.
Surf therapy reflects how Element Q approaches care more broadly: treatment that addresses the body, not just the mind, and that honors the realities of the people we serve. The partnership with Groundswell, a program rooted in decades of clinical experience and global research on surf therapy, means clients receive something that very few outpatient programs in San Diego offer: structured, evidence-informed somatic healing in the ocean, supported by a clinical team that knows them.
Insurance and Paying for Treatment
Surf therapy is offered as part of PHP and IOP at Element Q. Element Q accepts most major insurance plans, and our admissions team can verify your benefits and walk you through what coverage looks like before you start.
Connect With Element Q
If you’re exploring identity-affirming outpatient care and want to learn whether surf therapy could be part of your treatment, our team is here whenever you’re ready.
Call 858-422-1860 to talk with our admissions team about PHP and IOP at Element Q Healing Center.
“Inclusive and identity-based healthcare is a right, not a privilege.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is surf therapy, and how does it work?
Surf therapy is a trauma-focused, somatic healing modality that combines mental health support, surf instruction, and time in the ocean. Sessions are co-facilitated by a mental health professional and a surf safety instructor. The structure helps regulate the nervous system, build connections to the body, and offer a different kind of space for healing than traditional talk therapy alone.
Is surf therapy covered by insurance in San Diego?
Surf therapy at Element Q is part of PHP and IOP programming, both of which are typically covered by most major insurance plans. Our admissions team can verify your benefits and explain your specific coverage before you begin.
Do I need to know how to surf to participate?
No. Surf therapy is open to clients of all skill levels, including those who have never surfed or never been in the ocean. Wetsuits and boards are provided, and facilitators meet you exactly where you are.
How does surf therapy help with trauma and PTSD?
Trauma often stays in the body, affecting the nervous system long after an event. Surf therapy uses somatic, body-based practices like grounding, breathwork, ocean immersion, and co-regulation in nature to support nervous system regulation and reconnection to the body, which is often disrupted by trauma.
Do I have to go in the water?
No. Approximately two-thirds of each session is land-based, and participation in the water is always optional and consent-based. If you choose not to enter the water, you’ll be fully supported on land by both Groundswell facilitators and Element Q clinical staff.
Let's Connect
At Element Q Healing Center, we’re committed to providing affirming and accessible care for the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether you’re seeking treatment for yourself or supporting a loved one, we’re here to guide you through the process with compassion and understanding.
Our team is ready to answer your questions about our programs, insurance coverage, or how to get started. Your journey toward healing and empowerment begins with reaching out.
Contact Us
Contact Details
Element Q Healing Center creates space for growth, connection, and renewal through identity-affirming and trauma-focused care. Our team of LGBTQIA+ practitioners understands your unique needs and is dedicated to supporting your wellness journey.
Call Us
(858) 422-1860
Email address
info@elementqhealingcenter.com
Location
3750 Convoy St # 310,San Diego, CA 92111