Can Surfing Be Beneficial for Recovery From PTSD?

Surfing can be beneficial for recovery from PTSD for some people, especially when it is offered as part of a structured, trauma-informed “surf therapy” program that includes clinical support, safety planning, and intentional skills practice.

 It is not a replacement for evidence-based PTSD treatments like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), or EMDR. Instead, it can be a meaningful adjunct that supports nervous system regulation, mood, sleep, confidence, and social connection.

PTSD often involves a nervous system that stays on high alert even after danger has passed. In this article, WellBeing Magazine reviews how surfing places the body in a sensory-rich environment that encourages focused attention, controlled breathing, repetition, and present-moment engagement. When the experience is guided well and matched to someone’s readiness, it can complement psychotherapy by helping people practice calm, choice, and self-trust in real time.

PTSD Recovery Is Not Only Cognitive, but It Is Physiological

PTSD is commonly described in terms of intrusive memories, avoidance, negative shifts in mood and thinking, and changes in arousal such as hypervigilance, irritability, and sleep disruption. Many people with PTSD also experience somatic symptoms: a tight chest, tension, stomach distress, and a baseline feeling of being unsafe in the body.

This matters because recovery is not only about understanding what happened. It is also about retraining the nervous system to recognize safety cues, tolerating sensations without escalating, and building the ability to return to baseline after stress. Trauma-informed, body-based experiences can reinforce what is learned in therapy, particularly for people who feel that talk therapy alone does not fully address the “stuck” feeling in the body.

What Surf Therapy Is and What It’s Not

Surf therapy is not simply recreational surfing. In more formal settings, it combines surf instruction and time in the ocean with a structured approach designed to support psychological and social well-being.

Strong programs typically share these features:

Trauma-Informed Structure and Choice

Participants are given clear expectations, predictable routines, and the ability to opt out without shame. Consent, pacing, and personal boundaries are treated as part of the therapeutic process.

Skilled Water Safety and Instruction

Programs prioritize safe surf conditions, lifeguard presence or equivalent safety staffing, and instructors trained to meet beginners where they are.

Clinical Integration

The highest-quality models integrate mental health professionals into goal-setting, debriefs, and the broader treatment plan, rather than treating surfing as the entire intervention.

How Surfing May Support PTSD Recovery

The therapeutic benefits of surfing are often best understood through practical mechanisms rather than hype. For many participants, the ocean creates a real-world setting to practice regulation, confidence, and connection.

Present-Moment Focus Without Forced Stillness

For some people with PTSD, stillness can feel unsafe. Surfing offers an anchoring focus that does not require sitting quietly with internal sensations. Balance, timing, and wave awareness pull attention into the present in a natural way.

Breath, Rhythm, and Downshifting

Paddling and repeated reset moments after waves can encourage steady breathing and “return to baseline” practice. Many trauma-informed therapies teach skills like grounding and controlled breathing. Surf sessions can become a practical place to use those skills.

Mastery, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Trust

PTSD can shrink a person’s world and reduce confidence. Surfing offers small, trackable wins: entering the water, paddling, standing briefly, or simply staying engaged when things feel hard. These are not about athletic achievement. They are about rebuilding trust in oneself.

Supported Tolerance of Uncertainty

The ocean is unpredictable, but it can be approached in controlled conditions. When surf therapy is paced appropriately, it can resemble a gentle form of exposure to uncertainty, paired with choice and support. That combination can be powerful for trauma recovery.

Connection Without Pressure to Disclose

Isolation is common with PTSD. Many surf therapy programs foster connection through shared activity rather than forcing trauma disclosure. Peer support often develops organically, which may feel safer for people who are not ready for traditional group therapy.

Holistic Benefits of Surf Therapy

People drawn to surf therapy often notice “whole-life” benefits that reach beyond symptom reduction:

Sleep, Mood, and Daily Routine

Regular activity, daylight exposure, physical exertion, and structured scheduling may support sleep quality and mood stability. Even small improvements here can make other PTSD work easier.

Body Awareness and Trigger Recognition

Surfing can strengthen interoception, the ability to notice what is happening inside the body. Over time, some people get better at detecting early signs of activation and using coping skills sooner.

Emotional Flexibility and Frustration Tolerance

Surfing includes frequent setbacks. You wipe out, reset, and try again. In a trauma-informed context, this repetition becomes a life skill: tolerating discomfort without spiraling into shame, avoidance, or self-criticism.

Identity Beyond Trauma

PTSD can make life feel defined by what happened. Surf therapy can support identity expansion, helping someone reconnect with values, capabilities, and enjoyment that are not centered on trauma.

What the Research Suggests 

Research on surf therapy is growing, and multiple studies suggest improvements in well-being, mood, connection, and PTSD-related distress in certain groups, including military and veteran populations. Still, the evidence base is developing. Many studies have small samples, short follow-up periods, and program variability.

A responsible takeaway is this: surf therapy appears promising as an adjunct for many participants, but it is not a guaranteed outcome and should not be framed as a stand-alone cure.

Who Surf Therapy May Help Most 

Surf therapy is not one-size-fits-all. It may be a strong fit for people who want a body-based way to practice regulation and who are stable enough for experiential work. Extra caution is warranted for people dealing with severe dissociation, frequent panic, or unstable medical conditions that raise water risk.

When It May Be a Good Fit

• Mild-to-moderate PTSD symptoms with some stability
  
• Strong interest in movement-based coping
  
• Difficulty connecting with purely verbal approaches
  
• Desire for community without heavy focus on disclosure
  

When It May Not Be the Right Step Yet

• Severe dissociation or panic that is not well-managed
  
• Active substance withdrawal or unstable medical concerns
  
• Uncontrolled seizures or cardiac risk
  
• Acute suicidality or self-harm urges without stabilization and support
  

The best programs screen thoughtfully, adapt intensity, and coordinate with a participant’s treatment team when appropriate.

What a Trauma-Informed Surf Therapy Program Looks Like

If you are considering surf therapy for PTSD, the quality of the program matters as much as the activity itself.

Safety and Staffing Standards

Look for conservative surf conditions, trained water safety support, and supervision designed for beginners.

Consent, Choice, and Predictability

Trauma-informed programs make pacing, opt-outs, and alternatives normal. Predictable session flow can reduce anxiety and help participants stay engaged.

Integration With PTSD-Capable Treatment

Surf therapy works best when it complements trauma-focused care, such as CPT, PE, or EMDR, and when participants have a plan for processing triggers, learning skills, and integrating progress into daily life.

Treatment Centers and Programs Offering Surf Therapy for PTSD

Surf therapy availability depends on geography, licensing requirements, and how each organization defines “therapy.” Still, people typically find legitimate options through three pathways.

Veteran and First Responder Surf Therapy Programs

Many nonprofit surf therapy groups focus on PTSD, reintegration, and community support for veterans and first responders. Some partner with researchers or publish outcomes reporting.

Trauma-Informed Community Surf Therapy Organizations

Some programs specialize in trauma recovery for specific communities, offering structured surf therapy curricula paired with peer support, skills practice, and trauma-informed facilitation.

Licensed Treatment Programs That Include Surf Therapy as an Adjunct

In one coastal area of the nation, Orange County, California, a treatment center offering surf therapy, incorporates mental health and dual-diagnosis treatment with surf therapy and other holistic programs into both its IOP and residential experiences.

A Quick Vetting Checklist

• Do they provide PTSD-capable care or coordinate with it?
  
• Do they screen for readiness and medical safety?
  
• Who is supervising in the water, and what training do they have?
  
• What happens if someone panics, dissociates, or gets triggered?
  
• Is there a structured debrief or integration process?
  

If You Do Not Have Access to Surf Therapy: A Safer Way to Start

Even without a formal program, surfing can be approached in a way that supports recovery.

Start Small and Supported

Choose beginner conditions, go with a reputable instructor, and surf at lifeguarded beaches when possible. Use a soft-top board and focus on safety, not performance.

Set an Intention Related to Regulation

Instead of aiming for a perfect wave, aim for a skill. For example, practice slow breathing after a fall or notice when your body tenses and consciously soften.

Plan for Aftercare

PTSD recovery is helped by smooth transitions. Plan for hydration, food, rest, and a calm re-entry to the day after a session.

Choosing Surf Therapy for PTSD Recovery

Surfing can be beneficial for recovery from PTSD, especially when it is offered in a trauma-informed, safety-forward program and integrated into a broader treatment plan. It can support nervous system regulation, confidence, and connection while providing a real-world place to practice coping skills. The best results tend to come from thoughtful pacing, strong clinical integration, and respect for individual readiness.

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