Surftherapy: What I learned from Ben, founder of Surfivor

When I started searching for an internship, I spent a long time trying to find something that could connect my personal interests with my studies. I’m graduating from a master’s program in Health Promotion and Behavior Change, quite a mouthful. To put it simply, it’s a branch of psychology. Suddenly, the idea of surf therapy came to mind. Does that even exist? And if so, is it something that exists in the Netherlands? I started searching the internet and eventually got in touch with Ruth, the founder of an initiative in the Dutch surf space. She connected me with Ben, the founder of Surfivor, a surf therapy organization dedicated to helping veterans and first responders with PTSD. I decided to send Ben a message because I was genuinely curious to learn more about surf therapy. What followed was an open-hearted and deeply informative conversation. Curious what surf therapy is really about? Keep reading!

Surfing is Therapy

Roos: Can you tell me where it all began?

Ben: "Of course! It's a long and intense story, but I’ll share the main parts. The idea for surf therapy came to me in 2018. I wanted to do something meaningful for fellow veterans and first responders, so I took action. I used to be a police officer, and that left a heavy mark, not just on me, but on many former colleagues and veterans. I realized traditional therapy methods weren’t really effective for most people in our position. So in 2019, I founded Surfivor. We were one of the first to start with surf therapy in the Netherlands. Now, nearly seven years later, I can see it’s really growing even here."

Roos: What an amazing initiative! Who is Surfivor for, and why?

Ben: "Surfivor is for a very specific group: veterans and first responders with PTSD. They are not the type to openly talk about mental health issues. They're trained to work without showing emotions, because feelings can become dangerous in their line of work. This causes a lot of stress to build up in the body. Without proper guidance, that can eventually lead to PTSD."

Ben: "PTSD can cause these professionals to drop out of work or become overwhelmed even before that happens. Our program is tailored for them, because only those with lived experience can truly understand their struggles. That’s why peer support is so powerful here. We've seen that the traditional mental health system often fails to connect with this group. It’s like putting a giant, tough-looking guy in charge of a teen girls’ surf camp it just doesn’t connect."

Being one with the ocean is the most powerfull thing in life

Roos: So what does surf therapy do differently to make it work for this group?

Ben: "At Surfivor, surf therapy is a structured PTSD intervention. We combine three things: traditional forms of therapy, psychoeducation, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Rehabilitation, with the proven benefits of water, nature, and physical activity, especially surfing. Each element supports healing on its own, but together they form something truly powerful."

Ben: "By doing therapy in the ocean, you remove the clinical atmosphere. Therapists get into the water with the participants, that builds real connection. Clients stop feeling like a number and start feeling truly seen. Surfing helps get people out of their heads and into their bodies. We also use breathwork to help calm the nervous system and reduce the stored stress."

Roos: What does a typical day at Surfivor look like? Can you walk me through it?

Ben: "Absolutely! It’s a seven-week program, with eight participants at a time. Every morning we start with a light check-in, just to see how everyone’s doing and who might need some extra support that day. Then we begin with breathwork to help everyone ground themselves. After that, we go into the water, all at the same time. Shared fun and play is a big part of the healing process. That shared experience creates connection beyond the therapist-client relationship, it’s about human to human."

Ben: "Many participants struggle with setting boundaries, because in their professions, they couldn’t afford to. In the water, you have to set your boundaries, otherwise it simply doesn’t work. After the surf session, we hold either one-on-one or group therapy sessions, where we can go deeper. Since trust has already been established in the water, these conversations tend to be more open and effective than traditional sessions in small clinical rooms."

Ben: "Surfivor is a safe space. It’s important that participants feel seen and heard. That’s why the program is completely free. We want to give back to the people who’ve risked their lives for the safety of our country. Without them, we wouldn’t have the life we have. But we also can’t run this program without them showing up, so we thank every person who joins us on the beach. That moment of gratitude helps them feel welcome and respected. Surfivor is about breaking the tough-guy image and creating space to talk about emotions. Because what these people have gone through isn’t just ‘tough’, it’s traumatic. Only they know the full extent of that."

Roos: What exactly is the healing power of surfing within this program?

Ben: "Surfing is a form of forced mindfulness. You simply cannot surf without being fully present. That’s why I call it 'forced mindfulness.' You have to focus on your board and the ocean, which means everything on land fades into the background. This doesn’t just apply to surfing; it applies to all water-based activities. There’s something called the Blue Mind Theory, which says that being near water automatically makes people more mindful. I’m currently working on earning the Blue Mind Curriculum so that Surfivor can expand into other forms of water therapy. Some people aren’t able to surf physically, but we still want them to have a place here. When conditions aren’t right for surfing, we can still offer meaningful therapy through water."

Ben: "Aside from the water’s healing power, the play element of surfing is essential. We’re not a surf school, our goal is to help participants rediscover joy and passion. Whether that leads them to keep surfing or find something else like crocheting or painting doesn’t matter to us. What matters is that they remember how to feel joy. That alone can be life-changing."

Roos: This is such a powerful story. Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?

Ben: "Definitely. We need more awareness and appreciation for this kind of therapy. I’m proud to say that in six years of Surfivor, we’ve had zero dropouts. That’s incredible, no other organization can say the same. When we see people arrive with their last bit of hope, and they leave with energy and a smile, that’s why I do this work. We get messages from partners saying their children finally have their father back, or they have their loved one back. These people become human again, not just a firefighter or a cop. Those are the moments I live for, and why I’ll never stop doing this."

Roos: What a moving and powerful conversation. I’m so grateful that Ben took the time to share his story. The fact that Surfivor has zero percent dropout truly gave me goosebumps. What they do is beyond words. We often forget what veterans and first responders have given for our safety, sometimes even their lives. It’s vital that initiatives like this continue to exist and get the recognition they deserve. I’m proud to share this story.

Stay stoked,@onthewayve