Supplemental Practicum
Surf Circle currently offers a supplemental practicum training program where graduate-level psychology trainees provide 6 hours of clinical service per month and receive 1.5 hours per month of supervision and training.
Applicants must be comfortable in the ocean and preferably have surfing experience. More importantly, applicants must have an openness to engaging in a relational group process, ready to meet our adolescents and each other in authentic reflective engagement. We work from an integrative framework with a strong emphasis on relational psychodynamic theory and a demand for location of self.
Surf Circle was founded and is run by four psychologists who learn from the dynamic chaos of the ocean and of our inter and intra psychic processes. We welcome applicants who are interested in joining us in this process.
Surf Circle is intended for a wide variety of youth. We work with individuals seeking meaningful experiences, deep connection, and increased self-awareness. Many youth who join Surf Circle struggle with depression, anxiety, social isolation, and trauma.
We work with adolescents to support their development during the transition from childhood to young adulthood—a period full of growth and experimentation. Adolescence is a period of life that pulls for engagement with risk. Our program recognizes this developmental task, and we work with youth as they learn to engage with taking risks in a thoughtful and intentional way in the water.
We believe surfing is an empowering, humbling, and challenging practice that mirrors some of the most joyful and difficult experiences in life. Each of us have turned to surfing as a resource in our personal lives and have found deep meaning in our relationship to the ocean.
Practicum trainees will provide services that include both surf lessons in the ocean and co-facilitation of a process group on land. We meet from 9:30-4:30 with a 30-minute break one Sunday a month, usually at Linda Mar beach in Pacifica, CA. Supervision and training occurs one Friday morning per month from 9:30-11:00. We have a daylong orientation to our program in August and our training year ends in May. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis between March 1st and April 30th.
Applications should include a cover letter, CV, and three letters of recommendation. In your cover letter, we seek to learn about your interest in the program, your experiences working with groups and/or adolescents, your surfing experience and skill level, and the theoretical framework(s) that support your work. Please submit materials and any questions to info@surfcircle.org
Surf Therapy Trainings
Surf Circle staff have also taught continuing education (CE) seminars focused on the power of surf therapy to our esteemed professional community. We have had the privilege of guest lecturing at multiple educational institutions and professional groups.
Surf Circle Consultation Services
We also provide ongoing consultation to individuals and programs who are looking to develop or grow therapeutic programs that utilize the power of engagement with the natural world.
Please contact us at info@surfcircle.org to inquire regarding opportunities for training or consultation for your organization or institution.