ABOUT US
Our Mission
We aim to create safer, braver, and more inclusive spaces for individuals and communities around the globe to reclaim their healing, power, and belonging through Mother Ocean’s Waves.
who we are & What we do
Groundswell Community Project is the first organization to provide accredited training in trauma informed surf therapy modalities and curriculums supporting both clinicians, surf coaches, and water folx to have the mental health tools, curriculums, research, and support to increase access to research-based trauma informed surf therapy. We have served over 3000 individuals and their communities from over 15 countries and states since our birth in 2016. Read more about what we’ve been up to over the years through our annual impact report!
With our home roots in San Diego, California, and community partnerships that extend across the globe, we strive to break down barriers and build up communities and leaders that celebrate the intersection between mental health and ocean health.
Click here to learn more about Groundswell Surf Therapy™
meet Our Team
Natalie Small (she/her)
Founder & Clinical Supervisor
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #92747
Lauren King (she/her)
Non-profit Professional Volunteer
Rumi
Groundswell Office Support
Mo Mata (she/her)
Office Director
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT #129544)
Groundswell Clinicians
Supervised by Natalie Small, LMFT #92747
Sarah Fisher (she/her)
Surf Therapy Facilitator, North County San Diego
AMFT #130320
Meg Martin (She/her)
Surf Therapy Facilitator, San Diego
LPCC Track
Emily Ruth (she/her)
Surf Therapy Facilitator, San Diego
AMFT #136807
Holly Beck (she/her)
Surf Therapy Facilitator
LPCC Track
Mo Mata (she/her)
Surf Therapy Facilitator, San Diego
AMFT #129544
Surf Therapy Interns
Supervised by Natalie Small LMFT #92747
Sierra Brasher Nichols
Surf Therapy Intern, San Diego
Lauren Carter
Surf Therapy Intern, San Diego
Katie Schaible (she/her)
Surf Therapy Intern, San Diego
Whitney Dickey
Surf Therapy Intern, San Diego
Kay Saffe
Surf Therapy Intern San Diego
APCC #7076
Becka Schwartz
Surf Therapy Intern, San Diego
ASW #112925
Board of directors
Jenn Beening
Board President
Jenn, a lifelong nature enthusiast and wildlife advocate, currently works in Marketing for a climate tech venture firm, focused on investing in solutions to address the planet’s climate crisis. She previously worked at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where she managed social media programs, crafting impactful narratives to inspire global conservation efforts. Jenn holds a B.A. in Sociology and English from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an M.A. in Biology with a focus on Environmental Stewardship and Community-Based Conservation from Miami University of Ohio. She also serves on the board of Wildlife Madagascar, a non-profit dedicated to protecting wildlife, habitats, and communities. Jenn began her journey with Groundswell as a participant in the surf therapy program in 2023.
Amanda Silber
Board Advisory
Mariam Morris
Board Treasurer
Miriam has volunteered her time with community surf orgs in NYC (Stoked), SF Bay Area (Brown Girl Surf / Salted Roots), and San Diego (Un Mar de Colores). She was also a surf therapy volunteer with Groundswell in 2021. Her day job is in operations strategy for food brands, and she delights in communing with Mama O at dawn every day she can.
Chelsea Almario
Board Secretary
With experience in Advertising and Public Relations, and Business development, Chelsea works as a San Diego Real estate Agent and Advisor. She began her journey with Groundswell as a Surf Therapy volunteer in 2018, and Surf Safety Facilitator in 2019 prior to sitting on the board.
David Postolski
Board Member
David Postolski, a senior partner at Gearhart Law, is a registered patent attorney and Intellectual property (IP) attorney. David specializes in assisting inventors, creators, artists, start-ups, entrepreneurs, early-stage companies, and emerging companies with their U.S and international IP strategy, protection, enforcement, and monetization. David became a board member in 2023.
Interested in becoming a board member?
Honoring Groundswell’s Lineage
Staff:
Natalie Small (founder, ED)
Madison Elick (office manager)
Lara Burros (Programs manager)
Leah Austin (La/OC programs manager)
Kelsey Ellis (Bay Area Programs manager)
Jules Jackson: Operations manager
Mo Mata: Office manager and Executive Assistant
Nathalia Castillo (Executive Assistant and Operations Consultant)
Meg Martin: Community Outreach Partner Manager
Social Media contractors:
Viv Kaizer
Carla Borella
Suzanne Samadzade
Luz Arias
Organizations that supported the birth of Groundswell:
Shakti Rising
First Aid Arts
Generate Hope
Exxpedition
Founding board members:
Troy Marcikic (2016)
Tamzin Hector (2016)
Rachelle LaBelle (2016)
Teri Heidman (2018)
Katie Floyd (2018)
Dana nielsen (2019)
Rachel Maruico (2020)
Elsa River (2021)
Luz Alejos (2020)
Marina Varano (2018)
Bri Redfield (2021-23)
Non-Profit Interns:
Jenn Lacey
Madison Elick
Natalie Tasca
Danny Garza
Evelyn Ramos Lopez
Lauren King
Our Sponsors
Click here to learn more about our Partners and Sponsors!
Visit our Blog to learn more about our work worldwide, and follow us on Social Media to stay up to date on all things Groundswell.