Groundswell Celebrates 7 years of regineration
See Newsletter version here: https://mailchi.mp/groundswellcommunity/jc3rj0iaf3
As Groundswell celebrates the completion of its 7th revolution around the sun we look to nature as our constant teacher, mentor and guide. Every 7 years our cellular being completely regenerates, there are 7 colors in the rainbow, every 7 years el nino comes to wash away and reset. Honoring these cycles of seasons, death and rebirth is essential to being in alignment and flow with nature. 7 years ago when Groundswell was first birthed into the non-profit container, it was a very different world. Surf Therapy was in its very beginning phases of development with only a handful of orgs around the globe. Now thanks to the inspiration, calling, and support of the community, Groundswell has been able to:
welcome over 3,000 self-identifying women and their families to reclaim their healing, power, and belonging in the waves through our research based, trauma-informed surf therapy model.
support the birth and development of branches and programs following the Groundswell Surf Therapy TM model and curriculum in 10 countries and 6 states serving a diversity of communities in age, gender, race, culture, trauma experiences, and abilities.
As the interest, desire, and need for surf therapy grew globally, Groundswell became the very first organization in the world accredited by a psychology association (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy) to provide Surf Therapy trainings, allowing both licensed clinicians and students to receive continuing education units towards their credentials as well as supporting surfers, surf schools, healers, and community change makers to receive training, mentorship, supervision, and community support in accessing surf therapy for themselves and their communities. Our trainings have been accessed by over 300 individuals and 30 organizations and provided 20 therapy interns and associates the opportunity to get training and practice in the Groundswell Surf Therapy TM model and curriculum as part of their masters program and licensing process. Groundswell has also been part of 4 research projects looking at the impact of our unique trauma informed curriculum on resilience, emotional regulation, self awareness, interpersonal skills, depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress, body relationship, gratitude, and chronic pain. Stay tuned for our soon released 7 year Impact report to see the full journey of Groundswell Community Project over the years and what the next 7 can have in store!
When Groundswell was first birthed in 2016, we never could have imagined that all of this was possible! All of this was birthed by the community and inspired by nature. As we look towards the next 7 years we continue to look and listen to community and nature for how to move into this next 7 year season with intention, sustainability, reciprocity, and stoke.
To welcome in the rebirth of Groundswell’s mission and vision into this new time, world, and waves we are all navigating, Groundswell is holding a year-long “maternity leave” in 2024 to winter, to pause and to nourish Groundswell’s soil so we can intentionally plant the new garden of fruits and flowers that will best support the intersection of women health, mental health, and ocean health through the modality of surf therapy.
What does a year long maternity leave look like for groundswell?
Coming Back to Our Roots
To be financially responsible and sustainable during the maternity leave we are reducing our operations staff from a team of 3 part time employees to one 10 hour a week office position to support the weekly basic functioning of operations so in 2025 we can rebirth into a clean and cared for home. The deeper nourishment, sustenance, dreaming and re-birthing will be held by the Groundswell board (meet the board) and the launching a doula circle of volunteer community members, leaders, professionals, and stoker. Groundswell was founded and developed by 100% volunteer support for its first 3 years and we are excited to come back to these grass roots to allow the community to breathe into the future vision and mission of groundswell. If you are interested in joining the doula circle to support groundswell in tangible and radical ways please click the link to fill out the application form.
Join the Groundswell Doula Circle
A Year of Wintering
Groundswell has been in full spring and summer seasons the last 7 years and it is time to soak in the essential need for winter, to go inward to rest, reflect, and refuel. This will look like a simplifying of our outward community offerings for 1 year so we can refocus and hone in on what is most important for Groundswell to be doing and how to do it most sustainably and abundantly. While this is happening we want to make sure that the community is still supported. Our offerings for the community during maternity leave will include:
Launching the Groundswell Clinic which will allow our trained and supervised surf therapy associate team to provide 1:1 Groundswell rooted talk therapy and surf therapy as well as surf therapy programs and trainings for private groups, families, and orgs.
Creating access to Groundswell’s recorded workshops and trainings from over the years that include mental health tools and practices, inspiration and wisdom from leaders in their field, and training in Groundswell’s trauma informed model so individuals, facilitators, orgs, and communities can access these workshops at their own convenience.
Launching our provider resource page highlighting all the clinics, orgs, and clinicians that have completed Groundswell trauma-informed trainings over the years so community members can locate and connect with trauma-informed surf therapy spaces and offerings near them.
Groundswell Community Project was born 7 years ago because 8 women survivors of trafficking felt the call of the sea and asked for support to reclaim their healing, power and belonging through surfing mother oceans waves together. All that has blossomed from that moment is thanks to the community, you! Thank you for saying yes to the call in your own mind, body, and heart to seek your own healing journey and thus providing intergenerational healing, community healing and sea healing through your support of groundswell over the years. Groundswell was born from community and will be re-birthed through community, that is you! We have created this feedback & dreams form welcoming you to share with us your feedback, experience, input, struggles, stoke, and dreams for you, your community, and Groundswell. We are honored and excited to be in these waves with you and can not wait to see what the next 7 year cycle has in store.