El Salvador Reflections: Circles, Surf, and Sisterhood
By Arielle Katz, Groundswell Surf Therapy Facilitator
El Salvador has quickly become one of my favorite places in the world. I’ve been lucky enough to travel there a handful of times, and each visit feels like coming home to something familiar and alive — the rhythm of the waves, the smell of pupusas cooking on the street, the green hills meeting the ocean, and the kindness of the people who live there.
A few months ago, while doing volunteer work with an organization called Hijas del Mar, I met a woman who instantly felt like a kindred spirit — Cecilia Santos. She was lit up about the connection between surfing, therapy, and the healing power of the ocean. We ended up talking for hours, sharing stories about our work, and dreaming about how surf, community, and mental health could come together to support women in her community. By the end of that trip, we’d exchanged numbers and promised to stay in touch.
Fast-forward a few months, and our little dream started to take shape. Over countless texts and video calls, Ceci and I began imagining what a women’s circle in El Salvador could look like — something rooted in healing, community, and accessibility. I felt so grateful for her perspective and deep understanding of what would truly support the women of Playa El Zonte.
Planting the Seeds of a Shared Vision
Ceci had already been nurturing a beautiful project called Mar de Sueños (“Sea of Dreams”). After completing the Groundswell Surf Therapy for Trauma Recovery training, her vision was to create safe spaces for both group and individual therapy — places where women and adolescents could find connection, healing, and a sense of belonging. Her dream has always been to make mental health care as normalized and valued as physical health, especially within vulnerable communities.
Gathering in Playa El Zonte
Because it was the rainy season, our circle took place in a bright and welcoming community center in Playa El Zonte. We filled the space with art supplies, journals, snacks, and warmth. Slowly, women began to arrive — some bringing their daughters, granddaughters, and mothers-in-law. The energy felt intimate and alive, generations of women coming together to share stories and simply be.
During our circle, Ceci gently led a conversation around mental health, trauma, and the stigmas that can exist within the community. She invited the women to share their thoughts and beliefs, opening space for reflection and collective deconstruction of old narratives. It was powerful to witness — each voice adding truth and depth to the conversation.
I supported Ceci’s facilitation by offering tools and resources the women could add to their own “quiver” — grounding exercises, community-based connections, and simple practices to bring more regulation and presence into daily life. The exchange felt organic and collaborative, a true weaving of wisdom between cultures and generations.
Holding space alongside Ceci was such a gift. Watching her facilitate with so much compassion, openness, and strength reminded me how powerful it is when women come together in authenticity. The women arrived with open hearts, ready to share pieces of their lives, their joys, and their pain. It was tender, raw, and so deeply human.
As Ceci later reflected, this work grew first from her own healing:
“The need for looking for mental health resources started with me, after noticing all my emotions and unresolved trauma. After starting my own journey I couldn’t help but notice the great need for mental health education and therapy in my own community.”
Earlier this year, she completed her first IFS certification, a milestone that gave her the confidence and tools to accompany others — and naturally, her first choice was to support women.
But getting started was the hardest part.
“Thanks to having met Arielle and also getting a scholarship for a Groundswell workshop, both my mental and emotional gas-tank filled up, and the very first Mental Health Talk was held here in El Zonte in mid October. Big big thanks to Arielle and Groundswell for sponsoring the snacks and material for the event. You helped with the most important and challenging step one can take: the first one.”
Ceci also shared that she donates her time to both group and individual therapy sessions, and that one of the most helpful ways people can support Mar de Sueños is by contributing snacks and materials for the women’s circles. She also noted that support for continued education and training in surf-therapy–related activities would help keep the momentum and healing work moving forward.
I left that day feeling profoundly grateful — for the ocean that brought us together, for the friendships forming across borders, and for the reminder that healing is always more powerful when it’s shared.
