Surf therapy is emerging as a powerful approach to support mental health and emotional well-being. Structured surf therapy programs and adaptive surf therapy are turning the ocean—and now wave pools—into healing spaces. The consistency and accessibility of artificial waves allow mental health surf therapy to reach inland communities through safe, repeatable sessions.
In particular, surfing for PTSD has shown measurable benefits for veterans and trauma survivors. WavePoolMag has chronicled this evolution, showcasing how wave technology is breaking geographic and physical barriers to bring healing through surf. As science and community advocacy align, the future of surf therapy — particularly in wave pools — looks more impactful than ever.
Surfwell Bluelight CIC runs trauma-informed surf therapy sessions for frontline workers. The Wave in Bristol and Surfwell Bluelight CIC plan to expand an evidence-based surf therapy program. The sessions will now support emergency service workers in an inland setting. A recent pilot involved Avon and Somerset Police at The Wave. It marked the first time Surfwell operated outside its coastal locations in Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset.
Surfwell says its sessions are designed specifically for the UK’s Blue Light community, aiming to address mental health concerns such as burnout, stress, and PTSD. The group plans to hold additional one-day surf therapy programs at The Wave in 2025.
Inland Expansion of Trauma-Informed Support
Surfwell was co-founded by James Mallows, a serving police officer. He said the programme was developed in response to a growing mental health crisis among frontline workers. According to the organization, more than 1,800 individuals have participated in the sessions since 2018.
“We developed the programme in 2018 in response to the national mental health crisis within UK emergency services and to date we have helped over 1,800 participants from the Emergency Services, who have been struggling with their mental health,” Mallows said.
The program applies a trauma-informed structure that combines cold-water surfing with peer-led support. Surfwell claims that the approach produces immediate and long-lasting outcomes by leveraging the neurological effects of surfing in a supportive setting.
Trial Results in Bristol
The pilot session at The Wave showed promising results, according to both Surfwell and facility representatives. Nick Hounsfield, founder of The Wave, stated that the controlled artificial environment helped mirror the program’s success at coastal sites.
“When Surfwell approached us about trialling their programme at The Wave we were excited to see if the incredible results they are achieving at the coast could be replicated at an inland setting,” said Hounsfield. “The trial worked even better than we hoped.”
The proof comes from the field. A participating officer from Avon and Somerset Police described the program as unexpectedly impactful. “I found myself telling a complete stranger about what I had been through and how it has affected my mental health — but because they had also worked in the emergency services, I felt they could really understand,” the officer said.
Organisational Feedback and Future Outlook
Morwenna Hart, Head of Organisation Development at Avon and Somerset Police, noted that proximity to the program will make it easier for staff to access mental health resources.
“Our people deal with extremely challenging and often traumatic situations day in and day out,” Hart said. “A resource like this, offering a dedicated space for recovery and reflection, while equipping individuals with useful coping mechanisms, is invaluable.”
She added that feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive,” with officers reporting improved well-being and engagement following participation in the adaptive surf therapy sessions.
Academic Evaluation Ongoing
Surfwell reports that its program is currently undergoing evaluation through two separate PhD research studies. Preliminary findings indicate similar positive outcomes to the initial proof-of-concept study conducted in 2019.
A participant in a high-risk policing role, quoted anonymously, shared: “I have been off sick since November but since taking part in Surfwell I have made plans to come back to work and I credit this experience for that.”
