Scoping Review ~ Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice

An engaging conversation addressing the process, findings, gaps, and future directions in surf therapy research from the Scoping Review Article in the Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice.

Surf Therapy defined (published April 2020): A method of intervention that combines surf instruction/surfing with individual or group activities to promote psychological, physical, and psychosocial wellbeing.

"The Scoping Review and Special Issue provide the framework to develop the evidence-base. There are all these validated measures now. It's easier for programs to adopt a standardized measure and build the evidence-base across programs." G. Sarkisian

Co-Authors: Elizabeth Benninger, Chloe Curtis, Gregor V. Sarkisian, Carly M. Rogers, Kailey Bender, & Megan Comer

Speakers

Elizabeth Benninger is a passionate community psychologist with a strong background in community mental health promotion. She completed her M.A. in Psychology with a specialization in Community Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and her doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. Trained as a community, clinical and social psychologist, her research and community practice specifically address health inequities that connect to community needs inclusive of diverse populations, including children, women, people of color, and low-income populations. She is the founding director of Muizenberg Beach Club, a non-profit organization focused on children and youth activities connected to nature, including surfing, snorkeling, hiking, and camping in Cape Town, South Africa. She is also the former Co-Director of Waves for Change and the founder of the organization's therapeutic surfing program in Cape Town.

Gregor V. Sarkisian, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Antioch University in Los Angeles. In 2015, Dr. Sarkisian began a partnership with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation that provides surf therapy to youth At-Promise, Veterans, and active-duty military service members. Gregor has served as a surf instructor with all three populations. He currently serves as the Principal Investigator on two Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved studies – one with youth At-Promise and one with Veterans. Dr. Sarkisian has also been an active member of the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO) since 2018 and has served as a program evaluation consultant, collaborator, and coalition builder. Between 2018 and 2020, Gregor was the lead guest editor in publishing the first of its kind Special Focus Issue on Surf Therapy Around the Globe in the Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice.

Chloe Curtis is the Research & Evaluation Team Coordinator for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation. She earned her B.A. in Marketing and M.A. in Education from Loyola Marymount University. She is now working on her second master's in Mental Health Counseling at Loyola Marymount while coaching the Division I men's and women's Cross Country and Track teams. Ultimately, Chloe plans to earn a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology. Chloe discovered surf therapy by volunteering as a surf instructor with JMMF for the first time in 2017. Since then, she has assisted Dr. Gregor Sarkisian with everything from data collection to reporting and writing for the foundation, which serves youth at-promise, veterans, and active-duty military service members.

*Introduction by
Kris Primacio, Director of the International Surf Therapy Organization