Lorraine Kelly
Surf therapy is catching a powerful new swell this autumn, as Resurface – the mental wellness pioneers blending neuroscience with sea spray – launch two game-changing retreats in Tamraght, Morocco. The standout? The world’s first Group EMDR Surf Therapy Retreat, running from 11–18 October, alongside a second retreat focused squarely on burnout prevention for stressed-out professionals.
These aren’t your average yoga-by-the-pool escapes. No scented candles, no green juice cleanses with guilt baked in. This is evidence-based mental health support, served with a wetsuit and a purpose.
The flagship Group EMDR Surf Therapy Retreat pairs EMDR (that’s Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing to you and me), a gold-standard trauma treatment, with daily surfing sessions, mindfulness, movement practices, and psycho-education workshops. The aim? To give past trauma a proper paddling.
“Flow science and EMDR have shown remarkable results in unlocking past wounds and helping people move forward positively,” says Resurface founder Josh Dickson, a trauma clinician who’s spent years fine-tuning his methods in both therapy rooms and surf zones. “Having worked with both individually for years, I firmly believe their combination can deliver even greater transformation.”
Participants spend their days toggling between guided emotional healing and carving Moroccan waves. There’s also downtime to wander the coastal trails or barter for spices in the sun-drenched souks of nearby Agadir – a far cry from fluorescent lighting and waiting rooms.
Not content with reinventing trauma therapy, Resurface returns to Tamraght from 15–22 November with its Resilience & Burnout Prevention Retreat. Tailored for high-functioning humans running on empty, this week-long reset swaps Zoom fatigue for the ocean’s rhythm — but if you really do need to you can always pair it with a simple travel esim for Morocco so work can’t find you unless you really want it to.
“More professionals in their late 30s to early 50s are taking what we call ‘reset sabbaticals’—intentional breaks to recover from burnout,” says Dickson. “These are not typical holidays, but time set aside to rebuild mental and physical wellbeing. In response to a 25% rise in enquiries from this group, we launched our Burnout Recovery programme earlier this year.”
The average participant is 42, seasoned in boardrooms but not afraid to face a different kind of board. Over seven days, they’re guided through surfing sessions, resilience workshops, and lifestyle strategies to help them return to work and family with renewed clarity—and maybe a tan.
Dickson founded Resurface in 2017, born from his own healing journey and years of research into “flow” – that elusive, fully-immersive mental state experienced while surfing, painting, or even throwing pottery. It’s not just a buzzword.
Studies from Harvard and the University of Sydney show that flow improves learning, boosts creativity, and enhances emotional regulation – all handy side effects when you’re knee-deep in healing work.
This knowledge underpins the Resurface Method, used across all its retreats. It blends movement, memory reconsolidation, psycho-education, and immersive experiences to push participants into a healthier, more grounded state.
An independent study even found the method consistently reduced depression and anxiety, while improving overall life satisfaction. In short, it works – and it doesn’t come in pill form.
Retreat Details:
Trauma Resolution EMDR Retreat
📍 11–18 October 2025 | Tamraght, Morocco
🌊 The world’s first group EMDR surf therapy retreat, integrating evidence-based trauma treatment with surfing, mindfulness, and movement practices.
💷 From £1,750 per person (includes meals and accommodation; flights not included)
Resilience & Burnout Prevention Retreat
📍 15–22 November 2025 | Tamraght, Morocco
🌊 Recharge and build sustainable resilience through surf therapy, group workshops, and holistic wellbeing practices.
💷 From £1,750 per person (includes meals and accommodation; flights not included)
For full details or to book your spot on the board and beyond, visit www.resurfaceuk.com.
