Improving Mental Wellbeing
Through the Power of the Ocean
About Ocean Therapy
Ocean Therapy is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company established in 2019 and based in Swansea and the Gower, South Wales. We support individuals facing mental health and life challenges through structured, supported surf-based programmes.
Our mission is to make surf therapy accessible to men, women, and young people experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and low wellbeing. We combine surf therapy with outdoor therapy, blue health coaching, and cold-water experiences to support both mental and physical health.
We work in partnership with healthcare professionals, support agencies, local communities, volunteers, and the surf community to create safe, supportive, and empowering experiences in and around the ocean.
We are proud to be working towards full membership with the International Surf Therapy Organisation (ISTO), aligning our programmes with recognised international standards.
Through connection with the sea, movement, and community, we help people build resilience, confidence, and a renewed sense of wellbeing.
Our Approach
At Ocean Therapy, we believe that the ocean is one of nature's most powerful therapeutic spaces. Our holistic approach combines the physical and mental health benefits of being by the sea with structured learning opportunities, creating an environment where people can thrive both personally and academically.
Our programmes are designed around the understanding that surfing and outdoor education, particularly in coastal environments, can significantly improve mental health, build resilience, and develop practical life skills. Through hands-on experiences, mindful practices, and environmental stewardship, our surfers discover their potential while working towards meaningful qualifications.
How We Make a Difference
Surf & Ocean PROGRAMMES
We offer a range of ocean-based programmes, including surf therapy sessions, beach school experiences, blue health coaching and outdoor therapeutic activities. Our structured sessions use the sea and coastline as a supportive environment to build confidence, resilience, life skills and emotional wellbeing.
Programmes are delivered in partnership with professionals, support organisations and the local surf community, with options for individuals and groups.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Surfing and ocean-based activity are widely recognised for their positive impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. Time in the sea combines physical exercise, fresh air and natural sensory input, which can help reduce stress, improve mood and build resilience.
Surf training also supports balance, strength and body awareness, while learning new skills in the water can increase confidence and focus. Together, these benefits make surf training a powerful foundation for both mental and physical wellbeing.
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
One of the most inspiring things about ocean therapy in Swansea is the community spirit behind it. Organisations like Surf Therapy CIC are dedicated to expanding access to these healing experiences. They believe everyone deserves the chance to benefit from the ocean’s power, regardless of their background or financial situation.
By participating in ocean therapy, we’re not just helping ourselves - we’re also supporting a movement that promotes mental health awareness and inclusivity.
How You Can Make a Difference
VOLUNTEER
Our surf therapy programme is supported by an incredible network of volunteers and surf professionals who give their time, energy and skills to help others benefit from the sea.
As well as our structured surf therapy courses, participants are welcome to attend our weekly surf club sessions, where continued support, connection and confidence-building take place in a relaxed environment.
We work closely with local communities, businesses and volunteers to make these opportunities accessible — and we always welcome people who want to contribute their time or expertise.
MAKE A DONATION
Surf Therapy is funded through the generosity of our supporters and partners. All sessions are provided free of charge to participants, and donations help us reach more people who can benefit from the programme.
Your support helps fund equipment, safety resources, coaching time and weekly surf club sessions — allowing us to continue delivering high-quality surf therapy experiences.
We also welcome donations of suitable surf equipment and related gear that can be used within our sessions.
Every contribution, large or small, makes a meaningful difference.
The Team
Phil Owen
Phil Owen, the founder and a director of Surf Therapy CIC has been surfing since 1983. Phil is a qualified teacher, ISA qualified Surf and SUP coach, as well as a certified Blue Health Coach, EMDR practitioner and Substance Misuse counsellor.
Phil is passionate about using surfing as a therapy to work with adults suffering from mental ill-health, as well as introducing people to the benefits of Blue Health and the healing power of the sea and the ocean.
Jamie Andrews
Jamie Andrews is the owner of Progress Surf School, based on the Gower in South Wales. With many years of surfing experience across a wide range of coastal environments around the world, Jamie brings deep practical knowledge and a calm, supportive coaching style to his work.
As an experienced surf coach, Jamie is passionate about helping people of all abilities build confidence, skills and enjoyment in the water. He and the Progress Surf School team have supported the Surf Therapy programme since its early stages, providing coaching expertise, local knowledge and ongoing practical support for participants and sessions.
Brett Gillett
Brett is an experienced surf coach with over 20 years of coaching experience, working with surfers of all ages and ability levels. Known for his positive energy and encouraging approach, he creates a supportive environment that helps participants feel safe, motivated and confident in the water.
Brett is both a lead coach and a dedicated volunteer within the programme, bringing reliability, enthusiasm and strong mentoring skills to every session. His passion for surfing and helping others makes him a valued part of the Ocean Therapy coaching team.
Our Ambassadors
Gary Stringer
Gary Stringer is the lead singer of the rock band Reef and a long-time supporter of the surf and coastal community. As a keen surfer himself, Gary has a strong personal connection to the ocean and the positive impact it can have on mental health and wellbeing.
He serves as an ambassador and supporter of the Surf Therapy programme, helping raise awareness of the work being done and the difference ocean-based therapy can make in people’s lives. His involvement brings encouragement, visibility and advocacy to the project, supporting its mission to make surf therapy accessible to those who can benefit most.
Jack Bessant
Jack Bessant is the bass player for the multi-award-winning rock band Reef and has spent decades performing and recording internationally. Alongside his music career, he is a keen surfer with a strong connection to the ocean and coastal life.
Jack is an ambassador and active supporter of the Surf Therapy programme, helping to champion the value of surf and ocean-based activity for mental health and wellbeing. Through his support, he helps raise awareness of the programme’s work and encourages wider community engagement, highlighting how time in the sea, movement and shared experience can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Carwyn Williams
Welsh surfer Carwyn Williams, born in Mumbles in 1965, exemplifies the transformative power of surf therapy through his remarkable journey of resilience and recovery.
Rising to global prominence in the 1980s as a professional surfer, Williams faced his greatest challenge when a devastating car crash threatened to end both his career and mobility. However, through extraordinary strength of mind and determination, he not only learned to walk again but returned to the waves to compete at the highest level. Featured in the BBC Wales documentary "Legends of Welsh Sport," Williams' story demonstrates how surfing became more than just a sport—it was his pathway to physical and mental healing, proving that the ocean's therapeutic power can help individuals overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and reclaim their lives.
