Surf therapy weekend + apprenticing to my desire

Lately, I’ve been trying to tend the relationship with my desire even more deeply. I'm not necessarily talking about romantic desire. I’m talking about paying extra close attention to what is pulling me and to my intuition.

This is how my first surf therapy weekend this past August in Tofino, came to be. Surf therapy has always been very synchronistic for me. It started years ago when I was sitting in my friends basement one day, after having lost my job and moved in with her. I was sad. I didn’t have much work, and I didn't have any connections to the place I was living. I randomly remembered that years before, someone had told me, “surf therapy is a thing, you should look into it”. So I googled it. I read lots of websites and found Groundswell, a surf therapy organization in San Diego. They were offering a 2 month internship in Peru in 6 weeks. I signed up, packed my stuff and went to Peru for 2 months. And it was amazing!

Fast forward to this year. I’m on my way back from a visit to BC in April and on the plane, all I can think about is surf therapy programming. I’d had this thought many times, more like a download (I know, it sounds woo woo, but ask Michael Meade, thats often how guidance/gifts come). I get an idea and can write down the whole program in just a few moments. I reflected on how this idea was returning to me AGAIN, over years, and decided to finally surrender.

I felt a bit delusional. I even asked my friend, “am I just doing this to prove something?”. Surf therapy is a field that is developing and "cool", and there are offerings out there from people who don’t have the skills to hold people. I didn't want to be one of these. (My friend replied “you’re a therapist who loves surfing and is trained in surf therapy, why wouldn't you?").

So I committed. I came home, finalized the details, and put it out into the world. My intention was to surrender to what felt like an idea that was trying to come into form, through me. I’ve heard creatives and mystics talk about this- ideas don't necessarily belong to us. They want to come into the world and will visit you. If you don’t act, the idea might circle back. Or, someone else will say yes and bring it forth.

So, I did it, and it was magic. It sold out (woah!). We had the best group of caring people, who were also brave and said yes to something they were curious about. One of my favourite memories was when we sat at Cox Bay / Č̓aḥayis and got to know the ocean while the full moon rose and the sun set. We wove our intentions together, stepped into uncertainty and community, and allowed something to unfold. Some let go of grief they didn't plan to encounter, some caught their first green waves. It was a weekend full of connection, laughter, tenderness and lots of joy.

Themes and words I witnessed include: learning that it’s okay to slow down, allowing ourselves to go at our own rhythm, feeling more connected than ever, and learning that it's okay to be soft, and softness is strength. All this in three days…

For the participants I’ve spoken to since, the impacts have been lasting- new desires and insights have arisen about how they want to live their life and spend their time, feeling more able to trust, wanting to feel more aliveness… This is often what happens when we accept a journey. Things start shifting.

What a beautiful example of all that can unfold when we say YES to something that’s calling us (AND, it's not always easy… more on this next time).

Thank you to all of the incredible souls that joined FLOAT surf therapy weekend 2026, and asked for it again next year. I heard you, and we'll do it! 

If you’re interested in receiving updates about my next surf therapy weekend in Tofino in 2027 you can sign up for the waitlist on my home page. Check out my instagram @steadyandwild to see more footage.

What is calling you?

With tenderness and courage…

Cate