Natalie Small LMFT #92747
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with a love for using the arts, movement, and the natural world around us and within us to help explore and express our truest selves in the world. I spent the last 10 years creating and developing what is now known as the Groundswell Surf Therapy™ model and curriculum and have trained and supervised clinicians around the world. I provide art and somatic based psychotherapy from a trauma and resilince informed EFT and Positive Psychology lens for individuals (children & adults), couples, and families. I believe each of us are in recovery to ourself and everything we need to get there is already within us…my job as your therapist is to hold a safe and brave space for you to dive in. It is an honor to walk along side of you and hold space for you to explore, heal, and celebrate the light and shadows within you.
Welcome to your healing journey!
My teachers:
Mother Ocean
She is my greatest constant teacher. Her depths are boundless. A constant mirror reflecting me, humbling me, empowering me, and guiding me to deeper understandings of self, others, and the world around me. Surfing, Sailing, swimming, diving, listening and watching the ocean is integrated into my therapy practice.
Graciela Bottini PSY LINK
After Grad school I found myself living in Buenos Aires, Argentina where I met Graciela Bottini . I had the honor of receiving 1-to-1 mentorship and workshop intensives focusing on arts and somatic therapy modalities. Graciela (Psychologist and President of the Latin America Chapter of International Expressive Arts Therapy Association) introduced me to Expressive Arts Therapy and the power of welcoming the body, the whole person, into the healing process.
Ruth Yeo-Peterman M.A, LMHC LINK
In 2014 I attended the 3 day First Aid Arts training facilitated by Ruth, later that year I had the privilege of facilitating a First Aid Arts training with her in the Philippines. Ruth mentored me in finding my own facilitator voice and deepened my psycho-ed knowledge on how the arts can be a powerful tool to heal our mind and body heal from trauma experiences.
My Grandmother Ida Culler
Ida Culler, a white woman growing up in the conservative confederate south, lived boldly with love as her guide rather that giving in to systemic racism that surrounded her. From how she voted, to the schools she sent my mother and aunts to, to traveling the world as the president of women’s clubs; she worked hard to provide me with the privileges I have today and I vow to continue the work she was doing to break down racist systems in place and let love be my guide.
Groundswell Community Project Facilitators, Board, & Surfsisters LINK
This intersectional community of sisters from around the world with the united mission to dive deeper into self love, sea love and sisterhood are constantly challenging me and stretching me to see new perspectives, new creative ways of healing, and root into ancestral connections to the ocean, feminine, and community healing. I have deep gratitude for my fellow facilitators, board members, volunteers, and participants who have each deepened my personal practice and understanding through their personal beauty, strength, and wisdoms from the waves.
My Global Community Mentors
My time living , studying, and working in and with these communities around the globe greatly impacted my awareness and balance around: eastern and western therapeutic modalities, importance of honoring cultural lenses, welcoming ancestral wisdoms around nature, our bodies, and psychi, and a constantly deepening existential understanding of self and our connection to the world around us and within us. Being a white woman; these experiences brought me deeper awareness and sensitivity to racial inequalities, racial trauma, white saviorism, and eagerness to always listen and learn more.
PERU: (2013-current)
International Justice Mission (2013): Developing a Therapeutic arts program for the IJM safe house. supporting girls and woman who have experiences of sex trafficking and sexual abuse.
El Milagro School (2013) : Developed and delivered a 3 week surf and art therapy program for the girls at the non-profit school.
Groundswell Community Project Hermanas de Surf: (2015-current): Supported the launch and sustainable growth of this community based project to hold safe and brave space for local girls and women to deepen their connection to self, the ocean, and each other through therapeutic techniques, ancestral wisdoms and practices, and community ocean conservation work
Additional experiences that deepened my therapeutic practice: trekking the Inca trail & Salkantay Trail, Plant medicine learnings, married to Javier Larco Ganoza
CUBA: (2015 & 2017)
Yaliagni Guerraro (Yaya): local female surfer, president of the Cuba Surf Club, ocean conservation activist, and marine biologist using ocean and animal therapy to support the developmental growth of children with physical and psychological disabilities.
PHILIPPINES: (2012)
First Aid Arts: providing therapeutic art based trainings and support for local orgs and safe houses providing safe space for individuals and communities recovering from natural disasters and sex trafficking.
Additional experiences that deepened my therapeutic practice: 3 day holiday celebrating trans gender community members, staying on an eco-farm learning about the preservation of ancient arts and farming techniques that honor the earth.
ARGENTINA: (2010-2011)
Culture Shock Therapy groups: supporting international au pairs with culture shock and preparing for re-entry culture shock
International Expressive Arts Therapy Association: training and supervision in expressive arts therapy
Additional experiences that deepened my therapeutic practice: hiking Patagonia and building a farm house using ancestral earth building modalities.
INDIA: (2007)
International Sustainable Development: Supporting the development of Sexual education and youth development program in local schools in Udaipur, India
Additional experiences that deepened my therapeutic practice: World views around women rights, religious practices, family practices, and relationship practices. Hiking to the base camp of Mnt Everest,
MEXICO: (2000-current)
Rancho Genesis: An orphanage that supports the reunification of mothers with their children. Supported 2 programs: 1 youth development, individuation, leadership, and existential exploration. 2 Women’s health and Earth health programs
Locales Surf Therapy: Volunteer surf therapy instructor for foster youth and youth with physical and physiological difficulties.
Additional experiences that deepened my therapeutic practice: Driving the coast of baja, whale watching during birthing season, Save the Waves.
BALI (1998) , VANUATU (1999), VIETNAM (2003)
Hawaiian Eye Foundation: providing eye care in developing communities
Additional experiences that deepened my therapeutic practice: diving exposure to tourism ocean pollution, impact of white colonization, eastern practices, impact of war
Education
M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy (2010), Bethel University, San Diego, CA (COAMFT Accredited)
B.A. in Psychology (2007), Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA,
Thesis: Research and Understanding of Re-entry Culture Shock
Trainings/Certificates
BBS-certified
CAMFT-certified
Licensed MFT Supervisor
Dona Doula Training: North Carolina 2023
Trauma Informed Somatic Therapy Cert: Embody Lab, 2022
First Aid Arts Training Level 1, 2, and Facilitators Training : Seattle, April 2014, 2015, 2018
IEATA Expressive Arts Therapy Training: Berkley, February 2013
PCETI Creative Expression Therapy certification: Buenos Aires, July 2012
Emotional Focused Therapy Training (2010)
Prepare & Enrich Couples Therapy Training (2009)
Bite the Apple and 9 Gates Workshop on embodied Feminine Leadership: Shakti Rising (2017 & 2020)
Abundance Coaching: Morgan Bailey (2018)
Yoga Teacher Training: 500 hr (2013)
Publications, Presentations & Podcasts:
International Surf Therapy Org Symposium: Nov 2019 (Los Angeles, USA)
World Surf City Network Conference: Nov 2018 (San Sebastian, Spain)
Confessions of a Surf Lady: LINK
The Ocean Riders Podcast: LINK
Grey Matters Now Podcast: “Healing Trauma with Surf Therapy and Waves of Love with Leanne Tibiatowski” LINK
Stoked Research Podcast: LINK
Find the Open Face: “On Surf Therapy, Grief, and Self Love” : LINK
Embodied Trauma Leadership with Shelby Leigh: LINK
Wellness in the Wilderness: LINK
Influential Books
Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What you Do. By Wallace J Nichols
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. By: Bessel Van Der Kolk MD
Eastern Body Western Mind. By Anodea Judith
Braiding Sweet Grass. By Robin Wall Kimmerer
Smell of Rain on Dust: Grief & Praise. By Martin Pretchel