The Ocean Healing Institute
A home for ocean-loving souls who want care and community to feel as restorative as water itself
Our deeper purpose
The Ocean Healing Institute gathers people who feel called to the water—those seeking support and those learning to offer it.
Through therapy training, ongoing mentorship, community events, and surf therapy, we create safe spaces where change is welcome and the ocean, the body, and the simple act of being near water are all part of the healing process.
Wondering what ocean therapy is?
It’s practice shaped by water, science, and the wisdom of the body
Most people intuitively feel the healing powers of mother ocean before they ever learn the science: your breath easing near the shoreline, emotions moving a little more freely, and the simple relief of being held by something bigger than you.
Ocean therapy weaves blue mind theory and somatic work with time in and around water to support with:
A note from The Ocean Healing Institute Founder, Sophie
You’re craving intentional work, deeper meaning and more time by the water…so did I
After graduate school, I followed the path I thought was “right”—full-time nonprofit mental health work, supervising teams, managing major budgets, and holding a lot of responsibility for other people’s care.
I believed deeply in the work, but my body was telling me it wasn’t sustainable.
The ocean became the one place my body could finally exhale and I could be honest about how I was really doing.
I shifted into nature-based and surf therapy so my work could reflect what the ocean was already teaching me. As more people reached out asking, “How can I do this too?”, The Ocean Healing Institute became my answer—a way to share what I’d learned and support others in creating their own ocean-centered communities.
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"Sophie is smart, kind, generous, and so helpful. Anytime I had a question or need, she was right there to help me"
Natalie Louise Park
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"Working with Sophie was an experience in softening & inspiration for me. Her care and communication harnesses her dedication to self and focused passion for this work."
Melissa Bell
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"Sophie has always been a trusted partner, expert, and Ocean Healer, and practitioner that I was excited to work with and then even more excited to learn from."
Stephanie Lucchesi
The Ocean Healing Institute Team Members
Isabel Aguirre
ACSW, Surf Facilitator
Isabel’s surf therapy sessions blend together her background in outpatient social work and yoga instruction.
Michelle Cortrite
ACSW, Surf Facilitator
Based in Santa Monica, Michelle has over three years of experience facilitating surf therapy groups.
Nathaniel Mills
Surf Therapy Clinical Intern
Nathaniel brings experience as a Zen Buddhist, yoga teacher, and surf instructor to his surf therapy sessions.
Our Grounding Guidelines:
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Integrity
Letting our actions match our intentions
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Acceptance
Making space for whatever the tide brings
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Joy
Honoring the moments of lightness that find us
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Abundance
Choosing to believe there is enough to share
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Love
Showing up with care for ourselves and others
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Service
Contributing to something bigger than ourselves
Is it time to let the ocean’s power shape how you live and how you support others?
Book a discovery call and we’ll wade into your next steps together.