ABSTRACT
The body of outcome research specifically focused on surf therapy is small but growing. The earliest reported instance of formalized surf therapy was in 1996 when the non-profit organization Surfer's Healing was established in southern California after Israel and Danielle Paskowitz serendipitously discovered the calming effect surfing had on the son Isaiah, who had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study revealed significant improvements across measures of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and concluded that surf therapy could serve as a useful intervention of veterans suffering with the disorder. Providing surf therapy for children with disabilities amplifies those risks and introduces many more so many organizations exceed that there is one surf therapist per client at all times they are in the water. The feeling of total acceptance by surf therapists, participants, and their communities during surf therapy sessions are very clearly valued by families. The International Surf Therapy Organization currently lists 31 organizations operating in 13 countries.
