Journalist attends week-long surf and EMDR retreat in Tamraght to face fear of waves

A journalist travelled to Tamraght, Morocco, for a week-long trauma surfing retreat run by Resurface in an effort to confront a long-standing fear of waves. The writer said the fear may trace back to a large wave in Biarritz nearly 20 years earlier and has been compounded by nearly two decades reporting on severe human cruelty, which she said eroded her sense of safety; she added that she now avoids sea with waves above waist-height despite being a good swimmer.

Resurface, founded by psychologist Josh Dickson, combines morning yoga and surf lessons with afternoon group therapy. Dickson told the writer he aims to create a "flow" state to support healing. The stay became Resurface’s first EMDR group retreat, and the writer described the basic idea of EMDR—developed in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro—as using bilateral stimulation to help the brain process traumatic memories that can otherwise resurface and intrude.

Local surf instructor Youness Arhbi led lessons on small beaches around Tamraght, and daily sessions mixed practice in cold water with group therapy. The writer said the EMDR work became the most transformational part of the week, restoring a sense of connection and hope more than solitary reflection.

She described only modest surfing progress but recalled a final lesson moment when she stood up on a wave and was cheered by the group.

Key Topics

Health, Resurface, Emdr, Tamraght, Josh Dickson, Youness Arhbi