CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sophie began working in the behavioral and mental health field in 2014 after getting sober and graduating with her BA from University of Southern California. Since entering recovery, she has received her Masters in Social Work (MSW) and has held various positions in the mental health field, including case manager, group facilitator, primary therapist, clinical outreach, and most recently executive director of a national young adult mental health and substance use disorder treatment center.

Sophie currently has her own private practice in South Bay, and WAS the co-founder of Academics Anonymous, a sober living at USC for young adults.

Sophie learned to surf during her recovery journey and found deep healing and transformation through a connection with the ocean, which she loves to share with others! She followed her passion for surfing and discovered how to integrate water and therapeutic modalities to support overall wellbeing.

Sophie is also the founder of The Ocean Healing & Therapy Program, a 3 month certification program that trains individuals to integrate the water into their therapeutic work.

CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Ryan grew up in South Bay and has been surfing since the age of 6. Surfing is something he lost in the depths of his addiction and has since regained in recovery.

Ryan got sober in 2015 and received his BA in history from Cal State Long Beach in 2017 and went on to pursue a career at the City of Hermosa Beach in the Department of Planning and Building. He simultaneously was coaching surfing and working in treatment on the side. In March of 2020 he made the shift to full time surf coaching and Mentoring.

Ryan has been coaching surfing and working in treatment as a sober living manager, companion, & most recently as a sober mentor for the last 8 years. Over time he found more and more crossover between the two professions and Waves of Recovery was born out of that experience.

Ryan is currently the head Surf Coach and Beach Safety Manager for Waves of Recovery, while also teaches surfing & conducts surf therapy full time.

Surfing saved Ryan’s life, and now he is stoked to work with others in recovery and use the ocean as a tool and bonding experience.

BOARD MEMBER

Chris has been a long time supporter of Waves of Recovery. He is stopped to support the company’s mission and help make surf therapy accessible to more of the community as the organization grows.

Chris has been working in field of Behavioral Health Treatment and Intervention since 2013. He has vast personal and professional experience in the areas of substance abuse and mental health recovery. He has a well documented history of helping men and Women between the ages of 16 and 70 with successful interventions and treatment episodes.

Chris has developed several treatment modalities, some which result in an 86% success rate using outcomes measures (2021). He pioneered a model of assessment called Elemental Interviewing which he credits for his high rate of treatment admission and retention.

He has personally toured and vetted over 200 treatment facilities for client referrals. He is on the forefront on modalities treating the Millennial and Z generations. He is regularly asked to speak to medical and clinical professionals on his methods for treating drug addicted, struggling and at risk people.

Chris is a former CADC certified counselor and has trained in multiple intervention techniques.

BOARD SECRETARY

Lauren has been working within Education since 2001 starting as a classroom teacher to end up co-creating a social/emotional curriculum that provided a foundation for safe and positive learning, while enhancing students' ability to succeed in school, careers, and life.

Lauren is extremely passionate about helping others learn to be more mindful, more self-aware, and more responsible in decisions that will reflect in relationships, skills, social awareness, and self-management.

Lauren is an experienced Chief Learning Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the primary education industry. She is skilled in Social Impact, Learning Management, Educational Technology, and Instructional Design. Lauren has a sense of entrepreneurship professional with a Master of Education (MEd) focused in Graduate School of Education from Pepperdine University.

BOARD MEMBER

Lucas Brown grew up in Santa Barbara California. He began surfing and doing junior lifeguards at six years old. When he was Twelve years old he began experimenting with drugs and alcohol which led him to homelessness and isolation.

In 2010 when he was 22 years old he moved to Los Angeles California to begin his journey in recovery. Today he has worked in the field of addiction treatment for 6 years and owns Golden Gate Recovery in Marin County CA. He is an active member in the 12 step recovery community with 12 years of continuous sobriety.

He has achieved a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and surfs regularly. Surfing has become an integral part of his recovery and he is excited to share his love of the ocean with anyone struggling with addiction or mental health.

SURF THERAPY FACILITATOR

Michelle is an Associate Clinical Social Worker from Santa Monica, CA. She has worked with children and families in the mental health and social welfare field for 8+ years. She is a swimming and surfing coach and has been helping to facilitate surf therapy groups for the past three years. In her free time, Michelle is an open-water swimmer, surfer, and overall lover of all things ocean. She believes passionately in water's ability to heal and connect us.

SURF THERAPY FACILITATOR

Air earned his Masters in Social Work from USC in 2023. His personal life journey motivated him to make a significant career shift later in life to focus on supporting people struggling with mental health and trauma.

With an extensive background in educational and healthcare settings, Air has specialized in helping young adults manage complex trauma and gender identity issues. Air is a passionate advocate for a holistic approach to wellness, emphasizing mental and physical well-being in his practice. As an avid surfer, Air notes that he has found connection, confidence, and humility in the ocean and hopes to share this with those seeking healing.

SURF THERAPY CLINICAL INTERN

Nathaniel is a Zen Buddhist, yoga instructor, a surf instructor and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Pacifica graduate institute. 

Nathaniel grew up with chronic and severe anxiety and perpetually felt unable to meet the responsibilities of life and enjoy being in his body. The pandemic was a wake up call for him and it showed just how clearly the work of transformation was an inside job. Through Zen meditation, yoga and surf he has reinvented the way he relates to himself and life.

He is entirely passionate about offering mindfulness tools and breath practices in order to help people reclaim their innate sense of agency and joy. He sees surf and ocean healing as an integral part of connecting us back to our roots and our origin.

SURF COACH

Nicolai was born and raised on the north shore of Oahu, the 7-mile miracle. From living at Waimea Bay, he has gained experience in big wave surfing & rescue & is trained in CPR & jet-ski rescue. He was featured in local newspapers a few times for saving tourists at Waimea Bay & Three Tables! Growing up, he was a surf coach up until moving to California to continue his education.

Nicolai has a BS in graphic design & holds a journeyman electrician license. He's a father & permanent resident of California. He faced struggles towards the end of his 20s, fighting addiction, depression & homelessness, losing it all. However, he was able to find a solution that worked for his recovery program. In 2020, he started his journey and has been sober for a little over 3 years, regaining everything back & more, embracing a new way of life & happiness.

He rediscovered his passion for surfing, and he's now enthusiastic about getting people to catch waves through his dedication to spreading the stoke!

SURF COACH

Alex was raised on the East Coast, and got sober in California in 2016. Since then, he has been living in Los Angeles, and his life centers around his love for the ocean, physical fitness, emotional fitness, and spiritual fitness. He likes to incorporate all of these things when helping others on their journey to be successful in their life and sobriety. Life should be as fun as you want it to be!

SURF COACH

Julie began volunteering with surf therapy organizations in 2021 and fell in love with the concept of surfing as a modality for healing. She is very excited to continue being involved in this space with Waves of Recovery.

Julie embraces the opportunity to share her passion for surfing while supporting and empowering individuals working to overcome challenges. Her infectious smile, patience, and positive attitude create a fun and encouraging environment for all her students.

SURF COACH

Isaiah was born and raised in El Segundo. He's a former Army officer with a bachelor’s degree in Economics/Politics/Philosophy. He’s been surfing for 20 years and has a passion for passing on the joy that surfing has brought to him. Surfing has inspired him to travel to places all over the globe including Central America, Indonesia, Australia, Sri Lanka etc. Isaiah teaches locally in the Southbay and previously was a surf coach in Sri Lanka. He is CPR, EMT and Combat Life Saver certified. Ryan inspired him to help others through surfing and service.

MARKETING CONSULTANT

Emma is a creative strategist, mentor, entrepreneur, surfer, yogi, ocean advocate, and world traveler from California currently living in Byron Bay, Australia. She has helped a profile of widely-recognized brands and nonprofits that sit at the intersection of surfing, wellness and sustainability to increase their impact and exposure through engaging marketing and communication strategies. She continues to serve as a strategist for these brands on both a consistent and consultant basis, entrusted with communicating their voices through marketing and social media.

From Hawaii, to Australia, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Bali, and Sri Lanka, she's done all this while traveling to and living in surf spots around the globe, in search of the unique energy the swell and those chasing it has to offer. The network she's built has aligned her with a rich community of surfers, nomads and ocean advocates around the world.

Emma is the founder of Digital Drifter, a mindful marketing agency and mentorship platform. She has worked for clients such as Surfline, The Seea, Changing Tides Foundation, and Avasol.