One week in the
water, with a team
of psychologists.
Ripple is a surf therapy retreat for people who are done just managing. Surfing, yoga, mindfulness and real therapy, in one villa, with a small group and a team that is with you all day.
Rather read than watch? It is all below.
15+
retreats run
150+
participants so far
5.0
avg. google review
1 in 5
come back
Something brought you here.
Maybe you cannot quite name it yet. A feeling that has been sitting with you for a while.
That life is moving, but not in the right direction. That you are keeping it together and not
quite feeling like yourself in the middle of it.
You look fine on paper…
But inside, you know that this isn’t the life you were looking for.
You’re in the middle of a big shift.
A divorce, a loss, a chapter coming to an end. Here you are working out who you are on the other side of it.
Therapy has helped, but not enough.
You understand yourself well enough by now, but understanding didn’t lead to actual change.
Or nothing is really wrong.
But you are just not someone who settles for fine, and you want to know what is on the other side of the work.
Whatever brought you here, good. You are in the right place!
what to expect from a week with Ripple
Seven nights, eight days, one villa. A group of fifteen at most. Surf every morning with professional instructors and all the gear, therapy every afternoon with licensed psychologists, yoga and mindfulness holding the day together, and proper food that will make your mouth water just by looking at it.
We run in Portugal, Morocco, Fuerteventura and Nicaragua. Most people arrive having never stood on a board. That is not a problem to solve, it is the normal starting point.
Surfing
Daily lessons, all levels, instructors who meet you where you are.
Therapy
Both group as well as individual sessions, we get to know you and help you move forward.
Psycho-education
Get the why behind the what, so you can use is after you fly home.
Yoga
Early morning sessions to get you back into your body and out of your head.
Mindfulness
Daily training of the mind. People who have never meditated before become regulars by day 3.
Rest
Built in on purpose, because you cannot do this work exhausted ;)
A day with Ripple
07:00
08:30
09:30
13:00
15:00
18:00
19:00
Yoga. Clearing out whatever the night left behind.
Breakfast together
In the water. Your psychologists are on the beach too, always up for a chat
Lunch, then a rest. Time to relax
Group therapy. What comes up tends to connect straight back to the water that morning
Mindfulness. Learning to be grounded and present
Dinner together, the rest of the evening is yours
Why a week in the water reaches a level traditional therapy hardly touches:
Most therapeutic work happens in isolation. You sit in a room, you talk, you gain some insight, then you go back out into your life and try to apply it on your own. That gap between insight and real life is where most of the work gets lost.
Ripple is built to close that gap.
We work with ACT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but you will not experience it as a model. You will experience it in the water, on your mat, around the dinner table.
Surfing gets to the point fast. The wave does not care what is going on in your head. You cannot think your way through it. You have to show up, let go, and trust yourself.
The group sessions give whatever surfaced a name, a direction and a plan. And because the psychologists are there all day and not just for the hour, nothing gets bypassed.
By the end of the week, what you understood on day two has been lived and tested. Not something you got. Something you have actually been through.
Something comes up, and we grab it right away. Nothing gets bypassed.
Who you will be working with
Hi, I am Djai. I am a neuropsychologist, a therapist, and the founder of Ripple.
I started this because I wanted to do things differently. After years in therapy rooms working with people on anxiety, burnout, addiction and disconnection, I kept running into the same thing. People do not just need more insight. They need space, movement, real connection, and the chance to actually put what they learn into action.
That’s why I started Ripple, to give people the chance to experience a different way of therapy, and to help them flourish!
I do not do it alone. I work with a small team of licensed psychologists, each one personally vetted, each one trained in ACT. We are with you all day, over breakfast, on the beach, watching the sun go down after a surf.
Meet the rest below!
Fleur Lock
Psychologist
Paul Hessels
Psychologist
Sophie Kelly
Psychologist
Josephine Jankowski
Psychologist
Before you commit to anything
It starts with a call, not a payment.
The first step is always a thirty minutes application call. No obligation, no pitch. We work out together whether this is right for you. Sometimes we conclude it is not, and we will say so.
We want to make sure that you will leave happier than you came, so this part of the process matters.
You can spread the cost.
A 20 percent deposit holds your place. Payment plans are available if you need the flexibility, just ask on the call. We try to be as flexible as needed to make this happen for you
Nobody gets pushed.
In the group sessions you decide what you share and when. Being there and listening is a legitimate way to spend an afternoon.
You do not need to be able to surf.
You are prepared before you board the plane.
Most people arrive having never stood on a board. Instructors work with where you actually are.
Everyone has an 1-1 intake session with one of the psychologists over Zoom, so you arrive ready rather than cold.
It does not stop at the airport.
A one to one integration session afterwards, six weeks of online aftercare, and the Ripple community at your disposal.
What you get, and what you do not
Included
An intake session with a psychologist before you travel
Seven nights in the villa
All meals, freshly prepared
Daily surf sessions, instructors and all equipment
Daily yoga and mindfulness
Group therapy, individual therapy and psycho-education
A one to one integration session afterwards
Six weeks of online aftercare
Access to the Ripple community
Not included
Flights and transportation to the villa
Massage and other optional extras
Extra private therapy sessions beyond the retreat
Upcoming retreats:
Portugal, October 3-10
Fly into Lisbon AirportDorm (4 person): €2.399
Twin: €2.899
Glampingtent: €3.399
Private room: €3.399
Premium private (ensuite) €3.799
Fuerteventura, November 21-28
Tripple room: €2.499
Twin: €2.899
Private room: €3.499
Fly into Fuerteventura Airport
Nicaragua, January 30- February 6
Tripple room: €3.199
Twin room small: €3.499
Twin room big: €3.699
Private room: €4.499
Fly into Managua Airport
Morocco, March 27 - April 3
Fly into Agadir AirportTripple room: €2.499
Double room: €2.899
Private room: €3.499
Fly into Lisbon AirportPortugal, May 22 -29
Dorm (4 person): €2.399
Twin: €2.899
Glampingtent: €3.399
Private room: €3.399
Premium private (ensuite) €3.799
A 20 percent deposit secures your place, with the balance due 30 days before the retreat starts. Payment plans available if needed
What people say afterward
“Four days back from this retreat, my friends commented that 18 months on from my husband issuing me a divorce, I finally look like me again. It is an absolute lifeline. A way to rise above your life and see the patterns that are pulling you down and how to rebuild a life that feels more in sync with who you want to be”
“I was very anxious and a few times considered not going because I thought it would be too much for me. Not going would have been a huge mistake.”
“If you are lost in life, open to therapy and have always wanted to surf, this is perfect. You will not regret going. It has honestly changed my whole outlook on life for the better. Do not hesitate. Just do it.”
“One of the best investments of time and money I have ever made.”
60+ 5 star reviews on google Read all reviews —>
It’s okay to not be sure…
Maybe you have been on this page for a while. Reading it twice, sending it to a friend, closing the tab and coming back.
That is normal. Deciding to do something genuinely for yourself is usually the hardest part. Not the surfing, not the therapy, not being in a room with people you have not met. Just the moment of saying yes.
Most people who come to Ripple felt the same way before they arrived. You do not need to have it figured out before you reach out. That is what the call is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, because most of the group is in the same position. Instructors work with where you are individually rather than teaching to an average. You do not need to be fit, young, or sporty.
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A lot of people arrive thinking that, and yet it is the thing they most often mention afterwards as the most impactful.
You decide what you share and when. Nobody gets pushed, and listening is a legitimate way to spend an afternoon. If group work is genuinely not for you, say it on the call and we will be honest about whether this is the right week. -
Almost everyone does! This week is perfect for people traveling solo and looking to meet like minded people. That said, feel free to bring friends and partners along, everyone is welcome!
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We have men and women, aged between 20 and 70.
The majority of the participants are between their late twenties and early fifties.
Most people leave with a bunch of new friends, and there have been plenty of group reunions that have taken place after the retreat.
All we can say is, don’t worry, this part is ALWAYS fine ;) -
There are psychologists with you all day, which is exactly the point. If a day is heavy you are not left to manage it on your own until the next session.
It is also the reason we do the application calls: to make sure that everyone joining is fit to do this kind of work. -
No, and we’re not a big fan of labels. If something is going on and you sense that the usual approaches are not going to fix it, that is enough.
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All meals are included and freshly prepared, and we can cater to any restriction or preference.
Tell us what you need during the intake and it is handled before you arrive.
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You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly, usually within one business day.
Want to be extra fast? Use the whatsapp widget to message us directly!
Want to book a call? Schedule it yourself using the button.
Still weighing it up? Watch this video, and you will know whether this is your kind of week!
If something on this page resonated with you, that is worth paying attention to. The first step is a thirty minute call. We get to know each other, work out whether this is the right fit, and answer whatever you are still left with.
Are you ready? We’re looking forward to meeting you!