In this episode, host Albert Balderas, California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Surf Therapy Facilitator, explores the deep connection between play therapy and movement-based healing through surf and skate practices.

We unpack how play — often seen as something just for kids — is actually a vital part of emotional regulation, self-discovery, and healing for people of all ages. Through the lens of skateboarding and surfing, Albert shares how embodied play activates the nervous system, builds resilience, and opens space for joy, expression, and repair.

Whether you’re a therapist, a board rider, or someone who’s forgotten how to play — this episode is an invitation to move, laugh, risk, and remember.

🎲 Play isn’t a distraction — it’s medicine.

In this episode, host Albert Balderas, California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Surf Therapy Facilitator, explores the concept of flow state — the powerful, immersive experience where mind, body, and movement align.

We dive into what flow state feels like, why it matters for mental health, and how surf and skate naturally invite us into this state of presence, challenge, and release. Albert unpacks how flow supports emotional regulation, confidence, and trauma integration — without needing to talk it out.

Whether you’ve experienced flow on a wave, on a board, or in the middle of a breakthrough — this episode will remind you that healing can happen in rhythm, in play, and in motion.

In this episode, host Albert Balderas, California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Surf Therapy Facilitator, dives into the healing power of skate therapy — a movement-based therapeutic approach rooted in rhythm, risk, and resilience.

We explore how skateboarding helps regulate the nervous system, unlock emotional expression, and create safe spaces for growth — especially for those who may not feel seen in traditional therapy settings. Albert highlights the impact of organizations like the A.skate Foundation and the Concrete Jungle Foundation, and how skating offers more than tricks — it offers transformation.

Whether you ride or not, this episode is about falling, rising, and finding your flow.

In this episode, host Albert Balderas, California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Surf Therapy Facilitator, introduces listeners to the transformative world of surf therapy — a nature-based therapeutic approach rooted in presence, motion, and connection to the ocean.

We explore the definition of surf therapy through the lens of the International Surf Therapy Organization, and how being in the water activates calm, clarity, and nervous system regulation. Albert also breaks down the concept of Blue Mind, the meditative state our brains enter when we connect with water.

If you’ve ever felt healed, grounded, or renewed just by being near the ocean — this episode will help you understand why.

Your healing might already be waiting at the shoreline.

In this first episode, host Albert Balderas, California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Surf Therapy Facilitator, introduces the heart behind The Wellness Surf and Skate Podcast — a space where healing happens in motion, and the ocean, skateparks, and trails become sacred spaces for growth.

Albert shares the story behind the podcast, what inspired this movement, and what listeners can expect in upcoming episodes. Whether you’re a therapist, a board rider, or someone seeking a deeper connection with your emotional wellness, this episode is your invitation to breathe deeper, move with meaning, and remember: your healing doesn’t have to happen in stillness.

Tap in, gear up, and let’s ride.