An Interview With Eden Gold
Daily Ocean Connection. Living by the ocean isn’t just my work environment — it’s essential for my mental health. I start most days with time by the water, whether that’s surfing, swimming, or simply walking the beach. There’s something about the rhythm of the waves and the vastness of the ocean that puts everything in perspective and grounds me for the day ahead. The ocean taught me that some forces are bigger than our problems, and there’s profound peace in that surrender.
As a part of our series about Mental Health Champions helping to promote mental wellness, I had the pleasure to interview Josh Dickson.
Josh Dickson is a leading psychologist and Clinical Director of Resurface, specializing in personal growth and transformation with over 15 years of experience helping individuals unlock their potential and overcome challenges. He holds an MSc and is an ADAP and EMDR (Accredited) practitioner and EMDR Consultant, combining evidence-based therapeutic approaches with innovative surf therapy programs. Through Resurface, Josh has developed scientifically-backed retreat programs that integrate surfing, therapy, and holistic wellness practices, achieving remarkable results including 29% reduction in anxiety and 49% reduction in depression symptoms among participants.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was born in Norwich and lived in Norfolk until I was around three. My parents split up and I lived with my grandparents in Yorkshire for about three years or so. I then moved to London with my mum and younger brother and have been based in London ever since. I went to boarding school when I was eleven. When I was fourteen my dad went into rehab and he battled with addiction for the rest of his life.
You are currently leading an initiative that is helping to promote mental wellness. Can you tell us a bit more specifically about what you are trying to address?
At Resurface, we’re addressing the urgent need for more effective, holistic approaches to mental health treatment, particularly for trauma, anxiety, and depression. Traditional therapy, while valuable, often takes place in clinical settings that can feel disconnected from real life. We’re tackling the fact that 1 in 4 people in the UK struggle with mental health conditions each year, yet many existing treatments don’t fully engage the mind-body connection or provide the accelerated healing that people desperately need.
Our approach specifically addresses several gaps in current mental health care: the isolation many people feel during their healing journey, the need for embodied therapeutic experiences that engage both mind and body, and the desire for treatment that combines evidence-based therapy with transformative, real-world experiences. Through our surf therapy retreats and EMDR intensives, we’re proving that when you combine the therapeutic power of nature, physical activity, community support, and professional therapy, you can achieve remarkable breakthroughs in compressed timeframes.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
I studied psychology and philosophy at university and have always been interested in the mind. But before training as a trauma therapist, I was in a band. As you can imagine, this was a lifestyle filled with chaotic highs and crushing lows. When our record deal collapsed, I hit rock bottom, and it was my recovery journey that led me to discover the healing power of surfing. It all came together when I witnessed firsthand how surfing was having a profound therapeutic effect on members of the recovery community — something that went far beyond just having a good time in the water.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
The real aha moment struck while I was in Sri Lanka, staying at a yoga and surf company called Soul & Surf. I realized that the people there were searching for something deeper than just yoga and surfing. They were seeking genuine transformation.
I’d been on therapeutic retreats in the US back in 2014, and suddenly I could see the possibility clearly: What if I could integrate that kind of profound therapeutic experience with the joy, excitement, and natural transformation that comes from a surf trip?
That’s when I knew I had to stop thinking about it and start doing it. The ocean was already doing the work — I just needed to create the framework to harness its power intentionally.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Honestly, there hasn’t been one story that stands out above all the others — there have been so many inspiring moments, incredible breakthroughs, unexpected challenges overcome, and profound transformations.
It would feel unfair to single out just one, given the incredible bravery it takes for each of my clients to pick up the phone and reach out for help in the first place. Every person who walks into this work brings their own courage, their own story, and their own capacity for healing.
What strikes me most is the collective story — how the ocean becomes this universal teacher that meets each person exactly where they are. Whether someone’s dealing with trauma, addiction, anxiety, or just feeling stuck in life, the water has this way of creating space for whatever needs to emerge.
The most interesting part of this journey has been witnessing how consistent the magic is, even though every single story is completely unique. That’s what keeps me passionate about this work — it’s not about one breakthrough moment, it’s about creating the conditions where breakthrough becomes possible, again and again.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
None of us can succeed alone, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have amazing people supporting this vision from the beginning.
My partner Kristine has been my rock throughout this journey — believing in the work even when it felt like a crazy idea. My late father was always one of my biggest cheerleaders, and his memory continues to drive me forward. My great friend Josh and my supervisor have been instrumental in both the practical and emotional support that Resurface needed to become reality.
I’ve also been profoundly influenced by thought leaders like Stephen Kotler, Martin Seligman, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, along with the entire positive psychology movement. What struck me most about these researchers wasn’t just their groundbreaking work, but their absolute passion for their craft. Watching how they pursued what fascinated them — even when it challenged conventional thinking — gave me the confidence to do the same.
Seligman’s work on flourishing rather than just surviving, Csikszentmihalyi’s research on flow states, and Kotler’s exploration of peak performance — all of this validated what I was seeing in the water with my clients. Their courage to explore new territories in psychology gave me permission to create my own path, combining the ocean with therapeutic practice in ways that hadn’t been done before.
According to Mental Health America’s report, over 44 million Americans have a mental health condition. Yet there’s still a stigma about mental illness. Can you share a few reasons you think this is so?
I believe the stigma persists for several interconnected reasons. First, there’s still a fundamental misunderstanding about mental health conditions being “real” medical conditions rather than character flaws or weaknesses. Society often views physical injuries with compassion but mental health struggles with judgment.
Second, our culture promotes the myth of rugged individualism — the idea that we should be able to “tough it out” or “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.” This creates shame around seeking help and makes people feel like they’re failing if they can’t handle everything alone.
Third, media representation has historically portrayed mental illness in extreme, often dangerous ways, creating fear and misunderstanding. While this is improving, decades of misrepresentation take time to overcome.
Finally, there’s a lack of mental health literacy. Many people don’t understand that conditions like anxiety and depression are as treatable as diabetes or high blood pressure. When we don’t understand something, we often fear it, and fear breeds stigma.
In your experience, what should a) individuals b) society, and c) the government do to better support people suffering from mental illness?
Individuals should:
- Educate themselves about mental health to reduce personal bias and increase empathy
- Practice open, non-judgmental conversations about mental wellness in their families and communities
- Prioritize their own mental health maintenance, not just crisis intervention
- Advocate for friends and family members who are struggling
- Share their own stories when appropriate to normalize these experiences
Society should:
- Integrate mental health education into schools from an early age
- Create workplace cultures that prioritize psychological safety and wellness
- Develop community-based support systems that don’t rely solely on clinical settings
- Invest in innovative treatment approaches like what we’re doing at Resurface
- Change the narrative around mental health from “fixing broken people” to “supporting human flourishing”
Government should:
- Expand funding for mental health research, particularly innovative approaches
- Improve insurance coverage for mental health treatment, including alternative therapies
- Invest in prevention programs rather than just crisis intervention
- Support training for more mental health professionals
- Create policies that address social determinants of mental health like housing, employment, and community connection
What are your 5 strategies you use to promote your own well-being and mental wellness?
1. Daily Ocean Connection Living by the ocean isn’t just my work environment — it’s essential for my mental health. I start most days with time by the water, whether that’s surfing, swimming, or simply walking the beach. There’s something about the rhythm of the waves and the vastness of the ocean that puts everything in perspective and grounds me for the day ahead. The ocean taught me that some forces are bigger than our problems, and there’s profound peace in that surrender.
2. Regular EMDR and Therapy As someone who provides therapy, I’m committed to receiving it. I have regular EMDR sessions and work with my own therapist because I believe deeply in practicing what I preach. This isn’t just professional development — it’s essential for processing the emotional weight of the work I do and maintaining my own psychological health. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
3. Mindful Movement and Breathwork I incorporate trauma-sensitive yoga and breathwork into my routine, often teaching what I practice. These embodied practices help me stay connected to my body and manage stress in real-time. When I notice tension or anxiety building, I have tools to regulate my nervous system immediately rather than letting it accumulate.
4. Community and Connection I prioritize meaningful relationships and community involvement. Whether it’s time with family, connecting with colleagues, or engaging with our Resurface community, I’ve learned that isolation is the enemy of mental wellness. Some of my most restorative moments come from deep conversations with people who understand the work and share the mission.
5. Continuous Learning and Growth I maintain a practice of reading, attending workshops, and staying curious about new developments in psychology and wellness. This isn’t just professional obligation — learning keeps me energized and hopeful. When I’m growing, I’m better able to help others grow. I particularly love studying the intersection of neuroscience and ancient wisdom practices.
What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be a mental health champion?
Several key resources have been absolutely foundational to my work as a mental health champion.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk completely transformed how I understand trauma and its impact on the nervous system. Van der Kolk’s insights into how trauma lives in the body — not just the mind — validated everything I was seeing with clients in the water. The ocean becomes this incredible medium for helping people reconnect with their bodies in a safe, healing way.
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi opened my eyes to the science behind those transcendent moments we experience when we’re fully present and engaged. Understanding flow states helped me recognize why surfing creates such powerful therapeutic breakthroughs — it naturally induces that optimal state of consciousness.
Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler bridges the gap between peak performance and psychology in ways that directly apply to surf therapy. Kotler’s research on flow in extreme sports gave me the framework to understand why the ocean environment is so uniquely powerful for transformation.
Flourish by Martin Seligman shifted my entire perspective from just treating mental illness to helping people thrive. His work on positive psychology aligns perfectly with what I see in the water — people don’t just recover, they discover parts of themselves they never knew existed.
For podcasts, I’m constantly inspired by Andrew Huberman’s deep dives into neuroscience and Peter Diamandis’s vision for human potential. Both bring that same passion for understanding how we can optimize human performance and wellbeing.
If you could tell other people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
The work chooses you as much as you choose it. When you align your daily actions with your deepest values and use your unique gifts to address real human suffering, you don’t just change others’ lives — you transform your own. Every person who finds healing, every family that’s restored, every community that becomes more compassionate creates ripple effects far beyond what we can see.
But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t have to start a company or create a program to make an impact. You can begin by simply showing up authentically in your own life, treating your own mental health as sacred, and creating space for others to do the same. The world needs people who have done their own healing work and can hold space for others to do theirs. Whether that’s in your family, your workplace, or your community, that presence itself is transformative.
We’re all interconnected. When one person heals, it gives permission for others to heal. When one person chooses courage over comfort, others feel safer to be vulnerable. The impact you think you’re making on “them” is actually the impact you’re making on all of us, including yourself. That’s not just feel-good philosophy — it’s the fundamental truth about how healing happens in community.
How can our readers follow you online?
www.instagram.com/resurfaceuk/
https://www.facebook.com/resurfaceuk/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Mental Health Champions: Why & How Josh Dickson Of Resurface Is Helping To Champion Mental Wellness was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.