Have you ever felt stuck in your surfing—even though you’ve trained, bought better boards, or taken surf trips—only to realize something deeper might be holding you back?

In this powerful return conversation, Dr. Michael Gervais—renowned high-performance psychologist—joins host Michael Frampton to explore the real reason recreational surfers plateau: not technique or equipment, but often unresolved mental and relational dynamics. This episode bridges the gap between sports psychology, therapy, and surfing as a tool for personal growth.

• Learn the difference between sports psychology and psychotherapy—and how each can improve your surfing

• Discover how unresolved relationship patterns affect your performance and presence in the water

• Hear why the relationship between client and coach/therapist is more powerful than any single tool or technique

Tune in now to rethink your relationship with surfing—and uncover what might really be holding you back from progress and peace in the water.

Key Points

• Understanding the differences and similarities between sports psychology and psychotherapy.

• Exploring the concept of thriving in sports psychology versus suffering in psychotherapy.

• Discussing the gray line between clinical issues and performance-related anxiety in athletes.

• Highlighting the importance of the relationship between coach and athlete or therapist and client.

• Emphasizing the distinction between professional relationships and friendships in coaching.

• Discussing the benefits of psychotherapy in enhancing surfing performance and enjoyment.

• Examining the role of empathy and tactical empathy in coaching and relationships.

• Identifying three common traits among high performers: clarity of purpose, commitment to honesty, and recognition of teamwork.

• Exploring the impact of psychotherapy on various life domains, including work and hobbies.

• Discussing the upcoming book by Dr. Michael Gervais on the fear of people's opinions as a constrictor for human potential.

Michael Gervais is a high performance psychologist and host of the Finding Mastery Podcast.

Finding Mastery Website

Instagram

www.surfmastery.com

My first episode with Gervais: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Sp8V54EZrUjr1QgwxMaZP?si=1d43e32501ea4402

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we’ll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we’re here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced.