A different type of therapy- where the mind meets the sea.
Meet Christiana Grotlisch.
LA-raised, surfer, adventurer — Christiana is a spunky clinician with a passion for helping people find and believe in their own strengths to create meaning in their lives.
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in medical and mental health settings, in both non-profit and elite integrated care, since 2015. Christiana operates from a trauma-resilience model, integrating evidence- based practices into her clinical work. She's passionate about equipping clients with therapeutic skills they can apply in daily life to reduce suffering and support long-term health and wellness.
Surfing for Wellness
In 2019, while working as a clinical intern at The Pointe Malibu Recovery Center (formerly Beach House Treatment Center), a residential treatment program for mental health and chemical dependency, Christiana developed a DBT Surf Therapy group. She saw an opportunity to help clients learn and integrate DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) skills through the unique parallels of learning to surf. The program has since expanded to include a structured curriculum and remains a consistent favorite among participants. Christiana also facilitates individual surf therapy sessions, using person-centered, neurobiologically-based interventions to support clients in their healing journey. Her work has been featured on NBC’s California Live and at USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
More About Christiana.
Christiana completed her undergraduate studies at Antioch University, majoring in Addiction Studies and Psychology. She earned her master's degree at the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, graduating with Honors. While at USC, she was nominated by faculty for the Lillian Hawthorne Prize and received a Dean's Recognition Award for "Outstanding Contributions By A Graduating MSW Student To Field Education."
Christiana entered the field of addiction treatment in 2015 as a counselor and case manager at a medication-assisted treatment program. Her work history also includes running a community-based youth and young adult ministry program, where she mentored teenagers, supported healthy social engagement, and led international trips focused on service work and poverty alleviation. She also brings experience in medical social work and care for high-risk populations.
Christiana more recently served as Pain Recovery Program Director and Primary Therapist at The Pointe Malibu Recovery Center through the end of 2023. She then took on the role of Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science (Clinician Educator) with Substance Abuse Expertise at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. In this role, she focuses on Student Health within the Counseling and Mental Health Services department, working to enhance care for students facing chemical dependency and substance use disorders.