They say you should never underestimate the power of the ocean. For Alex Gray, the ocean has been his provider, his livelihood, and his refuge. 

"This right here is what has probably saved my life many times over," said Gray.

Gray is a professional surfer and comes to the beach almost every day. But today he's invited a group to join him.

On this Saturday, as he walks down to the water over the sand dunes and onto the the beach, he says hello to a group of people who are already waiting for him down on the sand. They are all there for the same reason.

"There is an unspoken bond between us," says Gray.

They all have lost a loved one.

For Gray, it was his older brother Chris, who died of a drug overdose.

More than a decade later, he's sharing his story and helping others overcome the loss of their mothers, sisters, fathers, sons, and brothers. Gray says he never felt comfortable speaking with therapists and he has been inspired to create this surf therapy group.

They meet once a month, every time on a different beach. So far the response has been overwhelming. 

Gray says it's a little unconventional.

"I would call this alternative therapy," he says. But it helps people connect with themselves, others, and nature.

Gray says surfing has taught him a lot about life.

Surfing teaches you to live with the fact that certain things are out of your control. It teaches perseverance, it teaches you to confront your fears.

"You know everyday I wake up with a choice of how I'm going to deal with this and I know it's never going to go away but it does get easier," says Gray.