Dr. Mark Olson holds an M.A. in Education and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois, with training in cognitive and behavioral neuropsychology and neuroanatomy. His research examined memory, attention, eye movements, and aesthetic preferences. He is a NARM® practitioner, aquatic therapist, former director of the Pacific Center for Awareness and Bodywork, and a published author on chronic pain and trauma-informed care. His teaching focuses on the neuroscience of pain and bodywork, interoception, and contemporary understandings of how massage may influence the nervous system and human experience. He brings neuroscience together with practical and relational approaches to help massage therapists better understand the people they work with and the effects of their work.
