Episode 89 - Conversations with Dr. Mark Olson
From Touching Into Presence by Global Community of Bodyworkers
April 26, 2025 · 1h 7m
About this episode
The episode features a conversation with Dr. Mark Olson about the intersection of neuroscience and bodywork, exploring themes of touch, healing, and trauma-informed approaches.
It was a pleasure to be Conversation today with Dr. Mark Olson. Mark holds an M.A. in Education and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois, specializing in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuropsychology and Neuroanatomy. His research focused on memory, attention, eye movements, and aesthetic preferences. Dr. Olson is also a NARM® practitioner, aquatic therapist, former massage school director, and published author on chronic pain and trauma-informed care. He offers a variety of courses at http://Dr-Olson.com that provide neuroscientific insights into the human experience and relational skills training for professionals and curious laypersons. In today’s conversation, we explored how Mark’s path weaves together neuroscience, bodywork, and a deep inquiry into what it means to touch, heal, and relate. We discussed how his early fascination with human behavior led him to neuroscience, and how a later immersion into massage revealed dimensions of psychological and relational change that traditional explanations couldn’t fully capture. Mark shared insights on interoception, the role of C-tactile fibers in creating felt safety through human touch, and how neuroscience reframes…
People in this episode
Guest: Dr. Mark Olson
Topics covered
- neuroscience
- bodywork
- trauma-informed care
- human behavior
- interoception
Keywords
- neuroscience
- bodywork
- trauma
- interoception
- C-tactile fibers
- chronic pain
- relational skills
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Illinois, NARM, Dr-Olson.com
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