Hi! I’m Dr. Mark Olson
I’m a neuroscientist, educator, and somatic practitioner with a longstanding interest in what neuroscience can tell us about pain, trauma, relationships, and human experience.
After decades of studying neuroscience, practicing bodywork and somatic therapy, and teaching helping professionals, I’ve become especially interested in making complex science understandable and relevant to the work we do with other people.
My courses explore questions that don’t always have simple answers: Why does pain persist when tissues have healed? How does trauma influence perception and interoception? What does posture actually tell us—and what doesn’t it tell us? How do expectations, context, and relationships influence our experiences? And how can understanding the nervous system change the way we think about care?
We also explore the less obvious ways our brains shape experience: the cognitive shortcuts we take without realizing it, the neuroscience behind difficult conversations, and the ways stress can influence how we experience ourselves and others.
Whether you’re a healthcare or helping professional, educator, bodyworker, or simply someone fascinated by these questions, my goal is to make neuroscience accessible, thought-provoking, and useful.
Dr. Mark Olson is a neuroscientist, educator, and somatic practitioner who teaches healthcare and helping professionals about neuroscience, trauma, chronic pain, and interpersonal relationships. He holds an M.A. in Education and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois, where he specialized 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 brings together neuroscience, somatic perspectives, and relational skills to examine how we experience ourselves, interact with others, and approach pain and trauma in professional practice.
Expand your horizons with Dr. Olson
Whether you’re a clinician, caregiver, educator, or simply curious, join courses that blend neuroscience and relational practice to help you understand the human experience in a whole new way. You’ll gain practical tools, deeper insight, and a renewed sense of purpose in the work you do.