Trauma-Informed Neuroscience

Whether you’re a clinician, coach, educator, or just curious about the nervous system, these posts are here to support your growth and deepen your understanding of trauma, chronic pain, and human relationships.

Podcasts Mark Olson Podcasts Mark Olson

Neuroscience & Massage Therapy: My Conversation on the Treatment Room Secrets Podcast

In this episode of Treatment Room Secrets with host Dani Marks, I explore how massage therapy can be understood through a modern neuroscience lens, moving away from simplistic explanations of pain toward a deeper understanding of its complexity—especially in chronic cases. I discuss how stress heightens nociception, the psychological impact of ongoing pain, and how posture can reflect layers of personal history rather than just mechanical alignment. The conversation highlights how more sophisticated models of pain and posture can expand what manual therapy offers, both conceptually and in practice.

Read More
Podcasts Mark Olson Podcasts Mark Olson

Neuroscience and Trauma Informed Massage Therapy: My Conversation on the Massage Science Podcast

In this episode of Massage Science, I talk with Eric Purves about how my background in neuroscience led me to challenge traditional, tissue-based explanations in massage. We explore how integrating neuroscience and trauma-informed care can reshape our understanding of pain, touch, and emotional responses during sessions. As a former school director, I share how I rewrote the curriculum to center the nervous system rather than fascia. We also discuss how massage works through both sensory and relational input, and why staying curious, humble, and client-centered matters—especially when trying to foster meaningful change in education and practice.

Read More
Podcasts Mark Olson Podcasts Mark Olson

Manual Therapy Myths for Bodyworkers to Decode Chronic Pain & Heal Emotional Patterns: My Conversation on the Mindful Movement Podcast

In this episode of The Mindful Movement in Motion podcast, I join host Les Raymond for a conversation about the neuroscience of pain and the surprising role that emotion, trauma, and movement play in how we experience it.

We explore why pain isn’t always tied to injury, how emotional history can shape physical symptoms, and what modern neuroscience suggests about effective, non-opioid pain treatments—including oxytocin and ketamine.

Read More
Podcasts Mark Olson Podcasts Mark Olson

How Neuroscience, Touch, and Trauma Shape Healing: My Conversation on the Touching Into Presence Podcast

I had the pleasure of joining Andrew Rosenstock on Touching Into Presence to talk about how my path weaves together neuroscience, bodywork, and a deep inquiry into what it means to touch, heal, and relate. We explored how my early fascination with human behavior led me to neuroscience, and how my later immersion into massage revealed dimensions of psychological and relational change that traditional models couldn’t fully explain. We also got into interoception, the role of C-tactile fibers in creating felt safety through human touch, and how neuroscience reshapes the way we understand trauma, posture, and therapeutic presence.

Read More
Podcasts Mark Olson Podcasts Mark Olson

How Massage, Neuroscience, and Trauma Intersect: My Conversation on The Thinking Practitioner Podcast

In this episode, I join Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau for a lively conversation about the intersection of neuroscience, trauma, and massage therapy. We explore the complex processes behind pain perception, the role of descending modulation, and how we can create lasting change through manual therapy—often in ways that go far beyond tissue effects.

Read More

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.