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Mark Levine's Unique Practice
34 years of experience is the biggest difference; it has given me a lot of time to learn from my clients what helps the most. Also, having a family practice working with newborns as early as the day of their birth and the elderly on the threshold of dying has taught me how to connect and communicate with a diversity of ages from newborns to the elderly. In the perinatal period this family model of working simultaneously with mother (and father sometimes also) and child in the same session affords an opportunity to induce a parasympathetic state change in both as a way for the parent(s) to understand the value and methods of self regulation with techniques they can practice at home. A third difference involves my certifications: Beyond 5 years of university during which I gained an Honours B.A. in the philosophy of science, and most of a B.Sc. in biomedical science, and then an R.M.T. Licence, my osteopathic training was self directed through many diverse courses and shadowing of American D.O’s in Toronto, and later teaching many of these courses prior to there being colleges offering a comprehensive osteopathic program in Ontario, and there is no mechanism to grandfather in practitioners to the DOMP designation, so despite having more training and experience than most current osteopathic graduates, I appear on paper and bill as an R.M.T., and I describe my work as integrative manual therapy to ensure clients realize that I can’t bill under osteopathy coverage they may have as extended health care benefits.
Areas of Focus and Specialization
The focus of my practice - about 70% - has been working with the mother / baby dyad together in the perinatal period for:
- Birth trauma challenges of forceps, vacuum extractions, premature, Cesarian or breech births,
- Breastfeeding challenges of lactation, latching, tongue and lip restrictions / ties, breathing restrictions, colic, reflux (GERD),
- Movement challenges of torticollis, shoulder dystocia, positional plagiocephaly, low tone, developmental delays, palsies, paralyses, and
- Neurological challenges of hypervigilance, hyperkinesis, and poor sleeping patterns.
30% of my practice I also work with older children, adolescents and adults, often treating the whole family together for:
- Concussions and orthopedic injuries
- TMJ disorders, adjunctive therapy for dental and orrthodontic discomforts
- Trauma, PTSD, stress
- Anxiety and depression
- Behavioural challenges ADD, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, autism
- Immune challenges, chronic earaches
- Post surgical dysfunction
- Chronic pain
- Sleep challenges
About Mark Levine
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from McMaster University in 1988 with an Honours B.A. in Philosophy, plus most of a B.Sc., then graduated in 1990 from the Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy.
I taught anatomy and physiology at the college, and developed and taught a course on self care for massage therapists. I also assisted in teaching many of the craniosacral therapy courses for the Upledger Institute and the Cranial Therapy Centre with Robert Harris.
I am committed to lifelong learning by attending and teaching courses in osteopathic manual therapies (OMT) such as Craniosacral Therapy, Strain/Counterstrain, Myofascial Release, Fascial Trains, Visceral Manipulation, Muscle Energy Techniques, Joint Mobilization, Applied Kinesiology, Neuromuscular Therapy, Ergonomics, SomatoEmotional Release, Psychotherapeutic Bodywork, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Therapeutic Touch, Pediatric Therapy, Working with Special Children, and Patient Active Treatment Approaches. I recently completed a year long practitioner course in Matrix Repatterning with Dr. George Roth.
In the past I practiced with Dr. Robert Gatis, N.D. and Dr. Christopher Hassell, M.D. I also designed, built, owned and was Clinical Director for 7 years of Wellspring Therapeutics, a multidisciplinary clinic in Newmarket, Ontario offering craniosacral therapy, massage therapy, art therapy, psychotherapy and biofeedback.
I sold that clinic in favour of simplicity and had a home based practice in Richmond Hill for 20 years after that, and I’ve recently moved to Guelph.
I am also a writer with numerous published articles, and a teacher of courses and workshops to both the therapeutic community and to general audiences.
I have been on the faculty of Centennial College, having developed and taught the craniosacral curriculum for the Holistic Practitioner / Complementary Care Program.
I have lectured to and served as editor and language advisor to the board of the International Functional Association - IFUNA - an organization concerned with functional orthodontics.
I am a member of the Ontario Massage Therapist Association (OMTA), the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners (IAHP), the American Craniosacral Therapy Association (ACTA), and has been a Registered Massage Therapist (R.M.T.) since 1990.
I have two daughters and two grandsons :) and I am an avid outdoors enthusiast and adventure cyclist.
