Menu
Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) inspires people and systems to heal the wounds that keep them stuck, allowing for authentic transformation free of shame and stigma. A TEDx speaker, clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, lay spiritual director, short filmmaker, Reiki master, yoga teacher, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to redefine therapy. She is a woman in long-term recovery from an addictive disorder and lives with dissociative identities. As a queer woman who survived multiple spiritually abusive experiences in childhood and adulthood, Jamie is passionate about helping people to recognize where religion and spirituality may be causing harm in their lives so that they can chart a course for personalized healing.
Jamie began her career as a humanitarian aid worker in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003 teaching English and music. Jamie travels internationally teaching on topics related to trauma, EMDR therapy, expressive arts, and spiritual abuse while maintaining a private practice and online education operations in her home base of Akron, Ohio. Marich is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness approach to expressive arts therapy. From her college days until 2012, Jamie was a high school speech and debate coach, and she still enjoys mentoring professionals in the art of public speaking. Jamie led two individual students to Ohio state titles, and she was a coach on two state championship teams (2009, 2011) with Howland High School.
Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the 12 Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012/2020), Creative Mindfulness (2013), Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors, Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015), EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care (with Stephen Dansiger, 2018), Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery (2019), Healing Addiction with EMDR Therapy: A Trauma-Focused Guide (with Stephen Dansiger, 2022), The Healing Power of Jiu-Jitsu: A Guide to Transforming Trauma and Facilitating Recovery (with Anna Pirkl, 2022), Dissociation Made Simple: A Stigma-Free Guide to Embracing Your Dissociative Mind and Navigating Life (2023), and Trauma and the 12 Steps: The Workbook (with Stephen Dansiger, 2023). Her long-time publisher, North Atlantic Books, is releasing her memoir of spiritual abuse and recovery, You Lied to Me About God, in October 2024.
The New York Times featured Marich’s writing and work on Dancing Mindfulness in 2017 and 2020. HuffPost published a version of her story focusing on being a clinical professional with a dissociative disorder in 2023. NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie the 2019 Advocacy in EMDR Award for her using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy and to reduce stigma around mental health. Jamie sits on the Wisdom Council Board of Abbey of the Arts and is a frequent guest contributor to their programs.
Chabra, R. & Marich, J. (upcoming/2025). Queering EMDR Therapy. Akron, OH: Creative Mindfulness Media.
Marich, J. (upcoming/2024). You lied to me about God-A memoir. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Marich, J. (2024). Dissociation made simple- The flipchart. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Marich, J. & Dansiger, S. (2023). Trauma and the 12 steps (revised and expanded edition): A trauma responsive step workbook. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Marich J. (2023). Dissociation made simple: A stigma-free guide to embracing your dissociative mind and navigating daily life. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Marich, J. & Pirkl, A. (2022). The healing power of jiu-jitsu: A guide to transforming trauma and facilitating recovery. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Bohl, D., & Marich, J. (2022). Relinquishment and addiction: What trauma has to do with it [Monograph]. Milwaukee, WI: Henschel Haus Publishing, Inc.
Marich, J. & Dansiger, S. (2021). Healing addiction with EMDR Therapy: A trauma-focused guide. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Marich, J. & Dansiger, S. (2020). Trauma and the 12 steps: Daily meditations and reflections. Creative Mindfulness Media: Warren, OH
Marich, J. (2020). Trauma and the 12 steps: An inclusive guide to enhancing recovery (Revised and expanded edition) Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Marich, J. (2019). Process not perfection: Expressive arts solutions for trauma recovery. Warren, OH: Creative Mindfulness Media.
Marich, J. & Dansiger, S. (2018). EMDR therapy & mindfulness for trauma-focused care. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Marich, J. (2015). Dancing Mindfulness: A creative path to healing and transformation. Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths Press.
Marich, J. (2014). Trauma made simple: Competencies in assessment, treatment, and working with survivors. Eau Claire, WI: PESI Education & Media.
Marich, J. (2012). Trauma and the twelve steps: A complete guide to enhancing recovery. Warren, OH: Cornersburg Media.
Marich, J. (2011). EMDR made simple: 4 approaches for using EMDR with any client. Eau Claire, WI: Premier Education & Media.
Marich, J. (Director, Producer, and Writer). I Wanted to Write You a Think Piece. Debuted at the Reel Recovery Film Festival, November 2021.
View film HERE.
Marich, J. (Co-Producer). Garage [Short Film] Directed by Aaron Sanders (2021).
Marich, J. (Co-Producer). Silk [Short Film] Directed by John Magaro (2020).
Marich, J. (Herself). Stop, Breathe, Let Go [Short Film] Directed by Tiffany Bellinger (2018).
Tabbara, K. (Producer) & Marich, J. (Director and Executive Producer) (2013) Dancing Mindfulness: LIVE [Educational Instruction Video]. Warren, OH: Mindful Ohio.
Curran, L. (Director). (2012). EMDR & beyond: The trauma power therapies [Educational Documentary]. United States: Premiere Education & Media.
Dr. Marich is interviewed as a contributing expert.
Curran, L. (Director). (2012). Trauma treatment for the 21st century [Educational Documentary]. United States: Premiere Education & Media.
Dr. Marich appears as one of 8 “master clinicians” in this documentary to discuss trauma treatment. Other panelists include Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., Stephen Porges,Ph.D., Robert Scaer, M.D., Peter Levine, Ph.D., Janina Fisher, Ph.D., Belleruth Naparstek, and Babette Rothschild
Curran, L. (Director). (2012). Recommended trauma treatment modalities [Educational Documentary]. United States: Premiere Education & Media.
Dr. Marich appears as the EMDR expert in this video, along with Belleruth Naparstek and Janina Fisher, Ph.D. who discuss their primary modalities
Dr. Jamie Marich: Featured Presenter for the 2024 Shoemaker Series
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Owings Mills, MD, January 20, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RGPUMT9Xk4
Dr. Jamie Marich: Keynote Presentation at Plural Positivity World Conference
Online (2023) Hosted by the Plural Association
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2054iwJAD4
Dr. Jamie Marich: Dissociation is Not What You Thought (2023)
Virtual Presentation for EMDR Learning Community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBA9Iy5uLnI&t=207s
Dr. Jamie Marich on Failing Forward, hosted by the Sokolov Honors College of Youngstown State University (2021)
https://youtu.be/aNttgmJeMmA?si=zGF0F8WooV08Xxio
Dr. Jamie Marich on Trauma and Mindfulness: Frontiers in Addiction Treatment (2019)
Torrance Memorial Hospital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBAi_AURv0
Dr. Jamie Marich at Stamp Out Stigma- Penn State Shenango A (2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6O6tubN1sY&t=1324s
Dr. Jamie Marich at Stamp Out Stigma- Penn State Shenango B (2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyGrOG7n1HM&t=2314s
Dr. Jamie Marich: Trauma and Addiction (2017)
Portage County Opiate Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVs11MuQehI&t=4s
Dr. Jamie Marich’s TEDx Talk (2015): Healing the Wounds That Keep Us Stuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa3M2_uvgPo&t=814s
Other samples available by request
CV available by request