More About Brian & Marcia

Brian Gleason

LCSW, is the co-founder, director, trainer and developer of Exceptional Marriage. Brian has over 30 years of experience in working with organizations, groups, couples, and individuals in a variety of mental health, corporate, wellness, and educational settings. Over the past two decades Brian pursued his education and personal growth through a wide range of experiences. He received a certification as a Master Hypnotherapist in the California Institute for Hypnotherapy. Additionally, he completed a six-month intensive relationship training, studying with psychologist Dr. John Gray, bestselling author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Brian also studied family therapy at the Ackerman Institute. Then, in 1991 Brian began a five-year certification process as a Core Energetic Practitioner from the Institute of Core Energetics in New York City. This body-centered psychotherapy training became an essential component in the development of Exceptional Marriage, as Brian brought together talk therapy, body therapy and spirituality. On a personal level he has immersed himself in numerous intensive program including a wilderness Vision Quest in the Canyonlands of Utah under Dr, Robert Gass, numerous courses at the Omega Institute and the Kripalu Holistic Center.

Together with his wife Marcia, Brian developed the Exceptional Marriage, an experience-based methodology for working with committed relationships which allows couples to honor each partner's capacity to discover his/her greatest gifts and deepest truths. This authentic, rich and powerful journey is explored in couples workshops, professional workshops, books and CDs, including the latest book: Going All the Way, The Heart and Soul of the Exceptional Marriage.

Brian is a senior faculty member of the N.Y. Institute of Core Energetics. He teaches internationally and is author of a book on transpersonal psychology – Mortal Spirit. Brian also enjoys a thriving private practice in the New York area for individuals, groups and couples as well as providing supervision for therapists.

Marcia Gleason

Marcia Gleason, LCSW, is the co-founder, trainer and developer of Exceptional Marriage. Marcia brings 30 years of experience, dedication and passion to working with matters of the mind, body and heart. Trained as a clinical social worker, Marcia recognized early on the limitations of talk therapy. After graduating Suma Cum Laude with a Master’s of Social Work in 1978, Marcia went on to explore post-graduate experiences and training that she could use to expand her reach as a psychotherapist. She achieved certification as a Kripalu Yoga teacher in 1981, deepening her understanding of the body and its role in the therapeutic process. In 1984, motivated by a desire to learn more about transformational approaches, she spent six months in California, studying with relationship expert Dr. John Gray, bestselling author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. In 1997, she completed a four year certification program as a Core Energetic Practitioner from the Institute of Core Energetics in New York City. This body-centered psychotherapy training became a central component in the development of Exceptional Marriage, as Marcia brought together body psychotherapy and couples counseling. By 2002, Marcia had also completed her certification as a coach from the ICF accredited Coach Training Alliance in Boulder, CO.

Together with her husband Brian, Marcia developed the Exceptional Marriage, an experience-based couple’s methodology which aims to maximize the potential that resides in every long term committed relationship. She is interested in how couples can bring their combined gifts into the world to impact change. Her approach to her work is a synthesis of her vast experience combined with her big heart.

Marcia also enjoys a thriving private practice in the New York area for individuals, groups and couples. She conducts workshops and trainings in the US and Canada in the Exceptional Marriage approach and is co-author of Going All the Way, The Heart and Soul of the Exceptional Marriage. She lives in Dutchess County, New York with Brian and their amazing daughter who majors in Opera Vocal Performane at Bard College.

< Prev