Marvin Thomas, MSW
Biography
Marvin Thomas, MSW
Marv Thomas's roots run deep in the strong farm family values of hard work and mutual support that were the backbone of his upbringing in the Pacific Northwest. As a teenager he was taken under the tutelage of a retired army general. He gave Thomas a world view which was rare for people three times his age. In college, he was a student of psychology, philosophy, history, and engineering. He pursued graduate studies in engineering and mathematics before entering social work as a profession. Since 1966, he has been working as a psychotherapist, group trainer, organizational consultant and educator. In 1970, he began developing a practical working model of community. Since that time he has been helping many people deepen communities and has lectured and presented workshops on this subject. He speaks not only with the authority of someone who has "been there," but as a professional counselor who for forty years has observed the damage that isolation imposes on our population.
He is well known in Seattle as a teacher, lecturer, psychotherapist and marriage counselor. He has a degree in Engineering and worked in the aircraft and space industry as a part of the team that sent the first men to the moon. Marv earned a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers with an ACSW certification, is a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of Washington. He is listed in the 2005-2006 edition of Who's Who's of Executives and Professionals.
Thomas is a founding member and former director of the Group Process Institute. He trained directly under such figures as Fritz Perls, Leon Fine and Virginia Satir. He has taught group process and community theory for many years, appeared on radio and television and delivered many speeches and lectures. His broad and diverse training and experience gives him an authority on the subjects of systems thinking, human relations, and community dynamics that is virtually unmatched. Marv lives in Seattle with his wife of 45 years and has two grown sons.
Marvin Thomas, MSW
