The Wisdom Of: Dr. Marsha Linehan

Dr. Marsha Linehan is a Professor of Psychology and an adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, but is most well known for her work in developing a new therapy called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). DBT is recognized as an evidence-based therapy that teaches individuals essential skills, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.

Dr. Linehan coped with her own struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder and recognized in herself and later on, in her patients, that the standard behaviour therapies failed with highly suicidal patients. These experiences drove her mission to research and eventually develop a new approach to mental illness.

Her research and development of DBT was initially centered around managing suicidal behaviours, but has since expanded out to be recognized as an effective treatment for many mental health concerns. It is widely considered the gold standard for Borderline Personality Disorder.

For more information on Dr. Linehan or DBT, visit https://behavioraltech.org/