Marsha M. Linehan
Encyclopedia
Marsha M. Linehan is an American
psychologist
and author. Linehan is a Professor of Psychology, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences at the University of Washington
and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy
Clinics. Her primary research is in the application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, drug abuse, and borderline personality disorder
. She is also working to develop models for transferring treatments from the research academy to the clinical community.
Linehan is the developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a type of psychotherapy
that combines behavioral science
with concepts of acceptance
and mindfulness
, derived from eastern and western contemplative practices.
. In 1961 she became a resident at the Institute of Living in Hartford, first diagnosed with schizophrenia
after injuring herself. She was treated for "extreme social withdrawal" and suffered from what would later become known as borderline personality disorder
. Linehan later attended Loyola University
in Chicago
in 1968 where she graduated cum laude
with a B.S in Psychology. She continued her education at Loyola University, receiving a M.A in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1971, both in Clinical Psychology. During her time at Loyola University, Linehan served as lecturer for the psychology program. After leaving Loyola University, Linehan started her predoctoral internship at The Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service in Buffalo, New York
between 1971-1972. During this time, Linehan served as an adjunct assistant professor at University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
. From Buffalo, Linehan completed her Post-Doctoral fellowship in Behavior Modification
at Stony Brook University. Linehan then returned to her alma mater Loyola University in 1973 and served as an adjunct professor at the university until 1975. During this same timeframe Linehan also served as an Assistant Professor in Psychology at The Catholic University of America
from 1973 to 1977. In 1977, Linehan took a position at the University of Washington
as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences department. Linehan is now a Professor of Psychology and a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics.
Linehan is the past-president of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychopathological Association and a diplomat of the American Board of Behavioral Psychology.
Linehan has earned several awards for her research and clinical work, including the Louis I. Dublin
award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Suicide in 1999, The Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education from the New England Educational Institute in 2004, and Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association
in 2005.
on June 17, 2011, Dr. Linehan disclosed that she suffered from borderline personality disorder
. In an article published at the New York Times website on June 23, 2011, she disclosed her own history of self-harm and multiple suicide attempts, as well as her own efforts through therapy to recover from the disorder and live a healthy, productive life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and author. Linehan is a Professor of Psychology, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy
Clinics. Her primary research is in the application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, drug abuse, and borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the...
. She is also working to develop models for transferring treatments from the research academy to the clinical community.
Linehan is the developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a type of psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
that combines behavioral science
Behaviorism
Behaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
with concepts of acceptance
Acceptance
Acceptance is a person's agreement to experience a situation, to follow a process or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit....
and mindfulness
Mindfulness (psychology)
Modern clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on the concept of mindfulness in Buddhist meditation.-Definitions:...
, derived from eastern and western contemplative practices.
Education and awards
Linehan was born in Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. In 1961 she became a resident at the Institute of Living in Hartford, first diagnosed with schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
after injuring herself. She was treated for "extreme social withdrawal" and suffered from what would later become known as borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the...
. Linehan later attended Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1968 where she graduated cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
with a B.S in Psychology. She continued her education at Loyola University, receiving a M.A in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1971, both in Clinical Psychology. During her time at Loyola University, Linehan served as lecturer for the psychology program. After leaving Loyola University, Linehan started her predoctoral internship at The Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
between 1971-1972. During this time, Linehan served as an adjunct assistant professor at University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
. From Buffalo, Linehan completed her Post-Doctoral fellowship in Behavior Modification
Behavior modification
Behavior modification is the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to increase or decrease the frequency of behaviors, such as altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the reduction of...
at Stony Brook University. Linehan then returned to her alma mater Loyola University in 1973 and served as an adjunct professor at the university until 1975. During this same timeframe Linehan also served as an Assistant Professor in Psychology at The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
from 1973 to 1977. In 1977, Linehan took a position at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences department. Linehan is now a Professor of Psychology and a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics.
Linehan is the past-president of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychopathological Association and a diplomat of the American Board of Behavioral Psychology.
Linehan has earned several awards for her research and clinical work, including the Louis I. Dublin
Louis Israel Dublin
Louis Israel Dublin was a Jewish American statistician. As vice president and statistician of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Dublin promoted progressive and socially useful insurance underwriting policies...
award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Suicide in 1999, The Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education from the New England Educational Institute in 2004, and Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
in 2005.
Publications
Linehan has authored three books, including two treatment manuals: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder and Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder. She has also published extensively in scientific journals.- Research Article: Lineha M et al. Two-Year Randomized Controlled Trial and Follow-up of Dialectical Behavior Therapy vs Therapy by Experts for Suicidal Behaviors and Borderline Personality Disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:757-766.
- Review Article: Lieb K et al. Borderline personality disorder. Lancet. 2004;364:453-61.
Personal
During a speech at the Institute of Living in Hartford, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
on June 17, 2011, Dr. Linehan disclosed that she suffered from borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the...
. In an article published at the New York Times website on June 23, 2011, she disclosed her own history of self-harm and multiple suicide attempts, as well as her own efforts through therapy to recover from the disorder and live a healthy, productive life.
External links
- Curriculum Vitae regarding Marsha M. Linehan (and biography)
- Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics
- Behavioral Tech, LLC - Training in and further information about DBT Therapy
- Link is to a site that gives a brief overview of DBT
- Interesting article on how DBT has been used in the treatment of Female Juvenile Offenders
- Report of success of Linehan's treatment model in Washington State with Juvenile Offenders
- Review of Publication on Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Borderline Personality Disorder
- Three Springs DBT
- UW Lecture 2007, "Suicidal Individuals: Evaluation, Therapies, and Ethics"