Marsha M. Linehan
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Marsha M. Linehan (May 5, 1943 to Current) is an American Psychologist and author. She is responsible for the development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT. The purpose of DBT was first designed for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, but it has been found to be useful in the treatment for other diagnoses as well. Linehan’s DBT module has been adapted to assist in the treatment of Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Impulsivity, and periods of Cognitive Disfunction. As well as suicide, and areas of impulse control such as substance abuse, eating disorders, problem gambling, and over spending. An adaptation of Linehan’s work is being currently used in treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities,mental illness and with Juvenile Offenders in Washington State. DBT is based much after behaviorism theory, while implementing areas of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT as well and eastern zen practices. From combining both Eastern Zen and western Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Linehan discovered Dialectics, an approach in which thesis is paired with anti-thesis bringing synthesis. Linehan's DBT works with helping people move past the tendency to bounce back and forth from one extreme to another. These extremes usually occur on three axes: from emotional vulnerabliltiy to self-invalidation, from active-passivity to apparent competences, and from unrelenting crisis to inhibited grieving (linehan 7-10).
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[edit] Education and Awards
Linehan was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later attended Loyola University in Chicago in 1968 where she graduated Cum Laude with a B.S in Psychology. Following earning her bachelors degree, she continued her education at Loyola University and was able to accomplish earning her M.A in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1971, both in Psychology. During her time at Loyola University, Linehan served as lecturer for the psychology program. After leaving Loyola University, Linehan started her post doctorate internship at The Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service in Buffalo, NY between 1971-1972. During this time, Linehan served as an adjunct assistant professor at State University College of Buffalo. From Buffalo, Linehan completed her Post-Doctorate fellowship in Behavior Modification at the State University of New York in Stony Brook. 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 time frame 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. While at the University of Washington, Linehan as furthered her career and is now a Professor of Psychology; a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences. Linehan has earned several awards for her work. She has been recognized for her research and clinical work dealing with the behavioral sciences, 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.
[edit] Linehan’s DBT module
In the development of Linehan’s treatment model of DBT she came up with four skill modules to aid the patient reach a state of what she calls wisemind. This state of mind is area between the rational, and emotional state of mind. In the rational mind, the individual is solely focused on the facts and observations, and a suppression of emotions occurs. Oppositely, in the emotional state of mind the patient can be experiencing such high levels of emotions that she/he does not see the positive/negatives of their behavior; this is also identified as emotional hyjacking. In the emotional mind the individual tends to ignore the facts leading to a cognitive distortion of their thoughts and experiences in their environment.
[edit] Mindfulness
Mindfulness is considered the most important part of Linehan’s DBT skill module. The mindfulness skills focus on the WHAT and HOW skills. These two skills focus on WHAT an individual needs to do in order to be mindful, and HOW they are going to do this. In the WHAT skills an individual needs to observe, describe and participate in order to be mindful. At the same time, they need to apply the HOW skills of being non-judgemental, one-mindful, and focusing on what is effective.
[edit] Interpersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal Effectiveness skills that are used in DBT sessions focus on assertiveness in saying no, making a request, and coping with problems. The purpose of the Interpersonal effectiveness skills are to allow the individual to increase the likelihood of goals being met, while maintaining self respect and keeping the relationship.
[edit] Distress Tolerance
Distress Tolerance is the skill set for accepting, finding meaning for, and tolerating distress. This area of DBT focuses on learning to bear the emotional pain that comes with distressing circumstances and events that the individual may encounter. One area of focus in Distress Tolerance, is the need for radical acceptance. Unlike others in her field who see acceptance as change or accepting the client in order to create change. Linehan describes acceptance as freedom from suffering requires ACCEPTANCE from deep within of what is. Let yourself go completely with what is. Let go of fighting reality (Linehan 102). These skills assist with the ability to accept while not judging, or evaluating the individual or the situation. The focus here is to work on the acceptance of reality and not so much the approval of reality in order to make the emotional pain easier to deal with.
[edit] Emotional Regulation
Emotional Regulation is working on assisting individuals with reducing their vulnerability to a emotional state of mind. This is accomplished by instructing on identifying and labelling emotions, finding barriers in changing emotions and applying distress tolerance skills. The other key component of this skill set is to find ways to increase positive emotional events through activities, healthy living, and by participating in activities that increase self-confidence.
[edit] 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 contributed to and has been published extensively in scientific journals.
[edit] External Links
http://faculty.washington.edu/linehan/ Curriculum Vitae regarding Marsha M. Linehan. and Biography.
http://www.portlanddbt.com/pages/intro.html Link is to a site that gives a brief overview of DBT.
http://www.brtc.psych.washington.edu/research/Trupin%202002%20DBT%20for%20juvenile%20offenders.pdf#search='DBT%20jra' Interesting article on how DBT has been used in the treatment of Female Juvenile Offenders
http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/JRA_DBT.pdf report of success of Linehan's treatment model in Washington State with Juvenile Offenders.
[edit] References
1.)faculty.washington.edu/linehan/
2.)www.portlanddbt.com/pages/intro.html
3.)www.brtc.psych.washington.edu/research/Trupin%202002%20DBT%20for%20juvenile%20offenders.pdf#search='DBT%20jra'
4.)Linehan, M.M (1995). Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder:The Dialectic Approach program manuel. New York: Guilford Press
5.)Linehan, MM (1993). Skills Training Manuel For Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. New York Guilford Press.
