Origins & Early Life

Marsha M. Linehan (born May 5, 1943) is an American psychologist, professor, and author. She created dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an evidence-based psychotherapy that combines cognitive restructuring with acceptance, mindfulness, and shaping. Linehan's development of DBT was a major advancement in the field of psychology, effective at treating clients who were not improving with the existing methods at the time.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

This unlocked new means of treating people with chronic suicidality and borderline personality disorder (BPD) and has since been shown to be helpful to people with other disorders. Linehan is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics. Her primary research was in the development of DBT and its use for treating borderline personality disorder, the application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, and drug abuse. Linehan also authored books including two treatment manuals and a memoir. Linehan also founded Behavioral Tech LLC, which trains mental health professionals in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and co-founded the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification (DBT-LBC) to...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akaji Maro — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese butoh performer, director, and acclaimed film actor.
• Alexandre Yersin — Contemporary (Died in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Swiss-French physician and bacteriologist, renowned for plague and diphtheria research.
• Alvy Ray Smith — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering computer scientist and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios.
• Adele — Shared historical date (05-05 · Born) (1988): Iconic English singer-songwriter celebrated for powerful mezzo-soprano vocals.
• Afonso III of Portugal — Shared historical date (05-05 · Born) (1210): King of Portugal who completed the Reconquista and established the modern state structure.
• Andreas Baader — Historical peer (Born in 1943) (1943): West German communist and leader of the far-left terrorist organization Red Army Faction (RAF).
• Antonio Inoki — Historical peer (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese wrestler, martial artist, and political figure.
• Alice Milliat — Shared historical date (05-05 · Born) (1884): Pioneering figure in women's sport, instrumental in Olympic inclusion and global athletic organization.
• Anna Johnson Pell Wheeler — Shared historical date (05-05 · Born) (1883): American mathematician known for early work on infinite dimensional linear algebra.
• Arthur Leonard Schawlow — Shared historical date (05-05 · Born) (1921): Pioneering physicist who developed the theoretical basis for laser science.
• 1943 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1943
• May 5 (05-05) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 5