Dr. Marsha Linehan is a clinical psychologist who is widely credited as the founder of dialectical behavioral therapy, an addiction treatment method that is primarily used for people suffering from co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders due to its unique effectiveness at treating people struggling with borderline personality disorders and chronic suicidal thoughts. Now, according to an article in the New York Times, Dr. Linehan is opening up about her own struggles with mental health disorders.
Linehan began researching effective treatments for those struggling with suicidal thoughts while earning her Ph.D. at Loyola University in Chicago in 1972, but it wasn’t until 2011 that Linehan publicly acknowledged her own mental health history. As a teenager, Linehan suffered severe mental health issues and suicidal thoughts and she spent more than two years at an inpatient mental health hospital, the Institute of Living. While she was never diagnosed as a child, her described symptoms would, today, likely be diagnosed as a borderline personality disorder.
Linehan says she hopes speaking out about her experience will promote compassion towards others struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. She also hopes her success in overcoming her disease will be encouraging to others, helping them be more optimistic about their chance of recovery and inspiring them to get treatment. Thanks to Linehan’s contributions to the field of behavioral therapy, that treatment is now more effective than ever.
The residential treatment program at the Asana Recovery Center offers a variety of different behavioral therapy options to ensure our patients have access to the comprehensive care they need. Call us today at (949) 438-4504 to find out whether our drug and alcohol addiction treatment program may be the right fit for you.
