Marsha M. Linehan: key obituary facts
Is Marsha M. Linehan dead? Yes. Marsha M. Linehan died on November 10, 2026, at age 83.
Cause of death: Marsha M. Linehan's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Marsha M. Linehan known for?
She was an American psychologist.
More about Marsha M. Linehan
Born: 5 May 1943.
Place of birth: Tulsa.
Gender: female.
Occupation: psychologist, university teacher, writer, psychotherapist.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Loyola University Chicago.
Employer: University at Buffalo, The Catholic University of America, Loyola University Chicago.
Awards: Scientific Research Award, Grawemeyer Awards, James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award.
Also known as: Marsha Linehan, Marsha Marie Linehan.
Occupations: Creator of dialectical behavior therapy, psychologist, academic, author.
Marsha M.
Linehan, an American professor, psychologist and creator of dialectical behavior therapy, died November 10, 2026, aged 83. Born in Tulsa on May 5, 1943, she became an academic and author whose work focused on developing DBT and applying behavioral models to suicidal behavior and drug abuse.
As an emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle, she also directed the university’s Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics. DBT brought together cognitive restructuring with acceptance, mindfulness and shaping, offering an evidence-based approach for people who had not improved with methods then available. Its use in treating chronic suicidality and borderline personality disorder became a significant contribution to clinical psychology; later research also found applications for other disorders. Linehan’s work helped expand treatment options for people with these conditions. She wrote treatment manuals and a memoir, Building a Life Worth Living. Her education included Loyola University Chicago, and her academic appointments included the University at Buffalo and The Catholic University of America as well as Loyola. Her honors included the Grawemeyer Awards, the Scientific Research Award and the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award.