DBT Expert Interviews: From Trauma to Eating Disorders

Michael Maslar Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, clinical supervisor, and clinical trainer, who is Director of the Mindfulness and Behavior Therapies program at the Family Institute of Northwestern University. He is also Clinical Lecturer in the Division of Psychology, at the Weinberg School of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University. He previously coordinated psychology training and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program, and has worked with challenging problems in a variety of other outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings. A graduate of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, he practices mindfulness-based therapies, therapies rooted in Zen practice, DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other “Third Wave” behavioral therapies. He received instruction as a clinician and trainer from the original developers of DBT, Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech. He received instruction as a clinician and trainer in Radically Open DBT, from the original developer of the approach, Thomas Lynch, PhD. He also serves as a member of the Midwest DBT Team Leaders Group, and the Chicago DBT Consortium. He specializes in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, other disorders of emotion dysregulation, Disorders of overcontrol, trauma, anxiety disorders, and high conflict couples and families.

Dr. Maslar has had a personal practice of yoga and Buddhist meditation, including mindfulness, lovingkindness, and concentrative forms, for over twenty years. He has instructed general audiences, as well as well as people in educational, business, and the helping professions, in these practices for over twenty years.

Maggie Mullen, LCSW (they/them) is a clinical social worker, national trainer, and community activist with over a decade of experience helping people navigate psychosis. They are the author of "The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Psychosis," a self-help book designed for people with psychosis and their loved ones. Maggie specializes in culturally responsive, evidence-based care for Psychotic Spectrum Disorders, trauma and PTSD, and the LBGTQ+ community.

Maggie received their Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, and their pre-masters experience focused on community activism in areas such as criminal justice reform, ending rape culture, and stopping the institutionalization of people with disabilities. Maggie is a Training Director at Kaiser Permanente where they take great pride in mentoring, training, and supervising the next generation of social workers. You can find them online at www.maggiemullen.com

Amy is a certified DBT practitioner and presenter on creating and implementing integrated dual disorder DBT treatment programs. She speaks on the efficacy of the integrated approach to therapy, and on adolescent suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviors.

Amy is a clinic manager at Mental Health Systems, a mental health provider in Minnesota specializing in DBT, and oversees the integrated dual disorder program for adults struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency.

Amy has a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialty in alcohol and drug counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC). Amy is a board-certified clinical supervisor and serves on the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (MN).

Dr. Mark Carlson, is the founder, President/CEO, and owner of Mental Health Systems, PC (MHS). MHS is one of the largest specialized clinics in the United States. He was the Vice-President of Dialectical Behavior Therapy National Certification and Accreditation Association (DBTNCAA) and is the owner of MRC Solutions providing training and consultation services.

Dr. Carlson is an international author on making meaningful and sustainable change with challenging populations. He has authored “CBT for Chronic Pain and Psychological Well-Being” and “Psychological Well-Being in Cancer” through Wiley Publishing. Dr. Carlson has been signed to a long-term publishing contract with Wiley as he is writing pioneering work for international healthcare.

Dr. Carlson is also a trainer and consultant. He has conducted training and consulting across the country to thousands of professionals. He is rated extremely high on content and presentation style and he is continually reviewed as a very dynamic and motivating speaker. He makes advanced concepts and techniques highly accessible where they have immediate application in people’s professional lives. He takes a Strength-Based Approach, with a common emphasis on practical applications to complex situations. Dr. Carlson also creates, designs, and customizes training programs for groups and organizations to increase their effectiveness.

He has provided direct care, training, and clinical supervision to the care of over 6000 clients with co-morbid Disorders. He has provided training and consultation to therapists, teams, case-management agencies, hospitals, and mental health clinics. He has experience working with chronic pain and chronic conditions throughout his clinical career. Dr. Carlson has developed, contracted-for-funding, and managed multiple programs for diverse client issues.

Dr. Carlson is also a national trainer on DBT and other training topics. He has presented on DBT, Personality Disorders, Self-Injurious Behaviors, Chronic Pain, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Compliance/Adherence, Integrated Care, Targeting Super-Users, and many other topics.

Dennis is a licensed psychologist and clinical supervisor at Mental Health Systems, PC (MHS), located in the Twin Cities. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship and pre-doctoral internship at MHS, and received his doctorate in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dennis has extensive experience working with adults and adolescents with severe and persistent mental and physical illnesses across various levels of care spanning from inpatient units to outpatient individual therapy. At MHS, Dennis has a few roles, including acting as a group and individual therapist in the Thrive for Chronic Pain program, supervising new staff members and psychology interns, developing new programming for individuals with chronic conditions, and coordinating the diagnostic assessment and psychological testing program. Dennis has enjoyed working as an adjunct professor teaching Masters level clinicians as well. Dennis’s favorite aspect about working in this field is the opportunity to help clients empower themselves, identify their own resiliency, and create the life they want to be present in by supporting them in accessing their personal strengths and resources.

Dr. Eich is a Licensed Psychologist who has experience working in hospitals, schools, private practice and community mental health settings. Dr. Eich is an expert in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and has provided DBT services for over a decade. Dr. Eich's expertise stems from years of study, practice, and training. She has run both adherent and adaptive DBT programs and has trained and supervised clinicians in providing DBT. Dr. Eich has written curriculum for DBT programs, including adaptations for adults who are chemically dependent and mentally ill and for adults who are developmentally delayed and mentally ill. Additionally, she has developed, facilitated, and coordinated DBT programming for adolescents and parents. Dr. Eich is the author of “Dialectical Therapy Skills Training with Adolescents: A Practical Workbook for Therapists, Teens and Parents.” Dr. Eich is a top rated national trainer on DBT and provides both training and consultation to professionals and organizations.