Source-led DBT education

Editorial Standards for DBT Content

WithMarsha writes DBT content for learning and practice, not for diagnosis, treatment planning, or crisis care.

How we choose sources

DBT is a clinical model with specific language, skills, and limits. We prioritize official DBT materials and peer-reviewed research before broader education sources, and we avoid using generic wellness claims as proof for clinical statements.

Tier 1

Primary DBT and official clinical sources

Official Linehan Institute or Guilford DBT materials, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification materials, government or public-health guidance, and official clinical resources such as VA/MIRECC, NICE, NHS, NIH, PubMed, and PMC.

Tier 2

Peer-reviewed research

Journal articles and systematic reviews from sources such as JMIR, Springer, Cambridge University Press, Psychological Medicine, and other peer-reviewed clinical or digital-health publications.

Tier 3

Reputable education and therapy references

Major medical centers, universities, established therapy-training organizations, and therapist-facing education materials used only when primary sources do not answer a practical user question.

What every DBT article must do

  • Start with a direct answer to the reader's actual question.
  • Use realistic scenarios and step-by-step practice prompts.
  • Cite the DBT skill source, relevant research, or clinical guidance behind material claims.
  • Explain when a skill may not fit and when professional support is more appropriate.
  • Link readers to the relevant WithMarsha skill library, worksheet, or App Store path without overstating outcomes.

Safety boundaries

  • WithMarsha content is educational and skills-focused. It is not therapy, diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment planning, or clinical supervision.
  • AI-assisted explanations are constrained to psychoeducational DBT skill support and should not be treated as clinical judgment.
  • Crisis, self-harm, or immediate-safety situations should be handled through emergency services, 988 in the United States, Crisis Text Line, or local crisis resources.
  • When the evidence is mixed, limited, or about another product or clinical setting, WithMarsha content names that limitation instead of borrowing outcomes as product claims.

Core references

Our public source ledger is maintained in the repository and includes the source tier, supported claims, and pages that use each reference. Start with these high-authority resources:

For urgent support, use crisis resources. For product limitations, read the disclaimer.