About Us

CEO

A native of the UK, Dean’s career started as a medical student at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel before coming to the US in 1993 and working in the technology sector at Qualcomm and Microsoft. He has led large international teams developing a variety of products used every day around the world, including Microsoft Office and Windows. His non-profit work as the vice chair at Renewal Food Bank in Bellevue inspired him to bring his leadership experience to the BTECH organization. Dean is married with three adult daughters and lives in Woodinville, Washington. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO WORK IN THE WORLD OF DBT AT BTECH? Witnessing how DBT can change lives inspires us to expand the impact of this powerful therapy.

VP for Institute Services & Director of CE/CME

Anthony P. DuBose, PsyD, serves as the Vice President of Institute Services and Director of Continuing Education/Continuing Medical Education (CE/CME) at Behavioral Tech Institute. His career has been shaped by a longstanding commitment to expanding access to effective care for individuals at high risk for suicide and self injury. Dr. DuBose first encountered Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) while working with hospitalized adolescents, and the transformative outcomes he witnessed set the course for his professional life. For more than a decade, Dr. DuBose has led Behavioral Tech’s global training and implementation efforts, working in close collaboration with professional associations, government agencies, and large healthcare systems to strengthen their capacity to deliver high quality, sustainable DBT services. In this role, he has guided teams of internationally recognized experts and partnered with leaders across multiple countries and U.S. states to design and implement large scale DBT training models. He plays a key role in the development of DBT training models, many of which have been translated into multiple languages and integrated into diverse cultural and organizational contexts. Dr. DuBose is known for his collaborative and strategic approach to implementation of DBT in systems, both large and small. He works closely with policymakers, administrators, clinical leaders, and key stakeholders to help them build programs that are both evidence based and responsive to local needs. His work reflects a deep respect for the communities he serves and a belief that effective implementation requires humility, partnership, and a shared commitment to improving care for people in crisis. He has trained and consulted with providers worldwide on the treatment of borderline personality disorder, substance use disorders, and suicidal and self injurious behaviors in both adolescents and adults. He has played a central role in several national and regional DBT implementation initiatives and continues to support organizations seeking to expand access to evidence based care. Dr. DuBose is a member of the International Dissemination and Training & Implementation Committees of the World Association for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (WDBTA) and previously served on its transitional Board of Directors as Treasurer. He is licensed as a psychologist in Washington State and is certified by the DBT Linehan Board of Certification (DBT LBC). He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University of Oregon, completed his predoctoral internship at Western State Hospital, and fulfilled his residency requirements as a postdoctoral fellow in clinical child psychology at the University of Washington. Prior to becoming a psychologist, he earned a Master of Science in counseling from Loyola University of New Orleans and worked as a family therapist. His early work with adolescents at the Child Study and Treatment Center—where he served as director of the older adolescent program—solidified his dedication to serving individuals at highest risk. Dr. DuBose is a Founding Member and former President & CEO of the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, PLLC. He held clinical faculty appointments in the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Psychology from 1998 to 2012 and collaborated with Marsha Linehan, PhD, ABPP, and colleagues on research focused on DBT, particularly its dissemination and implementation. He also served on the strategic planning group that established the WDBTA. He lives in Seattle, Washington in the United States.

Program Manager/Executive Assistant to the Board

Kimberly Stormer holds a Bachelor of Art in International Affairs and Russian Studies from Western Washington University. Kimberly’s work experience in community health during her 5 years as a Peace Corps volunteer overseas as well as her role as Operations Coordinator in a high caliber residential treatment facility for women in southern US that used DBT as their primary treatment program helped shape her interest and affinity for work at BTECH with our Trainers, TnTs, and international affiliates. In addition to her work in mental health, Kimberly enjoys volunteering with local HIV/AIDS organizations, gardening, and various yoga & meditation practices. What drives you to work in the world of DBT at BTECH? Knowing the work I do can be a small piece of helping people as they embrace and use DBT to affect positive change in their lives.

Board Chair/President

André Ivanoff, Ph.D., is a recently retired Professor at Columbia University in the City of New York where she directed the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training Program & Lab and taught in the School of Social Work. Since 2011 she has served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Linehan Institute, now known as Behavioral Tech Institute. The Institute’s mission is the dissemination and implementation of DBT via training mental health professionals.  She is also the President of Behavioral Tech, the training company founded by Marsha Linehan. Additionally, she serves on the Boards of the DBT- Linehan Board of Certification and the World DBT Association (WDBT-A). Her specific regional affiliates include Israel and the Middle East North Africa (MENA) countries She is former Chair of the Columbia University Social & Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board. Her research and clinical interests include the international implementation of DBT in new geographies & cultures, the training of DBT in academic and post-graduate settings across mental health disciplines, and the application of DBT to the problems of those involved in the criminal justice system. She has authored over 90 publications on suicidal behaviors, DBT, and behavior change methods, and trains internationally and nationally with outpatient, inpatient, and correctional/forensic systems implementing DBT. She and her husband Philip Kahn reside in New York City where their two sons also live.

Director of Faculty Relations

Gwen Abney-Cunningham, LMSW, is currently the Director of Faculty of Relations at Behavioral Tech. In this role she ensures that those providing training and consulting on behalf of BTECH do so with the most current information available and employ the most effective methods in their endeavors, Gwen also provides training and consultation to mental health professionals in empirically supported behavioral treatments. She facilitates and/or co facilitates workshops teaching Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to various audiences across the world, including state and county mental health systems. Prior to coming to Behavioral Tech full time, she was employed at a community mental health agency for 32 years, in many roles, including DBT Services Supervisor, Outpatient Services Director, and most recently as Evidenced Based Treatment Director. Gwen received her bachelor’s degree from Hope College and her MSW from Grand Valley State University. She has 34 years of professional experience and is a member of one of the first teams in the U.S. to apply DBT within an ACT program. Gwen is intensively trained in DBT and an experienced workshop leader at state, national, and international conferences. Gwen continues to work as a DBT therapist because it is effective and the hope it brings to clients and their families. As a BTECH Trainer and consultant, she is also able to assist many mental health providers in learning the treatment to assist in helping many individuals. Gwen’s experience in DBT includes individual and skills training for adults, adolescents and families and providing DBT supervision to clinicians. In addition, she has assisted in the development and implementation of DBT on ACT teams and in outpatient settings. Gwen has been involved with the large-scale implementations of DBT in Michigan for Community Mental Health settings. She has been a Behavioral Tech trainer for 20 plus years. Gwen is currently serving on the curriculum development team and Behavioral Tech Trainer Advisory Committee. She has also served on the Behavioral Tech Implementation Science Workgroup.

Training & CE/CME Liaison

Trang Le holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Law, Society, and Justice from the University of Washington. In addition, she completed Paralegal Studies Program at the University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education. Trang had previously interned at the Federal Public Defenders and her volunteer works during her undergraduate years shaped her interest and knowledge in planning, managing, and executing projects as well as online research around regulations and statutes on CE/CME requirements. What drives you to work in the world of DBT at BTECH? Being able to work with a group of passionate and brilliant people who are all dedicated to making a world a better place.

Director of Client Advocacy

Jonay Argier received at Bachelors Degree in Education from UNLV and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Grand Canyon University. Jonay has worked in Behavioral Health for over 20 years with a focus on adolescent treatment. She has worked within residential, inpatient, and outpatient programs. Her direct care experience involves case management, wrap around, and crisis services. The last 13 years have been devoted to business development to ensure the connection for those in need of behavioral health services and receiving the highest quality of services. Jonay is an ally and an advocate for human trafficking survivors. She has worked with agencies and nonprofits to assure treatment and services were provided for victims. What drives you to work in the world of DBT at BTECH? There can be organizational transformations when DBT is implemented correctly with significant positive outcomes that benefit communities.

Workflow Operations Manager

Barb Bechtold-Wright has been part of the Behavioral Tech team in a variety of roles since 2006, giving her a deep understanding of the organization and the people it serves. Over the years, she has supported nearly every aspect of training operations, from customer care and event logistics to project management and systems design. Her work focuses on creating efficient processes, coordinating complex training programs, and building operational systems that help staff and trainers deliver exceptional learning experiences for mental health professionals around the world. With more than 15 years of experience in operations and project management across behavioral health, higher education, and small business, Barb enjoys turning complex challenges into practical, organized solutions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Montana, where she developed a lasting curiosity about people, systems, and how organizations function. That perspective continues to inform her work as she supports large-scale training events, improves operational systems, and helps advance Behavioral Tech's mission. Outside of work, Barb enjoys learning about the natural world, exploring the beaches of the Pacific Northwest, and searching for interesting rocks. She lives in Olympia, Washington with her husband, her daughter, one feisty cat, and an ever-growing rock collection.