Staff

The DBT Centre of Vancouver is managed by Dr. Alex Chapman and Dr. John Wagner, both registered psychologists who received their training in DBT from Dr. Marsha Linehan, a professor at the University of Washington who developed this treatment. Dr. Wagner and Dr. Chapman are committed to providing effective, state-of-the-art treatment based on solid research evidence.

Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D., R. Psych

Dr. Chapman is the President of the DBT Centre of Vancouver and an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University. In July 2005, he completed a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington, where he received intensive training and supervision in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and in clinical research on DBT. Dr. Chapman received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia and his M.S. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Idaho State University. He completed his internship training focused on DBT and other evidence-based cognitive-behavioural treatments at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Chapman has published several empirical and theoretical articles and has given numerous professional presentations on topics such as DBT, borderline personality disorder (BPD), suicidal and self-harm behaviour, and impulsive behaviour, among other topics. He has extensive training in DBT and other evidence-based treatments. Dr. Chapman also has consulted with mental health agencies regarding DBT and the treatment of BPD, taught courses in DBT, and he currently supervises Ph.D. students in DBT. He is trained in coding therapists’ sessions for adherence to DBT. In addition, as a DBT Trainer for Behavioral Tech, LLC, Dr. Chapman regularly gives workshops on DBT in both Canada and in the United States. Finally, Dr. Chapman is the author of The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide and other publications.

John R. Wagner, Ph.D., R. Psych

Dr. Wagner is a registered psychologist in British Columbia and a licensed psychologist in the state of Washington. He is the Director of the DBT Centre of Vancouver and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Toledo in Ohio (APA-accredited). Prior to enrolling in the doctoral program, he worked for 2 years as a research assistant at the New York Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in New York City. At the University of Toledo, he received training in a variety of evidence-based treatments for children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Wagner developed his interest in DBT during his pre-doctoral internship at Tualatin Valley Centers in Portland, OR (APA-accredited). Dr. Wagner completed a joint 2 year postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington (UW), and with Dr. Anthony DuBose and the rest of the staff at the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle. During this fellowship, Dr. Wagner received intensive training and supervision in DBT and other evidence based treatments. He has served as the Clinic Associate Director of the Psychology Clinic at UBC and taught graduate level courses on DBT at both the UW and UBC. He has also supervised graduate students in providing DBT at the University of British Columbia. Finally, he is a DBT adherence coder for Dr. Linehan's research studies at UW. Dr. Wagner provides psychological services to both adolescent and adult clients and regularly consults with other area providers in working with persons struggling with complex multi-systemic disorders.