Dr. Suzanne Decker

Biography

Suzanne Decker is an Associate Professor at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in psychology and research related to mental health. She is located at the VA Connecticut Health Care System's New England Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC). Her research focuses on adapting and implementing behavioral treatments for suicide prevention and substance use, with a particular interest in treatments that target emotion dysregulation, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Groups. Dr. Decker has a specific line of work focusing on suicide and substance use risk among perinatal veterans, collaborating closely with the VA Office of Suicide Prevention. She has contributed significantly to the evaluation and adaptation of treatment modalities tailored to the unique needs of these populations. Dr. Decker has conducted research using the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development, leading multifaceted studies that include piloting tailored interventions and evaluating their effectiveness through randomized trials. Her commitment to education and training in DBT has involved developing and implementing multi-session training programs for therapists across various sites. Decker's background includes a PhD from Western Michigan University, with a strong record of publications and presentations on her research interests.

Research Interests