Spotlighting Women in Mental Health!  

In honor of International Women’s Day (celebrated every year on the 8th day of March) we wanted to pay tribute to eight incredible women who have – in their own special ways – had a tremendous impact on the world of mental health.

Some of these women are pioneers in the field, and have played pivotal roles in the forming of our profession, and some exist outside the domains of social work and psychotherapy but have nevertheless had an invaluable impact in shaping how we, as a society, view mental health and wellness in 2025.

Let us say, for the record, that narrowing this blog to spotlight just 8 individuals was an incredibly difficult task as there are countless women who deserve to be mentioned for their role in advancing our understanding of health and well-being. At the end of the day, we wanted to highlight an interesting and diverse cross-section of women – spanning different generations, backgrounds, and vocations – as well as provide some “bonus” recommendations for further exploration!

(1) JANE ADDAMS (1860 – 1935)

Social Reformer, Pacifist, “Mother of Social Work”

“Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left unexpended effort that might have saved the world.”

How She Contributed…

  • Jane Addams has many amazing accomplishments to her name and represents one of the earliest female voices in the field of mental health and is even credited with founding social work as a profession! Graduating at the top of her class in 1881, Jane was part of a special group of women that historians have referred to as “New Women” who used their college educations to foster independence and social well-being, not only for themselves but for their communities.
  • In 1889, Addams co-founded “Hull House” in Chicago which is largely considered to be the first settlement house in the United States. The aim of this project was for educated women to share knowledge and skills with their communities and establish a “hub” for vital services including: kindergarten and day-care programs for working mothers, job training, acculturation classes for immigrants, literacy/reading programs and more (Michals, 2017).
  • Shortly before her death in 1931, Jane was awarded the Nobel Prize for her life’s work promoting peace and freedom, initially during the first World War and later as the co-founder and president of the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (Michals, 2017).    

Bonus Rec!

  • Jane Addams: Together We Rise (Documentary) – to learn more about Jane Addams, check out this documentary (available on YouTube) from the channel “ChicagoStories/WTTW”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Vv441e4nk 

(2) KAREN HORNEY (1885 – 1952)

Pioneer Psychologist, One of the Founders of Feminist Psychology (“Womb Envy”)

“The searching for our selves is the most agonizing, isn’t it? And yet the most stimulating. And one simply cannot escape it.” 

How She Contributed…

  • Karen Horney’s work as a psychologist came at a time that was generally very difficult for women, when much our understanding of female psychology was informed by, and in relation to, men. As such, her work represents some of the first truly “feminist” theories of psychology.
  • Originally trained in psychoanalytic theory, Horney adhered to many of these principles but firmly rejected Freud’s gender-based theories (such as “penis envy” and female “hysteria”) as simple manifestations of a male-biased culture. She even posited an alternate/opposite theory called “womb envy” which suggests that men are inherently envious of a woman’s ability to create and sustain life which leads them to claim dominance and superiority in other fields. While these ideas are no longer at the forefront of modern psychotherapy, they were nevertheless groundbreaking and subversive for the time.  

Bonus Rec!

(3) MAMIE PHIPPS CLARK (1917 – 1983)

Pioneer Social Psychologist, Inventor of the Infamous “Doll Test” 

“I think that whites and blacks should be taught to respect their fellow human beings as an integral part of being educated.”

How She Contributed…

  • Mamie Phipps Clark and her husband Kenneth were the first African Americans to earn their PhD’s from Columbia University and later went on to establish an agency for child development and psychological study in Harlem New York.
  • Influential figures in the Civil Rights movement, the Clarks were fierce advocates for desegregation and worked tirelessly to reduce systemic racial biases in education. As part of their psychological research, the invented what is known today as the “Doll Test” to illustrate the damaging effects of segregation on school-aged children, arguing that it creates a sense of self-consciousness and inferiority in black children in particular. This research would prove invaluable not just for the field of social psychology, but for broader race relations as well.

Bonus Rec!

  • The Doll Test (YouTube) – watch this short video to get a sense of how the 1940’s Doll Tests worked (the Clark’s original experiment was recreated with Italian children).

(4) INSOO KIM BERG (1934 – 2007)

Pioneer Psychotherapist, Author/Creator of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

“That’s one way to see it… and there is also another way to see it. Almost every problem contains an element of solutions.”

How She Contributed…

  • In the early decades of psychological practice, a lot of time in therapy was spent looking backward and processing historical events (case in point, the father of psychotherapy Sigmund Freud believed that all problems were rooted in childhood). In contrast, Insoo Kim Berg was among the first to consider the value of spending more time in therapy on (1) present concerns/symptoms, and (2) future hopes and goals, as opposed to processing old hurts. Thus, with this shift in focus, they created a more positive and growth-based type of therapy that was altogether more humanistic (and optimistic) in nature!
  • Berg was also one of the first clinicians to acknowledge the tremendous investment of resources (time, money, etc.) that long-term therapy often requires, and acknowledged the fact that most people do not have unlimited means with which to seek professional help. Thus, by creating a short-term (sometimes single-session!) approach to therapy, she effectively increased access to mental health support for millions of people worldwide.

Bonus Rec!

  • Solution-Focused Therapy (YouTube) – watch this video for a quick overview of Solution-Focused Therapy, including common interventions and how to use “The Miracle Question” to identify concrete goals.

(5) MARSHA LINEHAN (1943 – Present)

Pioneer Psychologist, Author/Creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

“It is hard to be happy without a life worth living. This is a fundamental tenet of DBT. Of course, all lives are worth living in reality. No life is not worth living. But what is important is that you experience your life as worth living – one that is satisfying, and one that brings happiness.”

How She Contributed…

  • Marsha Linehan (creator/author of Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is often referred to as one of the “major players” in mental health; frequently mentioned in the same conversations as Aaron Beck (father of CBT) for the power of their respective therapies that are largely considered best-practice, frontline approaches to mental health in 2025.
  • Part of what makes Linehan’s story so powerful is the fact that her DBT strategies and interventions come directly from her own lived experience with mental illness, suicidal ideation and substance abuse. Having famously created “the therapy that she needed as a young woman”, Marsha is a living testament to the power and effectiveness of DBT approaches and her story of resilience and persistence has made her an invaluable role model to clients everywhere.

Bonus Rec!

  • Building A Life Worth Living (Book) – Linehan’s inspiring memoir that details her time as a young 18-year-old (hospitalized for mental health issues) through her journey into adulthood and the eventual creation of her groundbreaking new therapy (DBT). A powerful read!

(6) BRENE BROWN (1965 – Present)

Academic Researcher, Storyteller, Author, Podcaster

“You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”

How She Contributed…

  • Brene Brown has contributed over two decades of valuable research on topics such as: vulnerability, shame, empathy, self-compassion, courage and perfectionism.
  • One of Brene’s “super powers” that she brings to the field of mental health is her ability to package highly complex and academic topics in very digestible/mainstream ways. In addition to her extremely popular bestselling books (a staple in any airport!) and many podcasts/TED Talks, Brene has also appeared on episodes of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday and Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show. It’s rare for a figure in mental health to have the kind of platform and reach that Brene possesses, and she certainly makes good use of it – effortlessly transforming important psychological concepts into household discussions! 

Bonus Rec!

  • Brene Brown on Empathy (YouTube) – a short and digestible clip detailing the key difference between empathy and sympathy. Spoiler alert: “empathy drives connection, sympathy drives disconnection.” 

(7) KRISTEN BELL (1980 – Present)

Actress, Performer

“There is such an extreme stigma about mental health issues, and I can’t make heads or tails of why it exists. Anxiety and depression are impervious to accolades or achievements. Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success or their place on the food chain. In fact, there is a good chance you know someone who is struggling with it… so why aren’t we talking about it?”

How She Contributed…

  • Kristen Bell is by no means the first celebrity to speak out about her experiences with anxiety and depression, but her tireless advocacy for a wide variety of mental health issues is truly commendable. Kristen has penned personal essays and spoken openly for over a decade (well before mental health advocacy in Hollywood became the norm) about everything from depression and anxiety, to the importance of finding the right psychotropic medications, to her tendency towards co-dependency in relationships.
  • Part of what makes Bell’s advocacy so powerful is her fierce commitment to “correcting” and normalizing any false impressions or assumptions about what her life may look like from the outside, as well as who depression and anxiety can affect. From her bright and bubbly “Golden-Girl-Next-Door” aesthetic to the “Couple Goals” hashtag she often shares with husband Dax, it can be easy for others to assume that Kristen’s life is charmed and free from psychological struggle but this is far from the truth! Kristen wants everyone to know that (a) depression doesn’t discriminate, and (b) staying mentally healthy – for yourself and in your relationships – is hard work worth doing!

Bonus Rec!

  • Off Camera with Sam Jones (YouTube Show) – check out this short clip of Kristen speaking about her experience with mental illness, how it has been passed down through the women in her family, and the unfair stigma surrounding mental health medications. 

(8) SIMONE BILES (1997 – Present)

Olympic Athlete, Gymnast

“We have to protect our body and our mind. Physical health is mental health.”

How She Contributed…

  • In 2021, Biles made headlines when she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health. Largely considered a favourite to win, and coming from a North American culture that places a lot of pressure on athletes to perform and dominate at the highest levels, Simone’s decision to put herself (and specifically her mental health) first was a powerful statement indeed.
  • Biles experience also highlighted the vital link between physical and mental health, as illustrated in her description of what has now been termed the “twisties” – a condition which involves physical symptoms such as dizziness, loss of balance, and general body disorientation, but is also thought to be connected to and brought on by psychological stress. 
  • Despite some initial hesitation in taking on the role of mental health advocate, Simone has now become something of an influencer in the field of sports psychology. 

Bonus Rec!

  • Simone Biles Rising (Netflix) – check out this 4-part docuseries that chronicles Simone’s experiences in Tokyo, as well as her “comeback” leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics

References

Michals, Debra “Jane Addams.” National Women’s History Museum. 2017. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/jane-addams.

Brusie, C. (2017). A Mind of Her Own: 7 Famous Women Helping to #endthestigma of Mental Illness. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-illness-celebrities#1-Kristen-Bell

American Psychological Association. (2025). Mamie Phipps Clark, PhD, and Kenneth Clark, PhD. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/psychologists/clark

Cherry, K. (2023). Contributions of Karen Horney to Psychology. Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/karen-horney-biography-2795539

Britannica. (2025). Karen Horney: Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karen-Horney

Rise. (2025). Influential women in mental health. Retrieved from: https://www.riseservices.org/influential-women-in-mental-health/

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