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Psychology

Ruth Guttormsen, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Staff Nurse

Thomas Jacques, CARN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Valerie MacLean, MSN, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Rachel Margolis, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Rachel Margolis, RN

Celeste Martin, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Celeste Martin, RN

Derek Murphy, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Evening Charge Nurse

Brian O'Gara is a mental health specialist at the Austen Riggs Center.

Mental Health Specialist

Steven Osei-Mireku, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Steven Osei-Mireku, RN

Katrina Perez, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Cheryl Puntil, MN, APRN, PMH-CNS, BC, is the chief nursing officer at the Austen Riggs Center. The Austen Riggs Center specializes in the long-term treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders with intensive psychodynamic psychotherapy promoting resilience and self-direction in adults (18+) with complex psychiatric problems.

She has more than 40 years of psychiatric mental health (PMH) experience and has worked in specialty areas such as geriatric, medical, and adult psychiatric nursing. Her expertise lies in caring for: those who have diagnoses of depression, dementia, and delirium; those at risk for suicide; and those receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). She was a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA for more than 20 years and was most recently an instructor at Hawaii Community College, where she was on the tenure track teaching ASN/LPN students.

Ms. Puntil has a passion for advocating for nursing professionalism in the healthcare arena and the practice of psychodynamic nursing.

Professional Affiliations/Organizational Memberships

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) member

Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention (BCSP) board member

Lead trainer in the APNA facilitator suicide prevention training

Served on a task force for the APNA Education Committee to develop registered nurse (RN) competencies for the assessment and management of individuals at risk for suicide in the in-patient setting which resulted in publication and curriculum course development (Advocates of Hope)

Partnered with other experts to be a part of the APNA Transitions in Practice (ATP) certificate program, co-teaching risk assessment and mental status exam

APNA Annual Award for Distinguished Service / 2017

Suicide prevention, ECT, counter-transference and transference (boundaries), depression, open setting residential care, therapeutic community

Chief Nursing Officer

Melanie Seserman, RDN, is the registered dietician at the Austen Riggs Center.

Registered Dietician

Rebecca Simmons, RN, is a staff nurse at the Austen Riggs Center.

Meet the Austen Riggs staff of therapists, nurses, administrators, and other healthcare professionals who work as a team on behalf of our patients. 

Staff Directory of Therapists and Teams | Austen Riggs

For more information on our residential treatment programs, or answers to any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

Meet Our Team

Nursing Staff

Ruth Guttormsen, RN

Thomas Jacques, CARN

Valerie MacLean, MSN, RN

Rachel Margolis, RN

Celeste Martin, RN

Derek Murphy, RN

Brian O'Gara

Steven Osei-Mireku, RN

Katrina Perez, RN

Cheryl Puntil, MN, APRN, PMH-CNS, BC

Melanie Seserman, RDN

Rebecca Simmons

Contact Us for More

For more information on our residential treatment programs, or answers to any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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