Online IOP for College Students and Emerging Adults in MA & VT
Online Information Series for Prospective Patients & Families: Understanding the Austen Riggs Center Treatment Approach
Join a free online session to learn if Austen Riggs might be right for you.
If you or someone you love has been through multiple treatments without lasting relief, our admissions team is here to answer your questions—live, free, and on your terms.
About These Sessions
Choosing a residential psychiatric treatment program is a meaningful and often complex decision. These free online sessions are designed for individuals and families who are trying to figure out if residential treatment is the right choice. Our Director of Admissions and Director of Psychological Testing will walk you through how Austen Riggs works, who it tends to help most, and what the process of getting evaluated looks like.
There's no pressure and no commitment. Just an opportunity to learn more and ask what's on your mind.
What we'll cover:
- What makes Austen Riggs different from other psychiatric programs
- The kinds of situations where Riggs-level care tends to make a difference
- How families are involved in treatment
- How we think about safety in an open, non-restrictive setting
- What the admissions and evaluation process actually involves and what daily life as a patient looks like
Upcoming Sessions
Sessions are offered from 5:00-5:50 p.m. (Eastern) on multiple dates throughout the year. Registration is required, but there's no cost to attend. Select a date that works for you and register in advance—a Zoom link will be sent to you directly.
What to Expect When You Register
It's free. No cost to attend any session.
Registration is required. Once dates are posted, you can register for the session that works best for you. You'll receive a Zoom link by email in advance.
All sessions take place from 5:00-5:50 p.m. (Eastern)
You can stay anonymous. You're welcome to join using a first name or any preferred display name. You don't need to share identifying information during the session.
Sessions are not recorded. We don't record these conversations, so people can speak and listen freely.
This isn't therapy. These are informational sessions, not clinical consultations. We ask that you keep questions general rather than sharing personal medical details — a moderator will help guide the conversation.
Who Leads the Sessions
Samar Habl, MD—Director of Admissions and Associate Medical Director
Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP—Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Psychological Testing
Both Dr. Habl and Dr. Ridenour bring deep experience helping individuals and families determine whether Riggs is the right fit—and what to expect if it is.
Prefer to Talk with Someone Directly?
Our admissions team is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Eastern) for confidential one-on-one consultations, separate from the group sessions.
Please don't include personal health information in your first email—that message is unencrypted. Once we reply from our secure Hushmail account, all further communication will be encrypted end-to-end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Austen Riggs Center? The Austen Riggs Center is a longer-term, open psychiatric residential treatment center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the treatment of adults with complex, often longstanding psychiatric conditions. Unlike most psychiatric programs, Riggs operates as an open therapeutic community—meaning patients have genuine autonomy and responsibility in their own care.
Who are these information sessions for? These sessions are designed for adults who are considering a higher level of psychiatric care, and for family members exploring treatment options for a loved one. They're a good fit if previous treatments haven't led to lasting change and you're trying to understand what comes next.
What happens during an information session? Each session is a live, online conversation led by our Director of Admissions and Director of Psychological Testing. They provide an overview of the Austen Riggs treatment model and open the floor for questions. Sessions are designed to help you determine whether Riggs may be an appropriate next step.
How do I register for a session? Sessions require advance registration. Select a date from the list above and follow the registration link to receive your Zoom link by email.
Is there a cost to attend? No. These sessions are completely free.
Can I attend anonymously? Yes. You're welcome to join using a first name or any preferred display name. You don't need to share identifying information during the session.
Will the session be recorded? No. Sessions are not recorded, in order to support open and comfortable conversation.
Is this a therapy session or clinical consultation? No. These are informational sessions only and are not a substitute for clinical consultation or treatment. Because they're live group sessions, they're not confidential. We encourage attendees to ask general questions rather than sharing personal or identifying medical information.
What topics are covered? Each session covers how the Austen Riggs therapeutic community works, how Riggs differs from locked or highly structured programs, how we approach safety and relational treatment, and what the admissions and evaluation process involves.
Do all sessions cover the same material? Yes. While all dates cover the same content, you are welcome to attend multiple sessions to hear different perspectives.
Who leads the sessions? Sessions are led by Samar Habl, MD, Director of Admissions and Associate Medical Director, and Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP, Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Psychological Testing.
What if I want to speak with someone privately before or after a session? Our admissions team is available for confidential one-on-one consultations. You can reach us at 800.517.4447 or by email at admissions@austenriggs.hush.com Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Eastern). Please do not include personal health information in your first email, as that message is unencrypted. Once we reply from our secure Hushmail account, all further communication will be encrypted end-to-end.
What kinds of conditions does Austen Riggs treat? Riggs treats adults with complex psychiatric conditions, including treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and presentations complicated by trauma or longstanding relational difficulties. Riggs tends to be most helpful when other levels of care — including outpatient therapy, PHP, IOP, or residential treatment — have not produced lasting improvement.
Is Austen Riggs right for someone in acute crisis? Riggs is not an acute stabilization program. We are best suited for individuals who are ready to engage in longer-term, intensive work and whose primary need is sustained treatment rather than immediate crisis intervention.