Austen Riggs Center

Treatment of people with bipolar disorder is complex and multi-layered. State-of-the-art psychopharmacological intervention is key in helping patients with significant mood disturbance. However, it is well established that most people with bipolar disorder need more than medications alone.

Relationships are central in human life. This is one of the basic principles applied in every facet of the treatment at Riggs. By better understanding how they relate to others - including family members, peers, therapists and other staff - during the course of their work here, patients experience directly the importance of relationships in contributing to lasting change.

Earlier this year, Riggs held a blog competition among staff members where we asked them to write about the topic: “How My Work Makes a Difference.” This week, we’re featuring the final two staff perspectives that explore the ways in which their individual work complements and contributes to the overall treatment of our patients.