PhD in clinical psychology from the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University

Pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Albany Medical Center

Katie C. Lewis, PhD, is the director of research and medical staff member at the Austen Riggs Center. Her research focuses on examining personality processes in adults diagnosed with complex psychopathology as they relate to suicidal and self-destructive behaviors. Her research has been supported by the Robert Wallerstein Fellowship in Psychoanalytic Research (San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis), a Young Investigator Grant through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant through the NIMH, and the APF/Division 39 Marsha McCary Grant for Psychoanalytic Research.

She has published and presented on a wide range of topics including suicide and self-harming behaviors, personality psychopathology and assessment, and the ethics of confidentiality in clinical writing. Dr. Lewis is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York and Massachusetts and operates a small private psychotherapy practice in addition to her work at Austen Riggs.

Professional Affiliations/Organizational Memberships

Former graduate student representative on the Ethics Board of Division 39

Former Fellow of the American Psychoanalytic Association (ApsaA)

Former Fellow, Psychoanalytic Research Training Program, Yale University School of Medicine

Founding member of the College of Research Fellows at APsaA

Board of the Society for Personality Assessment Representative at Large (2023-2026)

Fellowship Committee member, American Psychoanalytic Association

Consulting editor and special section editor (Clinical Applications and Case Studies) for the 

American Association of Suicidology Professional Poster Award (2019)

PPRS Stuart Hauser Memorial Poster Award (2014)

Long Island University's Dissertation Award (2014)

Suicide, personality disorders, ecological momentary assessment, psychic pain, personality assessment

Leadership

Erikson Institute Staff

Katie Lewis, PhD, is the director of research at the Austen Riggs Center.

Katie Lewis, PhD

Director of Research

MA in philosophy and social policy from American University

Spencer Biel, PsyD, is the director of the 

 for college students and emerging adults in Massachusetts. 

After completing a four-year fellowship at the Austen Riggs Center, Dr. Biel was hired as a full-time staff psychologist and worked for eight years in the residential program, including in roles as assistant team leader, testing and psychotherapy supervisor, and associate director of the Therapeutic Community Program.

As the founding director of the Online IOP, Dr. Biel has shaped the program based on his expertise working with young adults and commitment to increasing access to treatment that promotes deep self-understanding and opportunities for lasting change. For nearly two decades, he has focused clinically on young adults’ efforts to grow from being a child in a family to an adult in the world, directing special attention to the interplay between family and social dynamics and emotion regulation. In the IOP, his staff applies a psychodynamic systems approach, integrating dyadic and social learning so participants can understand developmental influences on their social positioning, translate their symptoms into more straightforward, intelligible communications to others, and deepen authentic interpersonal engagement both inside and beyond the program. This team approach promotes key components of emerging adulthood such as epistemic trust, identity coherence and flexibility, agency, and social belonging.

Dr. Biel is also in private practice in Chicago, where he is a clinical supervisor and treats adolescents, adults, couples, and families. He has published and presented on psychological testing, suicidality, therapeutic communities, and psychodynamic systems approaches to treatment. Currently, he is investigating uses and misuses of hope in psychotherapy.

Clinical Associate Faculty, Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis

Online Intensive Outpatient Program

Director of Online IOP 

, and Director of Riggs Remote Access IOP 

, discuss the importance of programs like the 

 for facilitating a sense of social connectedness and understanding.

"Loneliness is unavoidable. However, for people who have enjoyed safe, secure formative relationships, it tends to be bearable and temporary. In part, this is because when they are alone and stressed, they can call to mind experiences of being soothed by caring others. Further, loneliness signals a need for connection, and people who are optimistic about receiving help are more likely to reach out and to embrace what is offered." 

External Resources

Director of Research Katie Lewis, PhD, and Director of Riggs Remote Access IOP Spencer Biel, PsyD, discuss the importance of programs like the Austen Riggs IOP for facilitating a sense of social connectedness and understanding

Loneliness and Belonging in College Mental Health

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