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Drs. Lewis and Charles from the Austen Riggs Center have been honored with national awards from the Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology (SPPP, APA Division 39)—recognizing their significant contributions to advancing psychoanalytic theory, research, and clinical practice.
These awards highlight the broader impact of Austen Riggs as a center for psychoanalytic treatment, research, and scholarship, and reinforce its role in shaping contemporary conversations in mental health care.
Advancing Psychoanalytic Research: Katie Lewis, PhD
Director of Research Katie Lewis, PhD, has been named the recipient of the 2026 SPPP Research Award, which honors individuals who have made substantial contributions to psychoanalytic psychology across theory, practice, and research.
Dr. Lewis’s work exemplifies the integration of rigorous research with deeply informed clinical care—core to the Austen Riggs model. Over the past decade, her scholarship and professional leadership have helped extend the reach of Riggs’ clinical thinking to a wider network of researchers, clinicians, and interdisciplinary audiences.
Her recognition reflects not only individual achievement, but also the strength of a treatment environment committed to psychodynamic inquiry, outcomes research, and the study of complex psychiatric conditions.
Reflecting on this recognition, Dr. Lewis remarked:
“I feel so honored by this award, and so grateful to the Society for the intellectual home it has provided me over the past 15 years. My involvement began as a graduate student, serving on the Ethics Committee, where I first experienced the Society’s commitment to thoughtful dialogue and mentorship. Since then, I have been fortunate to remain engaged through presentations on clinical training and my empirical work examining attachment, emotional health, and suicide risk. The Society has supported this work not only as a forum for sharing ideas, but also through funding by the Marsha McCary Fund that made longitudinal investigation possible. Psychoanalytic research remains essential for deepening our understanding of complex emotional life and the nuances of human relationships. It plays–and must continue to play–a critical role in bridging clinical insight with scholarship, education, and public health policy, ensuring the continued relevance and evolution of psychoanalysis as a field. This community continues to shape my thinking, my research, and my clinical perspective, and I am sincerely grateful for this recognition and for the colleagues who have made this journey so rewarding.”
Recent scholarship from Dr. Lewis:
- Understanding Psychic Pain and Suicidal Crisis: A Clinical Framework for Mental Health Professionals - A Continuing Education Course by Katie C. Lewis, PhD
- America Is in a Crisis of Connection: What the APA’s 2025 Stress in America Survey Reveals
- Test Selection in Psychoanalytically Informed Assessment
- Measuring Psychological Pain to Improve Clinical Research and Care
Recognizing Scholarly Impact: Marilyn Charles, PhD, ABPP
Staff Psychologist and Team Leader Marilyn Charles, PhD, ABPP, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 SPPP Scholarship Award, honoring her enduring contributions to psychoanalytic scholarship.
A widely respected author, educator, and clinician, Dr. Charles’s work has significantly influenced contemporary psychoanalytic thought, particularly in areas bridging theory, trauma, and culture. She will be formally recognized at the SPPP spring meeting.
Her selection underscores Austen Riggs’ long-standing commitment to thought leadership in psychoanalysis and the development of clinically grounded theory.
Remarking on her selection for this award, Dr. Charles noted:
“I am particularly pleased to be given this award because it marks the importance of the scholarly work I have been doing that has been made possible by the generosity of Riggs and the Erikson Institute. Over the 20 years I have been here, I have presented my work nationally and internationally, and published extensively in journals, books, and edited volumes, which helps to take the important learning that happens here at Riggs to other clinicians so that they might apply what we are learning in their own work environments.”
Recent scholarship from Dr. Charles:
- Trauma, Identity, and Development: Insights from Dr. Marilyn Charles
- Re-Finding the Feminine: Forgotten Threads of Meaning in Psychoanalysis in the American Journal of Psychoanalysis
- Working with Psychosis: A Developmental View in Modern Psychoanalysis
- New Books in Psychoanalysis podcast: Dr. Charles discusses her latest book, Echoes of Trauma: Meaning and Identity in Psychoanalysis, with Ben Greenberg, PsyD
A Shared Commitment to Psychoanalytic Excellence
In announcing this year’s recipients, Monique Bowen, PhD, chair of the SPPP awards committee, stated:
“Both of these SPPP Awards recognize individuals whose bodies of work, to-date, have made significant contributions key to advancing psychoanalytic psychology in the areas of theory and practice and with particular attention to research and scholarship.”
Together, these honors reflect the Austen Riggs Center’s mission to integrate clinical care, education, and research in ways that advance the field of psychoanalytic psychology.
About Austen Riggs Center
The Austen Riggs Center is a nationally recognized psychiatric treatment facility specializing in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches to complex mental health conditions. Through its open, voluntary treatment model and emphasis on patient autonomy, Riggs fosters an environment where clinical care and scholarly inquiry inform one another.
Learn more about:
- The Austen Riggs treatment model
- Ongoing research and publications in psychoanalysis
- Educational opportunities and professional training programs
For more information about the Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology and its awards, visit the SPPP website.
Related Resources
News
Trauma, Identity, and Development: Insights from Dr. Marilyn Charles
November 4, 2025
Dr. Marilyn Charles examines the intersections of trauma, identity, and development, revealing how psychoanalysis fosters reflection, containment, and growth through relational understanding.
News
Understanding Psychic Pain and Suicidal Crisis: A Clinical Framework for Mental Health Professionals - A Continuing Education Course by Katie C. Lewis, PhD
March 24, 2026
What drives suicidal crises? While depression and hopelessness are commonly cited risk factors, research increasingly points to another core clinical phenomenon: psychic pain.
Resource