Online IOP for College Students and Emerging Adults in MA & VT
Online Information Session: Understanding the Austen Riggs Online Intensive Outpatient Program with Director Dr. Spencer Biel
Free online sessions for referrers, prospective patients, and families exploring the Riggs Online IOP.
If you are a clinician, college counseling professional, parent, family member, or emerging adult wondering whether a higher level of care may be needed, we invite you to join us for a live online information session about the Austen Riggs Online Intensive Outpatient Program.
The Riggs Online IOP is designed for college students and emerging adults, ages 18-30, who are physically located in Massachusetts or Vermont and are struggling with the academic, work, social, emotional, and relational challenges of young adulthood. These sessions offer a practical opportunity to ask questions about how the program works, whom it may be appropriate for, and how to begin the admissions process.
Registration links coming soon
Registration is required. Meetings take place on the following Wednesdays at 6 p.m. (Eastern):
- July 22
- August 26
- September 23
- October 28
About These Sessions
Choosing or recommending an intensive outpatient program can raise a lot of questions. Is IOP the right level of care? How is an online program structured? What kinds of young adults tend to benefit? How does Riggs think about treatment, symptoms, relationships, and lasting change?
These free online sessions are designed to help referrers, prospective patients, and families better understand the Austen Riggs Online IOP and whether it may be a good fit. Dr. Spencer Biel, Director of Online IOP, will provide an overview of the program, explain the admissions process, and answer general questions from attendees.
For referrers, this is a chance to explore whether the Riggs IOP may be appropriate for a patient whose outpatient treatment is not enough, whose progress has plateaued, or who is stepping down from a higher level of care.
For prospective patients and families, this is an opportunity to learn more about the program in a low-pressure setting before deciding whether to take the next step.
What We’ll Cover
Each session will include an overview of:
- Who the Online IOP is designed to help
- How the program supports college students and emerging adults
- What makes the Riggs psychodynamic team approach different
- How the program helps patients understand emotions, relationship patterns, coping, and resilience
- What the weekly schedule can look like
- Eligibility requirements for patients in Massachusetts and Vermont
- When IOP may be appropriate—and when another level of care may be needed
- How admissions, consultation, and referral work
- How Riggs can collaborate with families, referring clinicians, school counseling centers, and other treatment providers
About the Austen Riggs Online IOP
Becoming an adult can bring new independence, possibility, and growth—but also pressure, uncertainty, and emotional strain. For some young adults, the demands of school, work, relationships, and daily life become difficult to manage with outpatient therapy alone.
The Austen Riggs Online Intensive Outpatient Program provides structured, relationally focused mental health treatment for emerging adults ages 18-30 who need more support while remaining connected to school, work, family, and community life.
The program uses a psychodynamic team approach, which means treatment is focused not only on symptom relief, but also on understanding the emotional experience, relationship patterns, conflicts, and coping strategies that shape a person’s life. The goal is to help patients develop greater self-awareness, strengthen resilience, and use relationships and emotions in the service of growth and lasting change.
Program Features
The Riggs Online IOP is designed with the realities of young adult life in mind. Depending on clinical need and schedule, the program may include:
- Group programming 2-3 days per week
- Individual psychotherapy
- Medication management and psychiatric consultation
- Family therapy
- Process-oriented groups focused on relationships and resilience
- Skills-oriented groups that support coping and emotion regulation
- Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation
- Collaboration with other mental health resources, including school counseling centers and outpatient providers
All services are provided remotely through Zoom so patients can participate from campus or home while physically located in Massachusetts or Vermont.
Who May Be a Good Fit?
The Online IOP may be appropriate for emerging adults who:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 30
- Are physically located in Massachusetts or Vermont while receiving services
- Are struggling to remain engaged in school, work, relationships, or daily life
- Need more structure and support than weekly outpatient therapy can provide
- Are stepping down from residential, inpatient, partial hospital, or another higher level of care
- Want treatment that explores underlying emotional and relational patterns, not just immediate symptoms
- Can participate safely in a remote, intensive outpatient setting
The program is not designed for crisis stabilization or for individuals with an active substance use disorder requiring specialized substance use treatment. A member of the Riggs team can help determine whether the Online IOP is the right level of care.
Upcoming Sessions
Sessions will be offered online on multiple dates.
Registration is required. Meetings take place on the following Wednesdays at 6 p.m. (Eastern). Select the date that works best for you and register in advance to receive your Zoom link.
- July 22
- August 26
- September 23
- October 28
What to Expect When You Register
There is no cost to attend.
After registering, you will receive a Zoom link by email.
Sessions are informational. They are not therapy, clinical consultation, or a substitute for an individualized admissions assessment.
You may ask general questions. To protect privacy, please do not share personal health information or identifying clinical details during the group session.
Sessions are live and will not be recorded.
Who Leads the Sessions
Spencer Biel, PsyD, Director of Online IOP
Dr. Biel is available to address questions about treatment approach, whether Riggs is the right fit, and the admissions process—both during sessions and through direct consultation.
For Referring Clinicians and Referral Partners
The Riggs Online IOP may be worth considering when a young adult needs more than individual outpatient therapy but does not require acute stabilization. It may also be helpful when a patient’s symptoms, relational difficulties, family dynamics, or struggles with independence interfere with school, work, or daily life.
These sessions are intended to help referral partners understand the program structure, clinical philosophy, fit criteria, and admissions process. We welcome general, case-informed questions, but ask that identifying patient information not be shared during the group session.
For confidential consultation about a specific patient, please contact the IOP team directly.
For Prospective Patients and Families
Seeking more support can feel like a big step. You may be wondering whether IOP is “too much,” whether online treatment can feel meaningful, or whether this kind of program can fit into school, work, and family life.
This session is designed to give you a clearer picture of what the Austen Riggs Online IOP offers and what it might feel like to participate. You’ll learn about the weekly structure, the role of groups and individual therapy, how families may be involved, and how the admissions process works.
There is no pressure and no commitment. The session is simply a way to learn more and ask questions.
Contact the Online IOP Team
To learn more about the Austen Riggs Online Intensive Outpatient Program or to begin the admissions process, contact us:
833.921.5700, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Eastern), through our online form, or via email: IOPadmissions@austenriggs.hush.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are these information sessions for?
These sessions are for prospective patients, families, referring clinicians, college counseling professionals, case managers, educational consultants, and others who want to understand the Austen Riggs Online Intensive Outpatient Program and whether it may be an appropriate next step.
Is there a cost to attend?
No. The information sessions are free.
Do I need to register?
Yes. Registration is required in advance. After registering, you will receive a Zoom link by email.
Is this a therapy session or clinical consultation?
No. These are informational sessions only. They are not therapy, clinical consultation, or a substitute for an admissions assessment. Please keep questions general and avoid sharing identifying personal or clinical information during the session.
Who is eligible for the Online IOP?
The program serves emerging adults ages 18–30 who are physically located in Massachusetts or Vermont while receiving services.
Is this program appropriate for someone in crisis?
The Online IOP is not a crisis stabilization program. Individuals in immediate danger or acute crisis should call 988, go to the nearest emergency department, or contact local emergency services.
How do I refer someone or ask about admissions?
You can contact the Online IOP team at 833.921.5700, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Eastern), or use the registration/contact link on this page. A member of the team can help determine whether the program may be an appropriate fit.