Loneliness is a pervasive issue affecting young adults today. 

indicate that approximately 30% of individuals aged 18-34 experience feelings of loneliness on a daily or weekly basis. This troubling statistic was the focus of a recent series of continuing education webinars hosted by 

, an IOP/PHP treatment community for young adults in New York  City and Washington, D.C.

were hosted by The Dorm’s Chief Clinical Officer 

for a two-part virtual event that highlighted this crisis and aimed to spark dialogue around loneliness and its impact on young adults. With over 1,400 registrants from across the nation, the topic drew tremendous engagement across our community and illuminated the complexities of loneliness in a therapeutic setting, the challenges young adults face today, and what therapists should keepin mind while approaching symptoms of loneliness with their clients.

The following post highlights key moments from the event, and we invite you to watch or listen to the entirety of 

Part 1: Young Adults & Social Connectedness with Dr. Katie C. Lewis

Understanding “Loneliness” in a Therapeutic Context

Dr. Katie Lewis began her presentation by emphasizing that 

However, when loneliness becomes chronic and debilitating, it can have long-term detrimental effects on mental and physical health. 

that prolonged loneliness can impair cognitive function, disrupt sleep patterns, and even increase the risk of premature death on par with the risk of smoking.

Defining loneliness, Dr. Lewis referred to 

the work of Dr. Louise Hawkley and Dr. John Cacioppo

, who describe it as “a distressing feeling that accompanies the perception that one’s social needs are not being met by the quality or quantity of one’s social relationships.” This definition underscores the significance of social connection as a fundamental human need that shouldn’t be overlooked in a medical context.

The Role of Social Connections in Young Adulthood

Dr. Lewis's presentation highlighted how meaningful relationships play a critical role in mitigating feelings of loneliness. She also emphasizes how emerging adults often find themselves in transitional life stages—completing education, starting careers, and forming romantic relationships—that can make them vulnerable to feelings of loneliness while navigating the complexities of their changing social worlds.

During these transitions, the absence of 

social connections can lead to heightened feelings of loneliness—and young adults also may lose sight of the fact that the quality over quantity of relationships during this stage is important for mental health. However, for some young adults, it may be more difficult to form meaningful relationships because of their attachment style.

Dr. Lewis highlighted her ongoing research surrounding the link between symptoms of loneliness and attachment styles, which shows that those with secure attachment styles—rooted in positive early relationships—are better equipped to forge strong social connections and cope with the challenges of emerging adulthood. Conversely, those with insecure attachment styles may find themselves caught in a cycle of disconnection, leading to feelings of isolation.

Dr. Lewis also confirmed and highlighted that 

shows how the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated feelings of loneliness among young adults. Many young adults missed significant milestones and social opportunities, which can often be developmental milestones and opportunities to have meaningful experiences with loved ones. However, Dr. Lewis noted that reconnecting with communities post-pandemic has led to positive changes in well-being for many individuals in her practice.

Dr. Lewis highlighted how, as people began to engage in group activities once again, those who sought social interactions experienced improved mental health outcomes. This emphasizes the potential for recovery through social reintegration and support systems. (As an illustrative description, Dr. Lewis described a case in which her client has gained support and healing through a weekly Dungeons and Dragons meetup.)

Part 2: Young Adults & Social Connectedness Today with Dr. Erin Seery and Dr. Seth Pitman

Therapeutic Approaches to Combat Loneliness

In the second part of the presentation, Dr. Erin Seery and Dr. Seth Pitman discussed therapeutic strategies for addressing loneliness. They emphasized that loneliness is not just a symptom but a 

that needs to be considered from multiple perspectives.

Dr. Seery highlighted the need to explore the gap between one’s desired and actual levels of social connection. For example, she explained, clients often experience fear or anxiety related to their mental illness or symptoms, which can hinder their ability to engage with others. By helping clients articulate these feelings and see life beyond them, therapists can facilitate deeper discussions that demystify the experience of loneliness.

One way to encourage clients to not feel shame around their loneliness, Dr. Seery explained, is viewing loneliness 

, akin to hunger. Just as hunger prompts individuals to seek food, loneliness motivates the search for social connection. However, the challenge lies in identifying relationships that fulfill emotional needs. Dr. Seery advocated for 

by recognizing it as a basic human experience, making it easier to address in therapeutic settings.

Dr. Pitman added that once clients accept that loneliness is a normal human experience, therapists can go on to encourage them to take incremental steps towards re-establishing social connections. This may include setting realistic goals for social engagements, exploring ignored interests, and participating in community activities that align with their values.

The Role of the Therapist in Treating Loneliness

Erik Erikson’s “Trapeze Artist” and the Role of the “Receiver”

During his presentation, Dr. Seth Pitman referenced Erik Erikson’s metaphor of the “trapeze artist” to explore loneliness within the context of emerging adulthood—a time marked by uncertainty, self-discovery, and significant life transitions. Erikson is also the core inspiration for the Austen Riggs Center’s 

, a center for education, research, and mental health advocacy, which helps clinicians, educators, researchers, and scholars understand and respond to problems individuals, groups, and society face.

Dr. Pitman references a quote from Erikson describing the vulnerable period of young adulthood:

“Like a trapeze artist, the young person in the middle of vigorous motion must let go of his safe hold on childhood and reach out for a firm grasp on adulthood, depending for a breathless interval on a relatedness between the past and the future, and on the reliability of those he must let go of, and those who will “receive” him… [and] he must detect some meaningful resemblance between what he has come to see in him-self and what his sharpened awareness tells him others judge and expect him to be.” -Dr. Erik Erikson

Dr. Pitman draws on this imagery to explain that the therapist’s role is similar to that of a “receiver.” Establishing trust early in the therapeutic relationship—often within the first sessions or even minutes—is critical. Once trust is built, therapists can begin exploring the underlying thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that contribute to each client's experience of loneliness.

“Loneliness is a deeply human experience. It's not something that we just want to treat away entirely. Instead, our goal as clinicians and therapists is to understand its nuances and help patients uncover aspects of their loneliness that may be outside of awareness, so that they can try out new approaches, or have greater access to capacities that already exist within themselves, but that they previously felt were off-limits or out of reach,” explained Pitman.

In essence, therapists guide clients to define and understand their loneliness more clearly, providing them with tools to explore new ways of addressing their symptoms.

Identifying Barriers to Connection in Therapy

As Dr. Pitman emphasized that therapists play a key role in uncovering what stands in the way of connection, he outlined several key considerations for clinicians who are having trouble forming an authentic connection with their young adult client:

Addressing Cognitive Distortions and Social Anxiety: 

Therapy and medication can help clients manage these obstacles, enabling healthier, more fulfilling social relationships. They can also break down barriers for more productive therapy with the clinicians.

Understanding the Societal Context of Loneliness: 

Systemic barriers, institutional dynamics, and societal pressures can also contribute to isolation. Therapists must remain mindful of their own biases and authority, fostering an inclusive and supportive therapeutic environment and helping clients build skills to overcome the systemic barriers to connection they may be facing. (For example, if they are the only person of color in an organization or school system.)

Dr. Pitman went on to highlight the importance of group-based interventions for treating loneliness, particularly within intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). Group work is a key step in helping young adults develop interpersonal skills and navigate social connection, while practicing openness, honesty, and vulnerability in a safe setting.

 for clients struggling with symptoms of loneliness include:

A process group focused on improving the quality of interpersonal connections.

Designed to combat Zoom fatigue and reconnect participants with their physical selves in a fun group setting.

A coping-skills group aimed at fostering emotional resilience.

Dr. Pitman and Dr. Erin Seery further emphasized the importance of integrating somatic practices, movement, and in-person connection as part of online IOP treatment plans to support holistic healing.

The Correlation Between Friendship & Symptom Reduction

Chief Clinical Officer of The Dorm, Dr. Amanda Fialk, joined the discussion to address a common challenge for their young adult clients—resistance to group traditional therapy groups within treatment. She cited 

, which shows a strong correlation between self-efficacy and friendships formed during treatment (whether those friendships are made in groups or in social clubs that are much more casual).

“Some of our clients resist traditional treatments like DBT because they’ve done them so many times. What our research shows is that focusing on connection—through community involvement or social activities—can lead to significant improvements. Joining a social group, playing pickleball, or participating in a club can lead to corrective emotional experiences and improved connections,” said Dr. Fialk.

She highlighted how social engagement, such as joining a group, participating in a sport like pickleball, or becoming involved in a club, can provide meaningful emotional experiences.

One key takeaway from this event is that the loneliness epidemic among young adults is a multifaceted issue that can’t be attributed to one cause. As Dr. Lewis highlighted in her portion of the presentation, each case is, however, deeply intertwined with attachment styles, social dynamics, and developmental transitions in young adulthood. While the consequences of chronic loneliness are severe, understanding its underlying causes and implementing effective therapeutic strategies provides our therapeutic community enormous hope for a future where young adults are equipped with the skills to build life-long resources for community involvement, productive and positive relationships, and a balanced life of connectedness and independence.

By prioritizing community-building and individualized care that destigmatizes loneliness, mental health professionals can help young adults navigate loneliness, fostering healthier relationships and enhancing their overall quality of life. Addressing this epidemic will not only benefits individuals but strengthen our communities as a whole.

News

A summary of important findings and discussion from a two-part virtual event co-hosted by The Dorm and the Austen Riggs Center.

Austen Riggs Center Clinicians Address the Loneliness Epidemic in Young Adults

After rigorous and thorough evaluation, the Erikson Institute of the Austen Riggs Center Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program and Fellowship in Hospital Based Psychotherapy has earned formal status as an approved institute of the 

American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA)

. APsA is the oldest national psychoanalytic organization in the country with more than 3,500 highly trained members.

The Fellowship training program has been accredited by the 

Accreditation Council for Psychoanalytic Education (ACPEinc)

 for over a decade, so membership in APsA is further recognition of the high quality of our four-year Fellowship for post-residency psychiatrists and post-doctoral psychologists. With fewer than three dozen approved institutes, the Erikson Institute of the Austen Riggs Center’s Fellowship joins other APsA training programs focused on educating and training psychoanalysts by “maintaining the highest quality psychoanalytic education as currently outlined in 

APsA’s Standards and Principles for Psychoanalytic Education

“This represents major recognition of the value and quality of our training program, its trainees, and its supervisors and teachers,” remarked Riggs Medical Director/CEO 

.“This bolsters the Fellowship’s reputation and will help us continue to recruit top psychodynamic psychiatrists and psychologists, some of whom may continue their careers at Riggs and some of whom will bring their specialized knowledge to bear in other settings.” 

Formally housed in the Austen Riggs Center’s 

Erikson Institute for Education, Research, and Advocacy

, the Fellowship provides a truly unique psychoanalytic training opportunity for post-residency psychiatrists and post-doctoral psychologists in work with complex adult patients—many of whom have not found success with other treatments—in a 

completely open and voluntary residential setting

. Since the late 1940s when its training program began, Riggs has graduated more than 200 Fellows, generally accepting between two and four new Fellows each year.

Staff Psychologist and former Director of Training, 

, PhD, ABPP, noted, “As I have discovered over years of supervising outside of Riggs, our graduates are in possession of an increasingly rare psychoanalytic knowledge base and set of clinical skills necessary for treating complex patients and troubles.”

Psychoanalysis and related approaches grounded in psychoanalysis, like psychodynamic therapy, truly help those struggling with mental health issues. Hundreds of published, peer-reviewed studies, and our own 

, show psychodynamic therapy works for people with a range of specific disorders and people with complex and co-occurring disorders. When compared to other forms of therapy, many of which focus on symptoms more than on meaning and relationships, psychodynamic therapy has been found to be equally effective.

, just eight years after the creation of APsA, has had a long association with the organization. Our clinicians regularly contribute 

, have served on committees, attend and present at 

, and benefit from the psychoanalytic community APsA helps to keep alive and well. In 1994, with the creation of the Erikson Institute for Education, Research, and Advocacy of the Austen Riggs Center, the Fellowship became part of the Erikson Institute’s focus and mission. Under the direction of 

, the Institute is a leading national and international provider of psychoanalytic education and clinical training as well as psychoanalytic research and supports advocacy for critical issues related to psychiatric care. In 2021, 

the Erikson Institute was named as a recipient of The Sigourney Award

Fellowship applications are due by December 1. To learn more or apply, visit: 

Austen Riggs Fellowship

Education News

Our psychoanalytic training program is now an approved institute of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA).

Riggs Training Program and Fellowship Earns Approved Institute of APsA Designation 

The Austen Riggs Center is pleased to welcome our fall 2024 Erikson Scholar-in-Residence, Clara Mucci, PhD. Dr. Mucci will be here for three months, working on her project, “Political resilience: practices to create resilience in individuals and societies,” which involves the history of trauma, ethics, psychoanalysis, interpersonal neurobiology, human development, evolutionary anthropology, social psychology, and ecology.

Clara Mucci, PhD, (PhD, 1999, Emory University, Atlanta, in English Literature and Psychoanalysis; Doctorate in Anglistics, Genoa University, Italy; Degree in Clinical Psychology, University of Chieti) and Specialization in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Milan, SIPP) is full professor of Dynamic Psychology at the University of Bergamo, Italy, after having served as full professor of English Literature and Shakespearean Drama until 2012. She is a member of SIPP (Società Italiana Psicoterapia Psicoanalitica), IARPP, APA-Division39 (Psychoanalysis) and a Psychoanalyst with training functions for SIPeP-SF (Società Italiana Psicoanalisi e Psicoterapia- Sandor Ferenczi), in private practice in Milan, Italy.

 speakers and will be giving the talk “Interpersonal Trauma and the Developmental Roots of Personality Disorders” on Friday, April 25, 2025. Learn more and register here: 

Education.AustenRiggs.org/ClaraMucci-FNGL

To learn more about our scholar-in-residence program, visit: 

https://psychologyou.com/autore/clara-mucci/

Dr. Clara Mucci will present the April 2025 Erikson Institute Friday Night Guest Lecture.

Dr. Mucci presents "Interpersonal Trauma and the Developmental Roots of Personality Disorders" at the April 25, 2025, Erikson Institute virtual Friday Night Guest Lecture.

Dr. Clara Mucci

The Austen Riggs Center is pleased to welcome our fall 2024 Erikson Scholar-in-Residence, Clara Mucci, PhD.  

Clara Mucci, PhD, Arrives as Fall 2024 Erikson Institute Scholar-in-Residence

Practicum education is the hallmark of social work training, connecting classroom theory to real-world practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities. At the Austen Riggs Center, we deeply value our enduring partnership with 

. Each year we welcome two MSW students for a nine-month practicum internship, during which they immerse themselves in and contribute to the essential role of clinical social work within our interdisciplinary treatment model.

This year, we are excited to welcome Deidre Murphy and Nick Paitsel. They will be supervised by two of our experienced clinical social workers, 

, who will serve as their practicum instructors. We look forward to teaching them about our psychodynamic systems approach to clinical social work practice with adult patients who have complex psychiatric conditions. We also welcome learning from our interns, as the exchange of knowledge is vital to our work.

Throughout their internship, Deidre and Nick will provide group and 

 to patients, conduct psychosocial assessments, assist with family assessments, and participate in multi-family educational workshops. They will be active members of an interdisciplinary team and engage in the 

 in various capacities. Our status as a teaching psychoanalytic hospital offers our interns numerous learning opportunities, including participation in ongoing intern seminars, Grand Rounds, medical staff seminars, and reading groups.

Stipends for social work interns are generously provided by a former Riggs patient. This ensures continued support for the professional growth and development of the next generation of psychodynamically trained clinical social workers.

At the Austen Riggs Center, we deeply value our enduring partnership with Smith College School for Social Work.

Deidre Murphy and Nick Paitsel join Riggs for a nine-month practicum internship, during which they immerse themselves in and contribute to the essential role of clinical social work within our interdisciplinary treatment model.

Social Work Interns

Riggs Welcomes Social Work Interns

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In an effort to help raise awareness, we have compiled a listing of local events, free CE/CME courses, articles and videos, research, as well as links to other awareness month resources.

Riggs Treatment for Issues Around Suicide

: Prior to coming to Riggs, more than half of our patients have made a near-lethal suicide attempt or struggled with suicidal ideation. Treatment in the open setting of Riggs isn’t right for everyone dealing with thoughts of suicide; it requires the capacity to balance the freedom of the open setting with the responsibility, as a member of our community, to keep oneself alive in order to have treatment. 

 at 988 for 24/7 free, confidential emotional support, or use their webchat.

Berkshire County's Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

 Bousquet Mountain Ski Area, 101 Dan Fox Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01201


Best practices in suicide prevention for high-risk populations in Berkshire County, MA
Up to 6.5 hours of CE credit available.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) 2024 Berkshire County Walk to Prevent Suicide

 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Eastern) (registration starts at 9:00 a.m.)


https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=register.start&eventID=10201

 with Eric M. Plakun, MD, DLFAPA, FACPsych

How Do Interpersonal Conflicts Contribute to Suicide Risk? A Clinical and Empirical Discussion

7 Themes Reported by Near-Lethal Suicide Attempt Survivors

Suicide: Four Protective Factors – Jane G. Tillman, PhD, at the Austen Riggs Center Centennial Conference

William Wan Speaks About his Four-part Series in the Washington Post, "Dying for Help: How America's mental health system is failing mentally vulnerable and suicidal youths"

Four R’s Believed to Be Protective Against Suicide

Lewis, K., Roche, M. J., Brown, F., Tillman, J. (2023). Intolerance of aloneness as a prospective predictor of suicidal ideation during COVID-19.  

Lewis, K., Roche, M. J., Brown, F., Tillman, J. (2022). Attachment, loneliness, and social connection as prospective predictors of suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a relational diathesis-stress experience sampling study. Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior. 

Tillman, J. G., Stevens, J. L., & Lewis, K. (2021). States of mind preceding a near-lethal suicide attempt: A mixed methods study. 

Lewis, K., Good, E., Tillman, J., Hopwood, C. (2021). Assessment of psychological pain in clinical and non-clinical samples: A preliminary investigation using the Psychic Pain Scale.  

Lewis, K., Meehan, K., Cain, N., Wong, P., Clemence, A.J., Stevens, J., & Tillman, J. (2021). Quality of internalized object representations and suicidality in individuals with anaclitic and introjective personality styles. 

Additional Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Resources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)

In an effort to help raise awareness, we have compiled resources consisting of Riggs blogs, external publications, suicide research initiatives, and events throughout Berkshire County bringing awareness to this crucial topic. 

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month  

Recently, we became aware of some online ads impersonating the Austen Riggs Center and other well-known treatment centers. 

These are fraudulent scams and should not be trusted;

 they are designed to collect and use your personal information. It is particularly distasteful that scammers are targeting those seeking mental health help. We are working to identify and take action against those responsible and want to provide you with information to help identify and avoid these scams.

Identifying An Online Scam–Things to Look For:

Company/organization name in web address/URL

False sense of urgency/immediate availability

Many of the fraudulent ads target mobile devices and appear for people looking to call or contact us quickly.

The image below is a sponsored (paid) ad from a mobile search for “Austen Riggs Center.” This is a fraudulent ad. Notice the URL/web address is generic (“treatment-help")and that the language used (“Call Us Instead” “Available 24/7” “On Call Help Available”) has an urgency to it that is designed to get people to click on the ad.

The image below is a legitimate Austen Riggs Center sponsored ad. Notice the name of the organization (“Austen Riggs”) is in the web address/URL and below the 800 number listed.

In addition, there are three dots to the right of all sponsored ads (circled in 

 in the image above). When you click on the three dots, you will see the information about the advertiser (see image below). If the Austen Riggs Center is not listed as the advertiser (highlighted), 

If you have questions about any ads that you see online, it is always a good idea to go to the organization’s legitimate website and find their contact information there. 

Check the organization’s website to see if there is a staff directory. Verify you are talking to an 

Confirm the hours of operation at the treatment facility. Members of the staff may only be available during business hours.

Our admissions officers will never ask you to arrive immediately. Admissions days are scheduled with advance notice.

If someone directs you to another location outside of Stockbridge, MA, it is not the Austen Riggs Center. We have one location.

Never give payment information over the phone. Austen Riggs will not ask for a prepayment for treatment until admission is offered during the in-person 

Patient privacy and safety are paramount to the Austen Riggs Center. If you suspect you have given information to someone other than Austen Riggs, please contact our admissions team. To 

 the Austen Riggs Center, you can call 800.517.4447, M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Eastern) or email 

Cellphone Image

Beware of fraudulent scams targeting treatment centers, aimed at collecting your personal information.

Online Scams Targeting Treatment Centers

Bellinger and Morey with representatives from Sowing Empowered Women (S.E.W.) /Esteem Resources Africa at training 2: “EmpowerHer: Building Resilience and Thriving After Trauma: A Workshop for Young Women”  

The Austen Riggs Center has long supported and encouraged staff in their professional development, clinical scholarship, and volunteer efforts. This piece highlights a recent collaboration co-led by 

Ritual servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking are global issues that impact millions of children and adults every year. The 

 around the globe are lured into forced labor, and the U.S. Department of State cites an 

 of trafficking worldwide. The scale of the victimization of vulnerable individuals can seem so overwhelming that it is hard to know where to begin or how to help.

International and nation-based organizations continue to develop important policies and interventions, but they require local action and implementation. One organization helping to facilitate local action is US-based 

 (ISWS), whose mission is to empower vulnerable and underserved communities globally with access to highly qualified and experienced social workers who convey the social work values in helping to address the problems of poverty, exploitation, or marginalization.

This past spring, two ISWS volunteers, Riggs Director of Clinical Social Work 

, (ISWS volunteer since 2020), joined forces to explore possible projects they could work on together. After research, consultation, and ISWS approval, they identified ritual servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking in Ghana as a focal point. Though the Ghanaian government outlawed forced labor and slavery in 1998, the religious and cultural practices of 

To develop their ISWS project, Morey and Bellinger partnered with a lead NGO in Ghana called 

 (ERA), located in Spintex, Accra in Ghana, to identify key community stakeholders and target groups for interventions. Approaching the project from a stance of cultural humility and sensitivity, they utilized community needs assessment (CNA) data to target four groups: exploited/traumatized young women, educators, NGO professionals, and domestic violence investigators. 

Once in Ghana, Morey and Bellinger delivered two trauma-informed psychoeducational workshops focused on trauma, self-care, and essential life skills for young women who had been subjected to ritual servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking; and three psychosocial capacity-building trainings focused on trauma, self-care, and capacity building with local educators, NGO professionals, and members of the Ghanaian police who work in the domestic violence and victim support unit. Most of the trainings and workshops took place in Ghana’s capital, Accra, though Morey and Bellinger also traveled to the remote village Mafi-Kumase to deliver one of the workshops to 150 community members. Using a train-the-trainer model, the workshops and trainings were designed for replication and future implementation by in-country organizations, partners, and professionals.

Participants at the first training, “Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices for Educators Working with Victims/Survivors of Exploitation”

Cathleen Morey, PhD, LICSW, and Breeanna Bellinger, MSW, volunteer in Ghana

Bellinger and Morey with representatives from Sowing Empowered Women (S.E.W.) /Esteem Resources Africa at training 2: “EmpowerHer: Building Resilience and Thriving After Trauma: A Workshop for Young Women”

International Social Work Solutions Volunteers

Morey and Bellinger presenting “Identifying and Supporting Trauma Victims of Ritual Servitude and Forced Labor: A Guide for Ghanian Police” to 20 Ghanian police officers.

Feedback from the workshops and trainings was broadly positive, captured both in formal survey results gathered (consistent 4 or 5 ratings on a 5-point scale and reported increases in knowledge about trauma and self-care) and in the informal interactions Morey and Bellinger had with the participants.

When asked what they valued most about the presentations, one participant wrote, “The presenters has [sic] mastery over the content and it made me understand the concepts.” Another stated, “I liked that it was easy to interact with the speakers and how easy they clarified things.”

Reflecting on their experiences, the pair assembled a comprehensive list of recommendations and lessons learned as part of a report submitted to ISWS to help inform a phase two implementation for this project to be taken up by ISWS volunteers in the future.

Morey stated, “The opportunity to connect with participants, learn from their experiences, and witness their growth and resilience was incredibly rewarding and inspiring. Witnessing their eagerness to learn from us was deeply humbling.”

Bellinger and Morey along with participants (11 individuals from 6 different NGOs) from workshop 4: “Enhancing Psychosocial Skills for NGO Practitioners Assisting Individuals Affected by Exploitation”

Morey’s previous projects with ISWS have included a two-day virtual trauma training for an NGO in the Democratic Republic of Congo and research consultation to an NGO working with adults with diabetes in Uganda. Bellinger’s previous projects with ISWS have included leading a psychoeducation parent support group for parents of children with disabilities in Jamaica and a virtual training on violence and trauma for counselors in Guatemala.

The Austen Riggs Center has long supported and encouraged staff in their professional development, clinical scholarship, and volunteer efforts. This piece highlights a recent collaboration co-led by Dr. Cathleen Morey.

Riggs Volunteer Conducts Social Work Trainings and Workshops in Ghana 

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)

 requires insurance coverage for mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, not to be substantially more restrictive than insurance coverage for other medical conditions. Even though the MHPAEA was enacted in 2008, it has been an uphill struggle to implement it fully. Mental health care continues to be covered at lower rates than medical or surgical care, leaving many families and individuals lost or unsure where to turn when they are denied coverage.

, founded by Joe Feldman, MBA, is a new resource that supports self-advocacy for insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The website has a library of easy-to-use and digest information on topics related to medical necessity denials, telehealth denials, and other obstacles and denials, as well as action plan outlines and tips for success. The Austen Riggs Center is pleased to be listed as a collaborator, along with 

Feldman became an advocate for mental health access after his personal experience of fighting with insurance companies (and winning) to secure coverage for a family member’s treatment. He has worked with legislators and regulators, is on the board of 

, presents to parent groups, and co-authored actionable guidance with Austen Riggs Center Medical Director/CEO Dr. Eric Plakun and others that 

Dr. Plakun remarked, “Thank you, Joe, for having the energy, vision, and passion–garnered from your experience as a parent trying to get insurance to pay for your child’s treatment–to launch this important new resource for individuals and families who are struggling to get access to care that their insurance policies guarantee, but that is often withheld in insurance companies’ relentless pursuit of ‘excess revenue’ (aka profit) at the expense of those in need.”

Effective Medical Necessity & Appeal Letter Templates

 (authored by Joe Feldman, MBA; Eric Plakun, MD; Mark DeBofsky, JD; and Cheryl Botts, MBA)

A Wake-Up Call for Health Plans: U.S. Supreme Court Rejects United Behavioral Health’s Appeal by Riggs clinical staff member Dr. Kate Gallagher

U.S. Department of Labor - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity

Cover My Mental Health, founded by Joe Feldman, MBA, is a new resource that supports self-advocacy for insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. 

News

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