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Erikson Institute Distinguished Faculty

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Psychology

MD from the American University of Beirut

Residency training in psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic 

Fellowship in psychoanalytic studies at the Austen Riggs Center

Samar Habl, MD, is the director of admissions and associate medical director at the Austen Riggs Center. Dr. Habl is a certified board psychiatrist, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and a team leader Austen Riggs.

Consulted at various leadership development programs in different business schools

The study of groups and social systems as it pertains to organizational life and the application of group relation theories to leadership development.

Samar Habl, MD

Director of Admissions and Associate Medical Director

BA in Psychology from Bard College at Simon’s Rock

In her role as an admissions clinician, Jeri Hautzig, LCSW, works closely with prospective patients and families to determine whether or not Riggs might be a good fit.   

Ms. Hautzig worked for an organization that provided housing and other social services to adults with developmental disabilities in Boston and for an elder services agency doing in-home therapy prior to coming to Riggs.

Certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Jeri Hautzig, MSW, is an admissions clinician at the Austen Riggs Center.

Jeri Hautzig, MSW

Admissions Clinician

As the admissions clinician and manager, Nicole May, LICSW, oversees the day to day operations of the Admissions department and facilitates the flow of cases. She is directly involved in the admission of almost all incoming patients, assessing, educating, and facilitating the process. As the Human Rights and Privacy Officer, she is involved in educating, advocating for, and assisting staff and patients in exercising their rights to privacy and fair treatment.

In addition to Ms. May’s roles here at Austen Riggs, she is involved in crisis assessment and intervention work through her local community mental health clinic. Her involvement with this organization allows her to both bring a broader knowledge and understanding of issues affecting different populations to her work at Riggs, and also for her to bring parts of the psychodynamic approach to the local community.

For the past few years, Ms. May has been involved in fundraising for and participated in the awareness walk for the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Professional Affiliations/Organizational Memberships

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Nicole May, LICSW, is the admissions clinician and manager and human rights and privacy officer at the Austen Riggs Center.

Nicole May, LICSW

Admissions Clinician and Manager/Human Rights and Privacy Officer

BS in psychology from the University of Texas

PsyD in clinical psychology from George Washington University

Predoctoral internship at Pathways Community Health in Missouri

Fellowship in Psychoanalytic Studies at the Austen Riggs Center

Board Certified by the American Board and Academy of Psychoanalysis

Jeremy M. Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP, is the director of psychological testing, associate director of admissions, and a staff psychologist at the Austen Riggs Center. He is also the chair of the Erikson Scholar Search Committee.

He has written and presented on schizophrenia, paranoia, personality disorders, and psychological testing.

Psychotherapeutic treatment of individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with a particular focus in understanding how targeting mentalization (i.e. how people think about self and other) can be an important focus for recovery. In addition, he has conducted psychological assessment research on personality disorders and psychosis

Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP, is the associate director of admissions and the director of psychological testing at the Austen Riggs Center.

Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP

Associate Director of Admissions/Director of Psychological Testing

BS in criminal justice from Westfield State University

In her role as an admissions clinician, Brooke Storti, LCSW, works closely with prospective patients and families to determine whether or not Riggs might be a good fit. She is part of a team that answers any questions that a prospective patient may have about the treatment, examined living, or anything else about Riggs. The prospect of entering treatment can be overwhelming and Mrs. Storti aims to build trusting relationships in order to make the transition less daunting.

Mrs. Storti worked in the [adult] probation department of the Trial Court of Massachusetts for 18 years prior to coming to Riggs. Helping people get much-needed services, whether it was mental health, substance use, or employment were all a part of her previous work experience. Working with people who are dealing with very stressful situations along with her passion for helping others continues to inform her work at Riggs.

Mrs. Storti volunteers for the annual American Foundation for Suicide Prevention “Out of the Darkness” walks. She also was instrumental in creating a relationship between the local chapter of AFSP and the Great Barrington Police Department, who have increased their training and awareness in response to cases who are having a mental health crisis.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Certified in domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor counseling

Certified in trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT)


Brooke Storti, LICSW

Meet the Austen Riggs staff of therapists, nurses, administrators, and other healthcare professionals who work as a team on behalf of our patients. 

Staff Directory of Therapists and Teams | Austen Riggs

For more information on our residential treatment programs, or answers to any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

Meet Our Team

Admissions Staff

Samar Habl, MD

Jeri Hautzig, LCSW

Nicole May, LICSW

Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP

Brooke Storti, LCSW

Contact Us for More

For more information on our residential treatment programs, or answers to any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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