Online IOP for College Students and Emerging Adults in MA

Former Patient Stories

Hear first-hand from Austen Riggs Center Alumni about their experiences before, during, and after treatment at Riggs.
Austen Riggs Alumnus Mashuq Mushtaq Deen describes his path to Riggs, his treatment experience, and how that impacted his life.

A Life Reclaimed: Andrea Madden, Austen Riggs Former Patient, 2015-2016

It was a 180-degree change from the girl who was lying on the couch in the same clothes for two weeks because the thought of walking three feet to go take a shower was exhausting. I am not that person anymore.

Austen Riggs Saved My Life and Helped Me Create a Life I Wanted to Live

With the perspective of someone who has been "on both sides of the couch," I have strong feelings about my treatment then, and for what continues to pass as "treatment as usual" in the majority of contemporary treatment settings.

Lessons for Life: Ron Auerbacher, Austen Riggs Former Patient 1965-1967

The 1960s was a time of social upheaval for millions of people. One of them was Ron Auerbacher, who wrestled with deep anxiety and depression, while struggling to understand his emerging identity as a young, gay man. At a point of dire stress in his life, Riggs marked a key step at the beginning of a decades-long journey to successfully understand himself and his place in a community.

Share Your Experience

If you or your family member had a positive experience at Riggs, we encourage you to share your story. Submitting a review or telling your story will help future patients and families learn about Riggs.

Admission Process

If other treatments haven’t worked, Riggs may be right for you. Unlike some other psychiatric hospitals in Massachusetts or elsewhere, our relational, patient-centered treatment approach addresses underlying issues, not just symptoms.

Learn More About Admission

Speak with Admissions

From first contact to consultation, follow the steps in our admission process.

People We Treat

At Riggs, we welcome adults (age 18 and up) from across the country and around the world who seek a self-directed behavioral treatment approach to help them return to a more satisfying life. Our intensive residential treatment is for people who are not in acute crisis, but for whom outpatient treatment just isn’t enough.

I look at Riggs as the place that broke my fall. In giving me the space to discover my competency, I found my voice. I started by expressing my anger about almost everything. But this expression opened many doors for me. From there, I broke the downward spiral."
- CJ, Former Patient
More Patient Outcomes

Contact Us for More

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