About Austen Riggs | Open Residential Psychiatric ...
Clinical Social Work • Stockbridge, MA • Since 1919
About
Austen Riggs Center is a nonprofit residential psychiatric treatment facility in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1919 (originally the Stockbridge Institute for the Study and Treatment of Psychoneuroses). It operates a therapeutic community focused on intensive psychotherapy. The center is affiliated with Cambridge Health Alliance, Yale Child Study Center, and Yale School of Medicine, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. It has about 74–82 staff, around $7 million in annual revenue, and offers residential care at a 74-bed facility. The organization is private, non-profit, and serves patients in the United States with a headquarters in Stockbridge, MA. Contact: info@austenriggs.net; main phone numbers 800.517.4447 and 413.298.4020.
Clinic Type
Clinical Social Work
Address
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Phone
+1800517.4447
info@austenriggs.net
Opening Hours
Not published — contact the clinic to confirm hours.
Emergency Care
Emergency care available? Not explicitly stated in the provided text
Services Offered
Team
Insurance & Payment
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Languages Spoken
FAQs
For more information on our residential treatment programs, or answers to any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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Awards & Accreditations
Social Media
Photos
What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- Yelp, Google, and third-party local directories: Varies widely from very high to very low (1/5 to 5/5) (Limited, typically found on third-party aggregation sites like uscompanies.net and Yelp)
Patients praise
- Highly regarded for its unique psychodynamic approach to therapy
- Open, campus-like setting perceived as empowering and distinct from traditional locked psychiatric units
- Focus on patient autonomy and understanding the meaning behind symptoms
- Many alumni report life-changing, positive outcomes and personal growth
- Supportive community environment and emphasis on relationships
Common complaints
- High financial cost and requirement for significant pre-payment
- Concerns about efficacy for patients with active substance abuse or eating disorders
- Criticism regarding the voluntary nature of the program not being suitable for everyone
- Some patients experienced discomfort with the intense scrutiny of group-based processes like 'Task'
- Reports of negative or hostile employee workplace culture
"They saved my life... However, for patients with active drug/alcohol/eating disorder issues this place could very well be a death sentence."
— Third-party hospital review site"That’s not to say the Riggs experience was easy or always to her liking. She had disagreements with some staff members and described the 'Task' process... as feeling to her more like unwanted scrutiny than helpful."
— Austen Riggs Center official patient story article"Coming to Riggs when I did was the best thing I could have done. After being a patient on a locked unit, I had a great appreciation for the open setting. I learned, when things are going badly, don’t retreat and isolate–turn to the people around you."
— Austen Riggs Center official patient outcomes pageSynthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 11, 2026 — sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- Examined Living: Reflection, Responsibility, and Learning in an Open Therapeutic Community — Jan 21, 2026
- Austen Riggs Center Selects Oscar F. Hills, MD, as Next Medical Director and CEO — Mar 10, 2026
- Austen Riggs Center names next medical director, CEO | Bizbrief | The Berkshire Eagle — Mar 14, 2026
- Reuniting at the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center — Aug 15, 2025
- Dr. Oscar Hills Steps into Leadership Role at Austen Riggs Center - Health Care News — Jul 6, 2026
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 11, 2026.
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