Katie C. Lewis, Ph.D.

Katie C. Lewis, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of Research at the Austen Riggs Center, where she leads research on personality disorders, suicidality, and the impact of interpersonal dynamics on mental health. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University and completed both a pre-doctoral internship and a postdoctoral fellowship at Albany Medical Center. Her research focuses on understanding how personality processes, attachment styles, and psychological pain contribute to mental health outcomes, particularly suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors. Dr. Lewis is especially known for using innovative methods like ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to capture real-time experiences of patients in clinical settings, shedding light on how daily emotional and interpersonal challenges affect individuals' mental well-being.

Dr. Lewis’s work has provided significant insights into the connection between social factors and suicidality, identifying predictors such as loneliness, attachment, and intolerance of aloneness. Her research is instrumental in informing more effective clinical interventions for patients at risk of suicide. In addition to her research, Dr. Lewis has made valuable contributions to the field of personality assessment, helping to develop tools that enhance clinical understanding and treatment of individuals with personality disorders. She is a leader in the professional community, serving in several prominent roles, including as a consulting editor for the Journal of Personality Assessment and a board member of the Society for Personality Assessment.

Dr. Lewis's expertise is widely recognized through prestigious awards, including the Samuel J. and Anne G. Beck Early Career Award, which honors outstanding early-career research in personality assessment. She is also a Fellow of the American Psychoanalytic Association and has received multiple grants, including from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Through her research, clinical practice, and leadership in professional organizations, Dr. Lewis continues to shape the future of clinical psychology, especially in the areas of suicide prevention and personality assessment. Her commitment to advancing the understanding of personality disorders and their role in mental health outcomes has made her a respected figure in the field.