2025 Virtual Fall Conference - Rebuilding Trust in Institutions: Bridging Generational Insights (Meeting live online)

September 19, 2025 to September 20, 2025

Erikson Institute of the Austen Riggs Center 2025 Virtual Fall Conference

The Austen Riggs Center invites you to join an interdisciplinary conference, "Rebuilding Trust in Institutions: Bridging Generational Insights.” This gathering expands Erik Erikson’s foundational insights on basic trust and mistrust, extending them into today's complex social and institutional landscapes.

We are living through a moment where institutions responsible for our social wellbeing—education, government, and healthcare—face unprecedented scrutiny and skepticism. At the Austen Riggs Center we are invested in the study of relationships between individuals, families, groups, and social institutions; many of our patients grapple profoundly with intergenerational mistrust across these different domains and communities. Understanding these multidetermined dynamics requires an approach that integrates individual psychology with historical, cultural, and social dimensions.

This conference convenes clinicians, scholars, and community leaders to explore critical questions about trust and mistrust, particularly as experienced differently across generations. Through a thoughtful blend of panels, interactive breakout sessions, and a reflective plenary, participants will delve deeply into the psychological, historical, ethical, and social factors influencing institutional credibility.

Conference Schedule 

Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 9:00 am - 4:30 pm (EDT)  

Roundtable: The Perspective of the Senior Generation  

Speakers: Medria Connolly, Retired Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, Michael Roth, PhD  

Moderators: Jane Tillman, PhD and Edward Shapiro, MD  

9:15AM—10:45AM—Roundtable: The Perspective of the Senior Generation 

10:45AM—11:00AM—Break 

Roundtable: The Perspective of the Younger Generation  

Speakers: Steven Rathje, PhD, Nic Weststrate, PhD, Christina Wusinich, MS 

Moderators: Katie Lewis, PhD, and Dan Knauss, PsyD  

11:00AM—12:30PM—Roundtable: The Perspective of the Younger Generation 

12:30—1:15PM—Lunch break 

Roundtable: Intergenerational Discussion – Legacy, Change, and the Future  

1:15 PM—2:45 PM—Intergenerational Roundtable 

Participatory Breakout Groups  

2:45PM—3:30PM Breakout rooms  

Plenary: Closing 

3:45PM—4:15PM Closing Plenary 

 

 

Learning Objectives

  1. Define and differentiate epistemic trust and epistemic vigilance in clinical and civic contexts. 

  1. Identify generational differences in shaping, challenging, and transmitting institutional trust. 

  1. Analyze cultural, psychological, and historical factors contributing to current institutional mistrust. 

  1. Formulate strategies for ethical engagement and transparency in healthcare and public institutions. 

  1. Reflect on societal mistrust’s impact on health equity and provider-patient relationships. 

  1. Integrate intergenerational insights into practice to enhance institutional resilience and democracy. 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    ACCME - As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Austen Riggs Center, Inc. designates this learning activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.50 APA

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Austen Riggs Center, Inc. designates this learning activity for 7.50 continuing education credit(s) (CE) for psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

    Austen Riggs Center, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0115.

  • 7.50 ASWB-ACE

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Austen Riggs Center, Inc is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organization, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Austen Riggs Center maintains responsibility for this. Social workers completing this Online live will receive 7.50 continuing education credit(s).

    Austen Riggs Center, Inc is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0843.

  • 7.50 Contact Hours/ Participation
    A certificate of attendance for all Learners.
Course opens: 
05/21/2025
Course expires: 
09/19/2026
Event starts: 
09/19/2025 - 6:30pm EDT
Event ends: 
09/20/2025 - 4:30pm EDT
Add to calendar: 
Rating: 
4.25

Presenters:

  • Chloe Campbell, PhD | Deputy Director, Psychoanalysis Unit, University College London
  • Carly Lingenfelter, PhD | Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
  • Angela Coombs Mumuni, MD | Associate Medical Director, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services; Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Medria Connolly, PhD | Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
  • Retired Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson | U.S. Air Force
  • Michael Roth, PhD | President, Wesleyan University
  • Steven Rathje, PhD | Postdoctoral Fellow, NYU; Incoming Assistant Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Nic Weststrate, PhD | Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Chicago
  • Christina Wusinich, MS | Doctoral Student, Counseling Psychology, NYU

Moderators: 

  • Daniel Knauss, PsyD | Director of Training, Austen Riggs Center 
  • Katie Lewis, PhD | Director of Research, Austen Riggs Center
  • Edward Shapiro, MD | Medical Director/CEO, Austen Riggs Center
  • Jane Tillman, PhD | Evelyn Stefansson Nef Director of the Erikson Institute for Education, Research, and Advocacy, Austen Riggs Center

Austen Riggs Center Inc. adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. All those at Austen Riggs Center involved in the planning of this activity, including the presenter(s) listed above, report they have no relevant financial relationships with an ineligible company*.

The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Austen Riggs Center.

 

* An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Available Credit

  • 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    ACCME - As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Austen Riggs Center, Inc. designates this learning activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.50 APA

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Austen Riggs Center, Inc. designates this learning activity for 7.50 continuing education credit(s) (CE) for psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

    Austen Riggs Center, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0115.

  • 7.50 ASWB-ACE

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Austen Riggs Center, Inc is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organization, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Austen Riggs Center maintains responsibility for this. Social workers completing this Online live will receive 7.50 continuing education credit(s).

    Austen Riggs Center, Inc is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0843.

  • 7.50 Contact Hours/ Participation
    A certificate of attendance for all Learners.
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