When I decided to come to treatment at River Oaks, I was so exhausted with how I was living my life as an addict. I have been struggling with addiction for 17 years and this was my first time ever entering treatment.
When I arrived at River Oaks and took my first steps into the building everyone I encountered was so accommodating. Phillip Musin was one of the first people I met. Phil did my intake assessment and we clicked immediately. I felt such a warmth from him and I could tell right away that he loves his job. Never once did he make me feel ashamed for being an addict. He spoke to me as if I were just another person.
That is so important, as addicts we tend to wear a badge of shame for being an addict. Unfortunately, not all nurses or doctors are understanding and sometimes add to the stigma addicts face by shaming us or making us feel as if we are another “drug seeker", because of our addictions.
During my intake, Phil shared with me his passion for skincare and we shared excitement over that. He was so nice to me and made me feel so comfortable during what is, in my opinion, the hardest part of arriving for treatment. I felt so comfortable being completely honest with him while sharing my story and medical history.
I loved his groups as well. Phil always had great movies for us to watch and I love how knowledgeable he is when it comes to explaining how different medications affect our brains. If it wasn't for the amazing medical staff at River Oaks, I don't know if I would have made it through treatment and Phil played a huge part in that for me. Thank you Phil, you're amazing!