Best Alcohol and Drug Rehab FL in El Portal, FL

Naz Andekian Joined 1st Step in 2014 as Director of Program Development. After working 4 years as director of admissions in steps to recovery, Naz brought his expertise and knowledge to First Step Behavioral Health. Naz was a client in 2010 and says he knew this place had the ability to save and change many lives. “I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to work for the very place that saved my life, and now work with humility as part of a team that helps others to save their own on a daily basis.” Naz is convinced that he works for the best treatment center in the nation, and is proud to be part of such a caring team of individuals who always put the needs of our clients first.

Dr. Bloom is kind and compassionate but firm; providing supervision, guidance, training, intervention, and meaningful therapeutic services. She is also an author and co-author of several books, and has spoken internationally on topics of substance abuse, trauma, sexuality, and relationships. Dr. Bloom has a passion for assisting clients and staff to reach their maximum potential through her solution-focused leadership style and service-oriented approach. Dr. Bloom has a collaborative style of developing and working with teams of professionals with a philosophy of providing client-centered, effective and evidence-based practices. Dr. Bloom is kind and compassionate but firm; providing supervision, guidance, training, intervention, and meaningful therapeutic services. She is also an author and co-author of several books, and has spoken internationally on topics of substance abuse, trauma, sexuality, and relationships. She has participated in specialized training in the areas of substance abuse, trauma, clinical sexology, and relationship coaching. Dr. Bloom has a Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work. She is a Board Qualified Clinical Supervisor for Registered Clinical Social Work and Mental Health Counseling Interns. She has served as a Clinical Director and also as a Licensed Therapist for over 15 years and is very involved with client care, including interdisciplinary staffing and facilitating groups as needed.

With over 20 years of clinical experience in psychiatry, Dr. Michael Murphy, MD, MPH, is a valuable asset to the West Florida community and American Addiction Centers family. Prior to coming to River Oaks in 2018, Dr. Murphy served as the national medical director for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Behavioral Health Services and, over the course of 12 years, held several leadership positions for a number of psychiatric hospitals and medical centers in Tennessee. Dr. Murphy is a renowned expert in the diagnosis and treatment of major mental illness and substance abuse disorders with extensive experience leading initiatives in patient safety, violence prevention, integrated care, and medical comorbidity. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and author of Blueprints in Psychiatry, a textbook for medical students, the sixth edition of which was published in 2018. Dr. Murphy’s experience also includes servicing on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s Consolidated Department of Psychiatry and as the medical director of the Appleton long-term treatment program at Mclean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts for 8 years. Dr. Murphy’s strong passion for treating trauma, mood disorders, and substance use disorders is exemplified through his clinical care in which he combines sound psychiatric reasoning with a positive relational spirit. As River Oak’s medical director, Dr. Murphy oversees the clinical team ensures each patient receives the high-quality care that they deserve and that will help set them on the path to long-term recovery. Dr. Murphy’s approach is exemplified in Francis Wed Peabody’s quote, “…the secret of the care of the patient is caring for the patient.”