Episode 6 - Risa Cohen: retired registered nurse, insights and maintaining dignity serving others

Welcome back to the Say More Podcast! In this episode, Sarah Ozycz, MS, LMFT is joined by her former work mom and best friend, Risa Cohen, a retired addiction and detox registered nurse. Risa shares her career in nursing, specifically in the addictions field providing medication for those who struggled with substance use disorders. We explore myths, insights, lessons learned, and she shares her message for others on how to maintain integrity and dignity helping those most vulnerable.  Trigger warning: substance use, route of administration of substances, and trends of overdose and death are discussed in this episode.Host Bio: Sarah Ozycz, MS, LMFT is an independently licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Massachusetts with 15 years’ experience in the field of behavioral health. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in Human Development and Family Studies, and a master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in Marriage and Family Therapy. She completed a clinical internship with Concord Hospital Family Health Center Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency program during graduate school, and interned with the Child Life department at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary during her undergraduate career. Additionally, Sarah was a graduate assistant for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program at UNH, supporting traditionally underrepresented students in higher education preparing to enter a Ph.D. program.For the past decade, she worked for a Fortune 20 managed care company supporting more than 2 million Massachusetts Medicaid members, and a network of large public health systems, to improve clinical and quality outcomes.  Prior to her work in managed care, Sarah supported individuals, couples and families on the North Shore who struggled with mental health and substance use as both a clinician and a substance use group facilitator. Sarah is a strong advocate for behavioral health, health equity and improving access to care for all who need it.Disclaimer: Although Sarah Ozycz is an independently licensed clinician in Massachusetts, the content of this podcast is not professional advice and should not be used as a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment. These conversations are intended to destigmatize behavioral health, foster connection, and reflect Sarah’s personal perspectives and opinions. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or are in immediate distress, please contact emergency services/911 or go to your nearest emergency room.