Dr Rorert Lefever The Promis Recovery Centre The False Promise of Promis Pinners Hill, Nonington Kent United Kingdom
I wont bore you with the history and events that led me to the particular impasse I am about to discuss. Lets just cut straight to the chase. I have been and remain a Heroine, methadone, opiate addict for the last eight years.
I'm not looking for any ones sympathy but by the same token don't really give much of a s**t over the inevitable moral judgment most users are more than acquainted with.
However, I do feel bound to state that I have Always held down a job and have never financed my habit through any form of crime. For the benefit of the pedantic out there, I know the acquisition and possession of illegal drugs isn't fondly indulged by the local constabulary, bless um all.
within the last few weeks, I found myself at a point where the prospect of death seemed a far finner and sunnier option than the life I was reluctantly dragging my sorry a*s through.
Some talk about a moment of clarity, others Epiphany. For me the reality of my situation came like a well delivered kick to the s*****m, by some one wearing winkle-pickers. If I didn't get help and soon I would most likely top myself.
There followed a weekend of frenetic Internet searches and desperate phone calls. what I sort was in-patient residential opiate detox. the majority off the more responsible clinics and centres, when fully appraised of the size and duration of my habit, would not consider a stay of less than six weeks, some a month and one a fortnight, albeit with many a caveat.
That is until my mouse alighted upon The Promis Recovery Centre, run and owned by Dr Robert Lefever. The councillor I initially spoke to, reassured me that after taking the advice of the in house quack, that they could do the job in one week. All they needed from me - 4,420! lots of pressure to transfer the funds nice and pronto into there account. No point in delaying my recovery further!
Lefever himself is a strange and unsettling presence, who's eccentricity and enormous ego are obviously an enormous comfort to him. if external appearance is any indication of internal exeptence, his incredible comb-over, can only deepen ones reservations.
In one particularly distressing meeting I requested with his eminence, to discuss my ineffectual and disjointed withdrawal programme, I was ushered into his inner sanctum (Marie antoinette meets Poll Pot in terms of decor). Lefever already had his jacket and scarf on, letting me know in no uncertain terms that his time was a commodity for which I held little currency. He sat in an elevated position and eyed me in the same manner as someone who'd discovered a turd that by quirk of evolution, had acquired the gift of speech.
His opening line to me, was "I didn't belong there", delivered in the breezy tones of the morally unassailable. This assumption turned out to be based on the fact i'd only paid for and committed to one week. Which he saw as evidence of halfheartedness and lack of commitment. The fact that I had just about cleared out my Dads savings account - a retired brickie by the way - to pay for the week, had never entered his assessment. The assumption being if you can afford a week, Hey! then why not sixteen of them.
This might go someways towards illustrating Lefevers removal from the rest of us earthlings.
In fairness most of the nursing staff were fantastic and empathetic individuals. Doing a difficult job to the best of there abilities. My fellow patients were also some of the most inspiring individuals i'v ever met.
In the five minutes prior to me leaving, suitcase in the car, train at the station. I was given the option of three more days to continue my detox. This to me was the smile on the face of the corpse. The shellac on the turd. I'd barley have made it with the option of another fortnight.
So here I find myself, back in the principality as hopelessly dependent as ever I was. My Dads account lighter by 4,420 and Lefevers up by a roughly similar amount. An extra medievil manuscript to his collection perhaps?
Anyone in a similar position, please, don't make the same mistake. You cant undo eight years of damage in seven days, no matter how convincing the promis!
Richard
port talbot
United Kingdom
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Rlefever
Canterbury,Other,
United Kingdom
Reply to Richard
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 16, 2008
I am very sorry to hear your experience and your feelings about your stay at our clinic. It sounds like you were having a real crisis and you needed help.
It is clear that we are not offering a cure in a week and I can't believe that anyone offered you that. Indeed we don't believe a cure is possible from these problems, instead we try to help people bring them into remission rather than cure. In a week, I presume, we were offering to help with detoxification which is the first step in a recovery process and one made easier by being in a supportive medicalised environment. I was grateful that, in spite of having had issues with my father, you have been very generous in your appraisal of our other staff. I agree that the nurses are dedicated and that the atmosphere amongst the patient group is very supportive. I have been a patient here twice myself and I believe strongly that it is this atmosphere of support between our fellow patients that really helps us the most.
I was saddened to hear your experience with my father. Maybe you'll say I'm bound to be defensive of my father but, although I would certainly be proud and recognise his eccentricity, I don't recognise the arrogance you describe. Given his years of dedication to helping people it also seems really implausible that he would say that someone "didn't belong here". Could you please explain the context of that comment? Was it in response to another statement? Both my father and I are more than open about our own problems with addiction and given your candour here, so are you. As we would see it we have the same illness and so would see you as very much deserving of our support and care.
It is common to take a number of detoxs and a number of attempts to give up before finally becoming drug free. I mentioned above that I had to come here to PROMIS twice and I visited some other clinics too on my path. My first visit to PROMIS was purely a detox and my final treatment was also here at PROMIS. I would strongly urge you not to give up hope. I found that I learned a little more on each attempt and I learned different things from the different people and places I tried getting help from. Of course a lot of clinics are private like ours but there are also lots of state, voluntary and self help services all over the country. We may also have some ex patients close to you who could go with you to some self help groups if you like?
Do please give me a call and I'll be happy to talk to you any time and try and help.
Best
Robin Lefever
Rlefever
Canterbury,Other,
United Kingdom
Reply to Richard
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 16, 2008
I am very sorry to hear your experience and your feelings about your stay at our clinic. It sounds like you were having a real crisis and you needed help.
It is clear that we are not offering a cure in a week and I can't believe that anyone offered you that. Indeed we don't believe a cure is possible from these problems, instead we try to help people bring them into remission rather than cure. In a week, I presume, we were offering to help with detoxification which is the first step in a recovery process and one made easier by being in a supportive medicalised environment. I was grateful that, in spite of having had issues with my father, you have been very generous in your appraisal of our other staff. I agree that the nurses are dedicated and that the atmosphere amongst the patient group is very supportive. I have been a patient here twice myself and I believe strongly that it is this atmosphere of support between our fellow patients that really helps us the most.
I was saddened to hear your experience with my father. Maybe you'll say I'm bound to be defensive of my father but, although I would certainly be proud and recognise his eccentricity, I don't recognise the arrogance you describe. Given his years of dedication to helping people it also seems really implausible that he would say that someone "didn't belong here". Could you please explain the context of that comment? Was it in response to another statement? Both my father and I are more than open about our own problems with addiction and given your candour here, so are you. As we would see it we have the same illness and so would see you as very much deserving of our support and care.
It is common to take a number of detoxs and a number of attempts to give up before finally becoming drug free. I mentioned above that I had to come here to PROMIS twice and I visited some other clinics too on my path. My first visit to PROMIS was purely a detox and my final treatment was also here at PROMIS. I would strongly urge you not to give up hope. I found that I learned a little more on each attempt and I learned different things from the different people and places I tried getting help from. Of course a lot of clinics are private like ours but there are also lots of state, voluntary and self help services all over the country. We may also have some ex patients close to you who could go with you to some self help groups if you like?
Do please give me a call and I'll be happy to talk to you any time and try and help.
Best
Robin Lefever
Rlefever
Canterbury,Other,
United Kingdom
Reply to Richard
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 16, 2008
I am very sorry to hear your experience and your feelings about your stay at our clinic. It sounds like you were having a real crisis and you needed help.
It is clear that we are not offering a cure in a week and I can't believe that anyone offered you that. Indeed we don't believe a cure is possible from these problems, instead we try to help people bring them into remission rather than cure. In a week, I presume, we were offering to help with detoxification which is the first step in a recovery process and one made easier by being in a supportive medicalised environment. I was grateful that, in spite of having had issues with my father, you have been very generous in your appraisal of our other staff. I agree that the nurses are dedicated and that the atmosphere amongst the patient group is very supportive. I have been a patient here twice myself and I believe strongly that it is this atmosphere of support between our fellow patients that really helps us the most.
I was saddened to hear your experience with my father. Maybe you'll say I'm bound to be defensive of my father but, although I would certainly be proud and recognise his eccentricity, I don't recognise the arrogance you describe. Given his years of dedication to helping people it also seems really implausible that he would say that someone "didn't belong here". Could you please explain the context of that comment? Was it in response to another statement? Both my father and I are more than open about our own problems with addiction and given your candour here, so are you. As we would see it we have the same illness and so would see you as very much deserving of our support and care.
It is common to take a number of detoxs and a number of attempts to give up before finally becoming drug free. I mentioned above that I had to come here to PROMIS twice and I visited some other clinics too on my path. My first visit to PROMIS was purely a detox and my final treatment was also here at PROMIS. I would strongly urge you not to give up hope. I found that I learned a little more on each attempt and I learned different things from the different people and places I tried getting help from. Of course a lot of clinics are private like ours but there are also lots of state, voluntary and self help services all over the country. We may also have some ex patients close to you who could go with you to some self help groups if you like?
Do please give me a call and I'll be happy to talk to you any time and try and help.
Best
Robin Lefever
Rlefever
Canterbury,Other,
United Kingdom
Reply to Richard
#6UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 16, 2008
I am very sorry to hear your experience and your feelings about your stay at our clinic. It sounds like you were having a real crisis and you needed help.
It is clear that we are not offering a cure in a week and I can't believe that anyone offered you that. Indeed we don't believe a cure is possible from these problems, instead we try to help people bring them into remission rather than cure. In a week, I presume, we were offering to help with detoxification which is the first step in a recovery process and one made easier by being in a supportive medicalised environment. I was grateful that, in spite of having had issues with my father, you have been very generous in your appraisal of our other staff. I agree that the nurses are dedicated and that the atmosphere amongst the patient group is very supportive. I have been a patient here twice myself and I believe strongly that it is this atmosphere of support between our fellow patients that really helps us the most.
I was saddened to hear your experience with my father. Maybe you'll say I'm bound to be defensive of my father but, although I would certainly be proud and recognise his eccentricity, I don't recognise the arrogance you describe. Given his years of dedication to helping people it also seems really implausible that he would say that someone "didn't belong here". Could you please explain the context of that comment? Was it in response to another statement? Both my father and I are more than open about our own problems with addiction and given your candour here, so are you. As we would see it we have the same illness and so would see you as very much deserving of our support and care.
It is common to take a number of detoxs and a number of attempts to give up before finally becoming drug free. I mentioned above that I had to come here to PROMIS twice and I visited some other clinics too on my path. My first visit to PROMIS was purely a detox and my final treatment was also here at PROMIS. I would strongly urge you not to give up hope. I found that I learned a little more on each attempt and I learned different things from the different people and places I tried getting help from. Of course a lot of clinics are private like ours but there are also lots of state, voluntary and self help services all over the country. We may also have some ex patients close to you who could go with you to some self help groups if you like?
Do please give me a call and I'll be happy to talk to you any time and try and help.
Best
Robin Lefever
Jake
Tenterden,Other,
United Kingdom
Dr Robert Lefever PROMIS Recovery Centre
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, August 06, 2008
Richard,
I think your post was very accurate about Dr Robert Lefever, the fact that he is a thief and his company PROMIS Recovery Centre rip people off. I'd recommend you take him to court for a refund. To take over four grand from you and then say you don't belong there is disgusting.
I went to PROMIS Recovery Centre and paid a good deal of money to go there, but I left after two weeks. I just couldn't stand that nutter Dr Robert Lefever any longer. Robert Lefever fancies himself as a hypnotist and I realised that I wouldn't pay ten pounds to see some idiot like Paul McKenna never mind a few grand to be around another idiot Dr Robert Lefever.
I'd suggest you edit your post to correct the typo Rorert so that other people will be able to search your post on google or something.
Good luck to you. You seem like a cool guy.
Jake