Recovery International

What Recovery International does

Recovery International is a nonprofit mental health organization founded in 1937 by neuropsychiatrist Dr. Abraham Low in Oak Brook, Illinois, that delivers a cognitive behavioral self-help training program known as the 4-Step Method (or Recovery Method). Its core offering is peer-led support group meetings—available in-person, by phone, and via Zoom—supplemented by a content library that includes 85+ "Spots" (short cognitive tools), a free iOS/Android mobile app launched in 2025, a 24-hour Dial-a-Spot phone helpline, a members-only Facebook group, and a catalog of Dr. Low's books and workbooks (e.g., Mental Health Through Will-Training, Better Mental Health for Everyone, Power Your Mind). The organization operates a distributed network of trained peer leaders running hundreds of weekly meetings across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Ireland, with a secondary regional office in San Diego serving Spanish-speaking members and a Japanese-language presence on its website. The business model is a hybrid nonprofit model: revenue comes from tiered individual memberships ($40 to $1,000, including a lifetime tier), corporate/professional memberships ($100 to $5,000) with program licensing at higher tiers, book and merchandise sales via an e-commerce store and third-party retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble), and tax-deductible donations. The organization serves multiple segments—individuals managing anxiety, depression, anger, and fear; caregivers and family members; young adults and teens; and mental health professionals—and is governed by a Board of Directors with no parent company, holding entity, or institutional investor.

Name

Recovery International

Legal name

Recovery International

Website

https://recoveryinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Recovery International is a nonprofit founded in 1937 that delivers a peer-led cognitive behavioral self-help program (the 4-Step Method) through hundreds of weekly meetings, a mobile app, a 24-hour helpline, books, and memberships serving individuals with mental health challenges, families, young adults, and professionals in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Self-Help Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO), Wraparound & Community-Based Behavioral Support (ABA-Adjacent) (EDAKAHAO)

Keywords

• Peer-led mental health
• Cognitive behavioral training
• Self-help support groups
• Behavioral health nonprofit
• Mental wellness program

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Memberships: Annual membership fees ranging from $40 to $1000 providing access to meetings, newsletters, member portal, and exclusive content including Dr. Low's audio lectures and downloadable publications.
2. Corporate Memberships: Annual corporate memberships from $100 to $5000 for professionals and organizations, including program licensing, training, and promotional benefits.
3. Book and Product Sales: Sale of self-help books and materials authored by Dr. Abraham Low and published by Recovery International, including workbooks, tool cards, and journals priced $10-$27.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting RI programs and meetings, with options for one-time, monthly recurring, and campaign-specific donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Recovery International offers a peer-led cognitive behavioral self-help training program based on Dr. Abraham Low's 4-Step Method for managing negative thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors associated with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, anger, and fear. The core delivery is through weekly peer-led support group meetings (in-person, by phone, and online), supplemented by a mobile app, 24-hour phone helpline, publications, and individual and corporate memberships.

Product overview

Recovery International offers a cognitive behavioral training program developed by Dr. Abraham Low, based on the 4-Step Method for mental health self-help. The organization operates primarily through peer-led support group meetings (available in-person, by phone, and online), a mobile app with 85+ recovery spots, and membership programs. The product portfolio includes the core meeting/method program supplemented by publications (Mental Health Through Will-Training, Better Mental Health for Everyone, Power Your Mind), Power Tool Cards, and digital content (Daily Spots email, Weekly Wisdom newsletter, Spot Video). The organization also offers individual and corporate membership tiers providing access to exclusive content, member-only meetings, and discounts. Founded in 1937, the method has helped millions manage symptoms for over 85 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Recovery Reporter: Member newsletter published three times per year, filled with stories of hope, news from Recovery affiliates worldwide, the Wisdom of Dr. Low, Recovery examples, and special announcements.
• Weekly Wisdom
• 4-Step Method
• Dial a Spot
• Selections from Dr. Low's Works

Products and services

• Peer-Led Group Meetings (4-Step Method) Peer-led support group meetings available in-person, by phone, and online where participants follow the Recovery 4-Step Method to identify and manage negative thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. Designed for individuals managing anxiety, depression, anger, and fear.
• Recovery International Mobile App Free mobile application for iPhone and Android providing 85+ RI Spots (Recovery Method tools), meeting options, and donation capabilities for members and newcomers managing mental health symptoms.
• Individual Membership Program Annual membership program with tiers ($40, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 lifetime) giving individual members access to the Recovery Reporter newsletter, member-only phone and Zoom meetings, Weekly Wisdoms email, member portal, downloadable Dr. Low content, and discounts at events.
• Corporate Membership Program Annual corporate membership tiers from Professional ($100) to Sponsor ($5,000) designed for mental health professionals and organizations, including benefits such as Annual Report listing, program licensing, and staff training.
• Mental Health Through Will-Training (Book) Dr. Abraham Low's primary book presenting the Recovery Method with key concepts and helpful tools, with the 5th edition priced at $19.95 paperback.
• Better Mental Health for Everyone Workbook (2nd Edition) Updated workbook for everyday incidents that trigger anxiety, depression, and anger using time-tested cognitive-behavioral techniques, priced at $12.00 paperback.
• Power Your Mind Workbook Workbook teaching life skills to young adults to alleviate anxiety, control anger, and foster peaceful relationships, featuring graphic novel pages and real-life situations, priced at $12.95 paperback.
• Power Tool Cards Set of 50 tool cards from Dr. Low's books packaged in a storage box, priced at $24.95 per box set. Both sets together provide 100 tools.
• Selections from Dr. Low's Works Collection of articles and comments written by Dr. Low for Recovery News published between 1950 and 1953, available as a $15.95 paperback or as a downloadable PDF for members.
• Dial-a-Spot Helpline 24-hour phone line (312-448-9387) providing recorded Recovery Spots for members who cannot attend meetings in person, helping them manage symptoms on demand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of people have used this program to live more peaceful lives

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Talkspace: Talkspace is a publicly traded online therapy platform offering subscription-based therapy and psychiatry services. Comparable as a subscription-driven digital mental health service targeting overlapping populations with anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns.
• BetterHelp: BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform offering subscription-based access to licensed therapists via chat, phone, and video. Comparable as a digital, subscription-driven mental health service competing for the same end users, but with clinical (rather than peer) delivery.
• Mental Health America (MHA): MHA is one of the oldest U.S. mental health nonprofits (founded 1909) providing peer support, education, screening, and advocacy across the full mental health continuum. Comparable in nonprofit, community-based peer-support offerings and long institutional history.

Others

• Support Groups Central: Support Groups Central is an aggregator and hosting platform that runs free, professionally-monitored online peer support groups across many conditions. Comparable as an adjacent infrastructure layer enabling peer-support group delivery to a similar audience.

Direct peers

• SMART Recovery: SMART Recovery runs peer-led mutual-help meetings focused on self-empowering cognitive-behavioral and motivational tools, available in-person and online. Comparable in CBT-rooted methodology, peer facilitation model, and digital meeting access.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is the largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization offering peer-led support groups (Connection Recovery Support Groups, Family Support Groups) for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Directly comparable to RI's peer-support mission, nonprofit structure, and community-meeting model.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): DBSA operates a nationwide network of peer-led support groups for people living with depression and bipolar disorder. Highly comparable in target population, peer-led model, and nonprofit structure.
• GROW (Mental Health): GROW is a peer-led mental health mutual support movement originating in Ireland, running weekly community-based meetings based on a structured 12-step-like program. Highly comparable to Recovery International in model, peer-leader structure, and weekly-meeting cadence — they even share the Irish market.

Emerging players

• 7 Cups: 7 Cups is an online platform offering free peer-to-peer emotional support chat plus optional paid therapy. Directly comparable in using non-clinical peer support as the front-line offering, with digital delivery.
• Woebot Health: Woebot Health is a digital mental health company that uses CBT-based conversational AI to deliver mental health support. Comparable in CBT-rooted methodology applied to anxiety/depression management via a consumer app, but delivered via AI rather than peer leaders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RecoveryIntl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recovery-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Recovery International