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A Founder's Dream
Everyone deserves the best shot.
The story of RECO Intensive begins with one person believing that — and refusing to stop until it was true.
“I wanted to build the place I wished existed when I needed it most.” — David Niknafs, Founder
The dream
It started with one question — what if treatment didn't feel like a hospital?
David Niknafs didn't start RECO Intensive because addiction treatment was a market opportunity. He started it because, after his own experience with recovery, he had a clear picture of what the standard of care should be — and he had also seen, up close, what most facilities actually delivered instead.
His dream was simple to say and stubborn to build: create the best support system for addiction treatment that has ever existed. A system that treated people like human beings first and clients second. A system where the clinical work was relentless and the comfort was equally relentless. A system that did not run on a clock.
He believed — and still believes — that every person who walks through these doors deserves the best shot at the best life they can live. Not a shot. The best shot.
What the dream looks like in practice
Four principles built into every program.
Clinical depth, no shortcuts.
Master's-level clinicians, board-certified psychiatrists, evidence-based modalities. Treatment plans are individualized — never copy-pasted.
Real comfort, not "comfort."
Recovery residences that feel like homes. Common areas that invite conversation. A clinical campus that looks like a workplace people choose, not a place they're sent.
Community before discharge.
You don't graduate alone. RECO alumni events, mentorship pairings, and an aftercare network at RECO Institute mean you stay connected for as long as you need.
Family in the room.
Addiction affects everyone who loves the person living it. Family programming is built into the curriculum — not an afterthought.
Where we are now
From one dream to a clinical network.
What started as a dream has become a campus, six recovery residences, an equine therapy ranch, and an alumni community that spans the country. The dream did not stop at the first building — and it has not stopped now.
Every clinician, admissions team member, and operations staffer at RECO Intensive has been hired to one standard: would David trust this person with the people we serve? If the answer is anything other than a full yes, we keep looking.
That standard is non-negotiable. It is the actual reason the program works.
The promise
Every person who walks in here deserves the best shot. Not a shot. The best shot.
— Still the founding principle. Still the daily standard.
When you're ready
Begin your story.
Speak with our admissions team — confidential, 24/7, no obligation.