Make A Difference In Your Life Today

Recovery International is a self-help mental health program that offers you a proven Method to build and maintain your emotional health using cognitive behavioral tools. To gain inner peace, you learn how to change the way you respond to people and everyday stressful situations. Additionally, you learn how to identify and manage negative or insecure thoughts and impulses that can lead to emotional distress and symptoms. These simple expressions and tools, called “spots”, are part of the Recovery Method.

All Recovery International meetings follow the Recovery 4-Step Method that addresses the underlying cause of most symptoms. Through the structured meeting and encouragement from peers, participants learn to “spot” their angry and fearful temper and use their will-power to replace insecure thoughts with Recovery tools to help drop the judgment of yourself and others and help manage your symptoms.

We were founded in 1937 in Chicago by neuropsychiatrist Abraham Low, M.D. Millions of people all over the world have used this program to relieve their stress and anxiety.

Find a Meeting Near You

In-person, Zoom, Phone, Chat, Newcomers and more.

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Recovery International Meetings

We offer nearly 200 peer-led weekly meetings online, by phone or in-person, seven days a week.
We are a donation-based non-profit. There is no charge to attend these meetings, but donations are encouraged. No insurance or referral is needed.
If you are interested, attend a Welcome Meeting to get started. Search “Newcomers” in Types in the Find a Meeting box above. Or CLICK HERE to get started.

Community, Connection & Caring:

The April 2027 Conference

In April 2027, group leaders, members, mental health professionals, family supporters, friends and members of the public will gather in Chicagoland to learn, connect, and celebrate nine decades of help and healing. We invite you to join us.

Find out more at the link below or contact us at 312-337-5661.

Recovery International Resources Available 24/7

Phone App

Featuring 85+ RI Spots, easy ways to donate, meeting options at your fingertips and more! FREE on iPhone and Android devices. Download NOW.

Dial-A-Spot Phone Line

Call this recorded Dial-a-Spot Helpline to listen to Recovery tools (or spots) 24 hours a day: 312-448-9387.

Spot Help

Spot Help (AI tool) will guide you through a 4-Step Method example. Click the dalmation icon in the lower right corner of your screen.

Facebook Private Group

This group is for RI Members who want to post examples using the 4-Step Method. You can provide your own example, or spot for other people. To become an RI member and receive this benefit, click HERE.

Recovery International Spot Video

This soothing video gives you some of the Recovery Method tools to find calm and peace when you are worked up and can’t get to a meeting.

You can also phone the recorded Dial-a-Spot Helpline to listen to these spots 24 hours a day: 312-448-9387.

Recovery International Testimonials

“The tools and people of Recovery International have definitely changed my life! Before RI, I was isolated, couldn't hold a job, and was suicidal. After RI, I am very social (I even lead an RI meeting!), I've had the same job for over 8 years, and I haven't been hospitalized since consistently using the method! Thank you, RI.”

"I found this group nearly 20 years ago, and it is awesome! I have developed life-long friendships with fellow members, and I use the spots to also help non-Recovery International members! I still use the tools on a daily basis."

"The RI program saved my life. I learned to have peace in my inner environment and drop judgments against myself and others. Thank you, Dr. Low!"

"Recovery International has given me my life back and it has given me a philosophy to help me cope with everyday living."

"One of the things RI is helping me with is patience and how I react to certain situations. I struggle with people who have authority over me, and I have performed acts of sabotage toward people in authority over me (teachers, bosses, etc.) when they said things to me I didn't like or didn't want to hear. One particular teacher forgave me after I sent him a long email basically confessing and telling him about Recovery. I still struggle with authority, but I've found a helpful method in RI to work it down when I'm faced with things like this. I've regained my mental health thanks to this program and now I'm helping others as a leader and I am forever grateful."