Creation of The Dunes Recovery Center

We created The Dunes because we saw how desperately families were struggling to find real help.

When our founder is asked why The Dunes East Hampton came to be, his answer is always the same: there simply wasn’t anywhere on the East Coast offering the level of care so many people needed. At the time, anyone seeking truly personalized, clinically excellent treatment in a setting of genuine comfort and dignity had to travel to California. After watching too many families go through painful, frustrating searches for the right kind of help, he decided to change that.

The Dunes East Hampton opened in 2007 as the first facility of its kind on the East Coast. From the very beginning, our approach has been rooted in the belief that exceptional treatment should never require leaving behind the comfort, privacy, and support that healing requires.

More than eighteen years later, that commitment remains unchanged. We continue to offer the same thoughtful, person-centered care in a setting designed to restore both dignity and hope—one individual at a time.

How The Dunes Became a Superior Treatment Center

The Dunes was built with one clear intention: to go beyond standard “best practices” and deliver truly exceptional care.

To achieve this, we partnered with Dr. Howard J. Shaffer of Harvard Medical School to design our clinical services and guide the training of our team. This collaboration helped ensure our program is grounded in the latest evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment.

We then brought together a dedicated group of experienced professionals—clinicians, therapists, and advisors—who share a deep commitment to providing individualized, compassionate care. Their expertise, combined with our thoughtfully designed setting, allows us to support each person with the highest level of attention and respect.

Finally, a large, private estate was selected and carefully transformed into one of the East Coast’s premier recovery environments—offering 17-acres of gated privacy, comfort, and calm to support the deeply personal work of healing.

If you’d like to learn more about what sets The Dunes apart, we invite you to explore the different sections of this website. In keeping with our philosophy of always striving to be the best, we’re also committed to being a responsible member of our community, including offering scholarship beds for local clients in need.

Ready to Begin Your Solution to Addiction? Call Our Recovery Center Today to Speak to a Counselor Confidentially (877) 818-5539

A Convenient and Luxurious Treatment Center

The Dunes was created to meet a clear need: providing comprehensive, high-quality recovery care in an estate-like setting close to New York and the Mid-Atlantic region. For many families, traveling across the country for treatment adds unnecessary stress, time, and expense. Our location allows loved ones to stay nearby and remain actively involved in the recovery process—something we believe is essential to lasting healing.

Thoughtfully Individualized Care

At The Dunes, we intentionally keep our community small. With a staff-to-client ratio of 3 to 1, we’re able to offer truly personalized care and consistent, attentive support throughout each person’s stay. This approach allows us to tailor treatment plans to individual needs and provide meaningful guidance as clients prepare to return home.

We are deeply committed to long-term recovery—not just during treatment, but in the months and years that follow. Our goal is to help every client build a stable, fulfilling life with their families, colleagues, and community.

The Dunes East Hampton is an organization that brings together the clinical excellence, thoughtful protocols, and estate-style environment the East Coast has long needed. As we like to say: “The Dunes East Hampton — Where The Solution Begins.”

—Founder, The Dunes East Hampton