About: Richard Taite
Richard’s path wasn’t linear. After graduating from UCLA, he pursued law school but ultimately failed out. Rather than letting that failure define him, Richard used it as a turning point, eventually finding his calling in addiction recovery. In 2005, he founded Cliffside Malibu, a groundbreaking luxury rehab facility that quickly became the gold standard in addiction treatment, serving high-profile clientele with a therapeutic model centered on deep, meaningful therapy. Over the years, Richard has helped roughly 10,000 families get their loved ones back, establishing himself as a trusted leader in the field of recovery.
After selling Cliffside Malibu in 2018 for nine figures, Richard launched Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa, the first true ultra-luxury treatment experience in the country, designed for the world’s elite. All 30 of the finest staff and practitioners from Cliffside Malibu followed Richard to Carrara, ensuring that his new venture continued to deliver world-class, personalized care. His vision is simple yet powerful: the highest-quality care for those seeking lasting recovery.
During his five-year non-compete after selling Cliffside, Richard expanded his impact in other ways. In 2020, he was honored with a Pollie Award for his work during the presidential election. Richard is also deeply invested in addressing the homelessness crisis and is passionate about providing veterans, particularly those with PTSD and substance use disorders, the support and treatment they deserve.
A major aspect of Richard’s advocacy today is spreading awareness about the fentanyl epidemic, a crisis he feels demands urgent attention. He emphasizes that burying a child is the most unnatural thing in the world, a tragedy that completely destroys families. Richard’s mission is to ensure more parents don’t have to suffer that loss by bringing awareness and solutions to the forefront of the national conversation.
Richard’s expertise extends to the public eye. He has appeared on Bill Maher’s Real Time and was prominently featured in the documentary Prescription Thugs as the addiction expert. His numerous TV appearances have solidified his role as a respected voice on addiction and mental health issues.
Despite all his success, Richard remains grounded in his purpose: to restore families and save lives. His work has reached thousands, and his drive to help those battling addiction is as strong as ever. With Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa, Richard continues to innovate and lead, proving that real recovery is possible when therapy and compassion are at the center of treatment.
