Every treatment center has someone whose job is to make the whole thing actually work — staffing, admissions, the clinical schedule, the family who calls at 11 p.m., the client who wants to leave on day four. At Tidal Forge Recovery, that person is Cody Crawford, CADC-II, our Executive Director. And the reason he’s good at it has less to do with his title than with where he was ten years ago.
From Virginia to a Men’s Program in California
Cody is originally from Virginia. A decade ago he got on a plane to California to enter treatment himself — in an all-men’s program, alongside a group of men he is still close with today. He never moved back. The sobriety he found there, and the brotherhood that came with it, are the reason Tidal Forge is a men-only home: Cody has lived the difference between recovering in a room full of men who have dropped the act and trying to do it anywhere else.
"I didn’t get sober because someone handed me a workbook. I got sober because five guys refused to let me lie to myself. That’s what we’re building here."
Nearly a Decade on Every Side of Treatment
Since getting sober, Cody has spent almost ten years working in substance use treatment — and not in one lane. He has worked operations, clinical, and admissions, which means he has personally done nearly every job in a treatment program. That matters when you run one. He knows what a good intake call sounds like, what a group falls apart without, and where programs cut corners that clients pay for later.
He earned his Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential (CADC-II) through Saddleback College and is currently completing his Master of Social Work, with the long-term goal of running his own clinical practice. In the meantime, he is the connective tissue between our clinical team, our medical providers, and the residential staff who keep the house running around the clock.
What He Actually Does at Tidal Forge
- Leads admissions — when a family calls (714) 794-2630, Cody or someone he trained is on the other end, and he oversees the free, no-obligation out-of-network benefits verification before anyone commits.
- Runs the house — staffing, scheduling, the weekly rhythm of individual therapy, groups, holistic services, 12-step meetings, and outings.
- Holds the standard — integrity, individualized evidence-based care, and a culture where accountability and compassion aren’t opposites.
- Stays close to the men — in a six-bed home the Executive Director isn’t behind a door down the hall. He eats dinner with the house.
Why It Matters to Families
When you call about your son, husband, or brother, you are talking to a man who has been the client. Cody knows what it’s like to walk into a house of strangers scared, angry, and sure it won’t work — and what it takes for it to work anyway. He also knows what his own family went through on the other end of that phone. That perspective shapes every admission we take and every one we refer elsewhere because it isn’t the right fit.
Meet the Rest of the Team
Cody works alongside a team you can meet here. Last week we introduced our Clinical Director, Rachel Querry, LCSW; next week, our Medical Director. If you want to talk with Cody directly about whether Tidal Forge is the right place, call (714) 794-2630. Free, confidential, 24/7.