How Today’s Sober Women Offers Hope and Timely Critical Support with SimpleTexting

For women navigating the lonely and challenging moments of sobriety, timely support isn’t just helpful—it’s a lifeline. Today’s Sober Women, a nonprofit offering therapist-led support, discovered that the key to providing that crucial connection was not through social media, but through the privacy and immediacy of two-way SMS.

From public posts to secure, private conversations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, co-founder Bridget Garrelts, LCPC, CADC, saw an urgent need to combat the intense isolation affecting women in recovery. She helped build a large community on Facebook, but a critical element was missing: engagement.

The platform was too public for the deep, personal conversations necessary for recovery. “You’re not going to share about a recent relapse on a social media post that can be seen by millions of people,” Bridget explains. The organization needed a communication channel that could foster genuine, one-to-one relationships and provide a truly safe space for women to share their struggles and victories.

“We’re not just pushing out messages. We also want to receive messages so we can have a connection with the people that we’re texting, and that was unique to SimpleTexting’s platform.”

Bridget Garrelts

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Finding the right connection with SimpleTexting

The team at Today’s Sober Women chose text messaging for its privacy and immediacy. They launched their Recovery Help Texts program, powered by SimpleTexting, to deliver support directly to the women who need it.

The ability to not only send messages but to receive and manage replies was the deciding factor.

Here’s how Today’s Sober Women uses SimpleTexting to power its program:

• Scheduling messages of hope at the right times: Every week, Bridget writes and schedules messages with grounding exercises and encouragement using SimpleTexting’s message scheduler. This allows her to provide consistent support, and members often say the texts arrive exactly when they need them most.
• Managing real conversations in a two-way inbox: When a woman replies, Bridget can easily manage the conversation from SimpleTexting’s centralized inbox. This direct, personal engagement builds trust, provides a confidential lifeline, and has even enabled the team to identify women in crisis and refer them to critical social services.

The impact by the numbers

The results from the Recovery Help Texts program, powered by SimpleTexting, highlight the profound difference that consistent, private SMS support can make. The feedback from members reveals the program’s true impact:

• With a nearly 100% engagement rate, members actively read and connect with the messages they receive.
• 8 out of 10 women report that the texts arrive with uncanny timing, delivering encouragement exactly when they need it most.
• 9 out of 10 women say the program has directly led to enhanced emotional support, decreased feelings of isolation, and greater motivation for their long-term recovery.

A partnership for sustained recovery

The switch to a text-first strategy with SimpleTexting has transformed the organization’s ability to deliver meaningful support. Testimonials from members consistently state that the program has been instrumental in helping them stay sober.

The program provides the solid, consistent support that is vital in the early stages of recovery. As Bridget puts it, “The more support that you have around a person, the more likely they are to succeed and do well.” By fostering real connections through simple, private text conversations, Today’s Sober Women and SimpleTexting are delivering hope, one message at a time.