Brittany Gefroh, Certified Peer Support Specialist at Triumph, once hit a very low point in her life. She lost everything and ended up living in her car after a tough nine-year marriage filled with abuse and unhealthy habits. During this time, substance use was common, and Brittany felt trapped by manipulation and different forms of abuse. Eventually, she attempted suicide, which pushed her to leave the relationship. After moving back in with her parents and getting a restraining order due to threats and stalking, Brittany faced a difficult divorce that kept getting harder. She struggled to find the energy and resources to fight for her belongings, including her beloved pets. Deeply depressed, she turned to opiates to numb her pain. After being asked to leave her parents’ house because of her substance use, she was back living in her car.
Despite all this, Brittany showed great strength and sought help. She entered treatment and found support from counselors and staff who understood what she was going through. Their encouragement made her want to pursue a career in helping others who were also trying to recover.
Brittany tried different roles in the recovery field but found some recovery centers to be overwhelming because she could feel herself being overworked, working overtime, and unwillingly working graveyard shifts. At the time, she was early in her recovery and having to deal with intense things that she was not ready for emotionally, while feeling unseen by management. She chose to work in a doctor’s office instead but realized her true passion was in helping those dealing with substance use.
This realization led her to Triumph, where she started her role as a peer support specialist in December 2023. She enjoys helping clients at various stages of their recovery, from those considering treatment to those looking for coping strategies and life skills. Her own experiences allowed her to connect with clients in meaningful ways.
At Triumph, Brittany found a workplace that genuinely cared about work-life balance and employee well-being. The organization listens to employee feedback and has made changes based on it, which made her feel more loyal and committed to the team.
“Triumph is different because they are person-centered and care for the well-being of their employees; they know if we take care of ourselves, we can better care for our clients,” she said.
Integrity is very important to Brittany, both in her personal life and at work. She knows that honesty and being real are key to her sobriety and personal growth. At Triumph, she sees these values reflected in the organization’s mission and approach.
When Brittany talks to recent graduates about working at Triumph, she highlights how important it is to be in a workplace that values and supports its employees. For her, being part of Triumph means much more than just having a job; it’s about being involved in a mission that cares for everyone.
Brittany’s story shows how powerful recovery can be and how important a supportive community is. Through her work at Triumph, she continues to live out the values that guided her own recovery journey, offering hope and positive change to those she helps.
Brittany added, “I didn’t know what I was capable of until I was faced with it. I tell people, don’t ever underestimate what you can do.”