Media and Press Updates
Jennifer Anderson met with Podcaster and Film Producer of PTSD911, Conrad Weaver
"Listen to the First Responder Wellness Podcast and find out more. My guest is Jennifer Anderson. She is the founder and CEO of First Responder Coaching, and shares her personal experience as the spouse of a first responder who suffered a mental health break. She discusses the early signs she noticed and the challenges they faced in finding resources. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of proactive support and difficult conversations to prevent first responder suicide. She also explains the role of coaching in helping first responders improve their overall well-being and achieve their goals. BONUS: Jennifer takes ME (Conrad) through a mini coaching session... Don't miss it."
First Responder Coaching Articles in Crackl
FRC Blogger, Caroline Godin, has been invited as a guest writer for Online Fire Publication, Crackl. Check out the most recent articles.
Facing the Fire: What’s Holding You Back? By Caroline Godin
We live in a messy world. A stressful job, a stressful cadence of hours, and a stressful living situation make it more challenging. That stress might hold you back from completing your responsibilities and achieving your goals. If so, how do we prevent being held back? What’s the root cause of your stress, and how can you face it head-on, overcome it, and achieve not only your responsibilities but your biggest goals? Let’s get to it.
Gaining Traction: Reach Your Goals with Coaching By Caroline Godin
You’re driving along an unknown road; in a place you’ve never been. You have a vague idea of where to go, but you have no idea what turns to take, how to get there, or what there looks like. To reach your goal, you need a GPS.
Poof! A coach appears in the passenger seat.
First Responder Coaching Partnership with Employee and Family Resources
In June 2024, FRC and EFR announced their partnership in Des Moines, Iowa.
Making coaching services accessible is top priority. This summer, we’re pleased to announce a new partnership with Employee Family Relations!
Jennifer Anderson Joins EFR Podcast: Emotion Well Podcast
Jennifer and Johanna dig into the partnership between EFR and FRC offering coaching services to organizations that receive EAP benefits from EFR. Check out the podcast below to learn more about how the services work and what First Responder Coaching has to offer.
FRC Press Releases
Putting Family First: Jennifer Anderson's First Responder Coaching Is Saving Lives and Marriages All Over America While Strengthening the Ties That Bind
WINCHENDON, MA, April 20, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ — The life of a first responder presents many challenges and obstacles that can potentially threaten a marriage, relationship and overall family life. From the moment they get their first call until their final breath, these amazing people are in a superhuman state of mind and body. But, first responders are at higher risk than you might think! Many first responders agree that it hurts having to leave their loved ones every day, never knowing if they will return home. While they often deal with dangerous and life-threatening situations on the job, it’s the trauma and emotional stress that so often affects their mental health, causing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and more. For a first responder, there is no prevention of stress or trauma, it’s all about building resilience through stress management. A first responder’s life is a tumultuous one that can even take its toll on marriages.
If any of this sounds familiar, First Responder Coaching just might be the answer for you.
Jennifer Anderson founded First Responder Coaching on the simple premise that it’s the spouses and families of first responders who really know what that life is like. Ms. Anderson uses life coaching as a way to navigate through the daily struggles of finances, schedules and marriages in order to create a deeper connection, stronger foundation and thriving family life for all those she helps. This calling is especially personal for Jennifer, whose husband is a retired police officer and first responder himself. Retired Officer Anderson suffered specifically from PTSD, depression and anxiety, and might have ended up taking his own life had it not been for the difficult discussions that would later become the core of the First Responder Coaching philosophy.
Research shows that people who have experienced prior trauma are more likely to develop PTSD than those who have not. For that reason, first responders are at an increased risk for this affliction. Naturally, they are more likely than most to be exposed to routine trauma as part of their work. In 2019, there were more than 47,500 suicide fatalities in the U.S. and an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts. In fact, the US Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention” highlighted suicide as an extremely significant public health problem.
You are not alone.
This is the message of Jennifer Anderson and the coaches at First Responder Coaching. Their mission is to combine Jennifer’s own personal experiences and life coaching expertise in order to assist first responders and their families all over the country. No matter which field of first responding you are in, or supporting, the First Responder Coaching family has a wide range of services aimed at offering you the personalized support needed to cope with your especially complex life. As stated above, Ms. Anderson uses her own life experiences and those of her clients to provide coaching to military, firefighters, dispatchers, EMS workers, as well as corrections and law enforcement officers around the United States.
All of the First Responder Coaches work to provide specialized training and individualized coaching nationwide. They are actively equipping first responders and their families with coping skills and confidence-building techniques on a regular basis. The end goal? Life-changing results.
“Every day, hundreds of public safety officers and their families engage with First Responder Coaching,” explains Jennifer Anderson. “They are experiencing the anxiety and fear that come with being a first responder. First responder life is challenging. You are on call 24/7, required to work long shifts, and have the potential to be traumatized by the calls you must respond to. After 15 years in law enforcement, my husband was hospitalized for six weeks for PTSD, depression and anxiety. Because of this experience, I truly understand the difficulties faced by first responder spouses. Being one of these spouses is tough, and that’s why I founded the company. First Responder Coaching helps responders and their loved ones develop tools to promote positive coping while strengthening the entire family unit.”
First Responder Coaching provides safe spaces where members of the first responder community can build long-lasting connections through group coaching programs, individualized support and dedicated support teams. Actionable steps (through the power of relationships) are always being taken to ensure that the mental health needs of first responders are met.
The first responder life is fast-paced. Many of them need support, guidance and tools to improve their well-being. Jennifer & Co. turn theory into practice, always working hard to address the challenges of a first responder’s marriage. They provide a safe and confidential place to talk about first responder relationship issues, while prioritizing crystal clear communication whether talking about goals, expectations, or simple measures of success.
Whether you’re a first responder looking to get back on track or a responder’s spouse struggling to understand your partner’s life, First Responder Coaching will provide the strategy and support you need to create a long-term plan that works for you.
Jennifer Anderson has stated: “Building lasting and profound bonds is the cornerstone of good mental health. Our coaching provides insight, education and concrete tools to use immediately. If you’re a spouse, you’ll be providing support for your first responder’s physical and mental health. If you’re an actual first responder, you’ll be helping to avoid the heartache and burnout that will likely take its toll on your family—just like it did on mine.”
Now is the time to get started with First Responder Coaching. Let’s make a difference together!
To learn more about the programs and sessions, visit the official website: www.1strespondercoaching.org
Contact information
Jennifer Anderson
1st Responder Coaching
jennifera@1strespondercoaching.org
Worcester, MA
www.1strespondercoaching.org