This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Danielle Cook Kawash and Simon Matthews from First In Wellness. FIW is a wellness program specifically designed to help first responders manage their physical and mental health by improving their physical fitness, nutrition, mental agility and sleep. Addressing the issues facing our first responders is WAY overdue, and I was extremely excited to sit down with Daniel and Simon to discuss how they and their team are serving those who serve us.

Danielle Cook Kawash is the founder and nutrition expert at First In Wellness. She has a diverse background in health as a university educator, published author, personal trainer, and clinical dietitian. She co-developed and participated in wellness programs with the Berkeley Fire Department and Santa Clara County Fire Department. Specializing in Functional Medicine, Danielle uses this integrated, preventative approach as the foundation for the First In Wellness program development. Danielle has a master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science, along with a Board Certification in Health and Wellness Coaching.

 Simon Matthews Simon is certified in Health Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine. He’s the CEO of Wellcoaches® Australia School of Health Coaching. Simon is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Avondale College University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre and is on teaching faculty with Wellcoaches USA. He’s the Chief Psychologist and Director of Program and Learning Development for Likevekt Helse, the Director of the US not-for-profit Global Positive Health Institute, and the Director of the Australian not-for-profit Practice Excellence Institute. Simon consults and presents nationally and internationally in the areas of health coaching, behavior change, positive psychology and lifestyle medicine. Simon has extensive experience working with first responders and ex-military personnel to assess and treat PTSD.

For more about FIW please check out https://www.firstinwellness.com/