PAR360 – We are First Responders for First Responders

Our mission is to keep firefighters resilient.

we're first responders for first responders.

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our program

we provide emergency response, consultation and training to keep firefighters mentally healthy, conflict free, and successful on the job.

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dr. margaret gavian

I received my PhD in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. I’m humbled to serve as Medical Director of the Minnesota Fire Initiative (www.mnfireinitiative.com), leading their emotional wellness programming for the 22,000 firefighters in Minnesota. For the last 3 years I have been training fire departments throughout the state about staying mentally healthy on the job, and have responded to departments and firefighters in crisis. I maintain a private practice, primarily serving MN firefighters and law enforcement officers. I completed my training at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, Hazelden Foundation and focused on delivering evidence-based care.

As a mother of two boys (whose grandfather is a retired firefighter), daughter of a military veteran, I am 100% committed to helping public servants live their lives with confidence, calm and control. I understand first hand the courage it takes to face fear head on and lead with humility in order to create massive change. I walk my talk.

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your mental health sog's

consider this your new set of irons, your tactical worksheet – we give you the tools to assess and deal with the critical factors regarding your mental and emotional wellness.

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testimonials

"The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFire) is very fortunate to have Dr. Margaret Gavian serving as our medical director for emotional trauma. As a member of the MnFire board of directors, I've had the opportunity and distinct pleasure to observe her commitment and work first hand. Whether she is provifing consulting advice on our program offerings,assisting firefighters in crisis or guiding our intake staff on the referral process, Dr. Gavian's deep experience and expertise working with firefighters impacted by trauma is second to none. She has been an invaluable and ever present asset to MnFire and the Minnesota fire service."

"Firefighters face traumatic events that can have short and long term effects on them and their families, and this has become a critical issue for Fire Chiefs providing health initiatives to their departments. Dr. Gavian has provided mental health counseling and education to our department's firefighters and their family members that has been a tremendous resource, and has proven to be invaluable for me to assure the health and well-being for our department."

"Dr. Gavian worked with our department by helping us with resiliency skills and dealing with the stress and struggles that come with our job. At first I treated it as 'just training' but soon really started to discover signs and symptoms in myself of how much the job had actually taken its toll. Not only have the resiliency skills she's taught become invaluable in dealing with the things we see on the job, but it has really made a difference in managing my stress levels away from the job that I didn't realize had gotten as bad as they did. We firefighters pride ourselves on being the 'tough guys', and rightfully so, but you would be doing yourself, your career, and your family a disservice if you did not reach out to Dr. Gavian. I don't want to see any of my fellow brothers and sisters suffer in silence."

"In talking to Dr. Gavian you immediately understand she 'gets' firefighters. The culture. The stress. The challenges. From her experience, she particularly understands the stress of Fire Chief officers and is uniquely positioned to offer training, support and no BS advice on how to help. If I need advice on how to navigate a firefighter who is struggling, had a question about how to improve a mental health program, needed training for my department or needed someone to talk to myself, Margaret would be my first call."

"I was a public servant with a bad attitude a few months ago. This helped me out of the sh#*hole I was in, to the mountain I am now climbing.
Dr. Gavian is amazing. She goes above and beyond."