About Us

More About Will Coker

William Coker is the founder of First Responder Families. He worked as a first responder for more than 23 years, and now he is working with patients in need of therapy or counseling for over a year.

He has first-hand experience in providing counseling services and can sympathize with clients. He is knowledgeable, trained, and a caring professional.

Bio

William (Will) H. Coker IV was born in Denver, Colorado. Graduated from Gateway High school in Aurora, Colorado. He attended Metropolitan State College of Denver and graduated with a B.A. in Communication in 1997. Shortly after graduating, he was compelled to head west as a young man and moved to Oregon in the fall of 1997. He was hired as a Professional Firefighter with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue on February 1, 1999. Becoming the first African American Firefighter in Washington County. As a professional firefighter/paramedic, he has worked in EMS for over 23 years and counting. Personally, he has responded to hundreds of calls and has helped heal and care for countless lives.

He has earned two Distinguished Action citations for rescuing two different victims from burning residences. Six times he has received recognition for being a part of the "chain of survival" for cardiac arrest survivors. He has even delivered a baby as part of his duties as a first responder. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, he enlisted in the Oregon Army National Guard as a Combat/Medic to support those serving. At the age of 32, he went off to Army Basic Training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. From there, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas to attend the Army's arduous Combat Medic Course. Since enlisting into the Oregon National Guard as a Soldier/Medic, he has been promoted through the ranks from an Army Specialist (E4) to Sergeant (E-5), 1st Lieutenant, and a Captain. He has earned the following decorations, awards, and citations. The Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Army reserve Achievement Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/campaign Star, Army Service ribbon, reserve Medal w/M device Combat Action Badge. He retired from the Army National Guard in 2015. First Lieutenant Coker deployed to Iraq in May of 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Assigned as the XO of "A" CO 141, Task Force Atlas. During deployment, he served as a leader and a medic, treating injured Soldiers with his medical background and professional education. He was a Platoon Leader of the 2nd Platoon and personally led multiple Convoy Security Missions throughout his operational area. Those complex experiences helped shape his journey to become a behavioral health counselor. His experiences with combat in the military and his civilian experiences of working as a public servant encouraged William to get curious about behavioral health. In the summer of 2016, he applied and was accepted into a prestigious graduate school program at George Fox University and graduated with a Master's in Arts degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling. Today he is still working as a professional Firefighter/Paramedic serving the communities in Washington, Clackamas, Multnomah, and Yamhill counties and starting an incredible career as a registered intern for First Responder Psychology for a year. Today William now works primarily with both everyday civilians and various first responder-based families, gladly seeing individuals, couples as a clinician serving those with unique ties to public service such as firefighters, police officers, ambulance services and 911 dispatchers.