Dr Graham GP
An interview with Dr Alison Graham GP reveals that she is exceptional and puts patients first. Her dedication to keeping exploring new ways of healing that in particular, would benefit children. The importance of their future well-being is shared in this interview her thoughts. Having discovered the Total Release Experience® – a unique no talking – 5 Step programme to Heal Yourself and Build Resilience.
Dr Graham, how long have you been a GP?
I am a GP with over 25 years of experience.
Is there a particular focus Dr Graham, in health that interests you?
Throughout my whole career, I have had an interest in how the brain and body influence each other in both sickness and health. I am Chair and trustee for a Charity called YPCS (Young People’s Counselling Service), whose patrons are the well-known actors Warwick and Annabelle Davis. One of our ambitions is to teach young people early to manage their mental health, This is so they don’t require our services for counselling in the future.
Dr Graham, how did you connect with TRE UK®?
A chance suggestion from a colleague led me to the TRE UK® website. I was impressed by their stories of success. But as a clinician, I have to be more analytical than that, and I enrolled with a psychotherapist friend for one of their workshops. After all, if Professor Gordon Turnbull is enthusiastic about it, it is certainly worth learning more about.
So how did you find it?
The results were unexpected; honestly, I am not interested if we cannot fully explain the process. Caroline and her team have created a very professional, well-organised training and support programme that shows her educational background. I was pleased to see good governance in place.
What else did you learn from the experience that day?
I often tell patients that I don’t know how my phone works, yet we accept that unconditionally and use it nonetheless. There seem to be no serious adverse effects from the Total Release Experience®, though some of the ‘detoxing’ can be unexpected and briefly unsettling. This is why good training is essential. This is not a technique to ‘have a go at on your own’ just because you read an interesting newspaper article. Instead, it is simple but powerful.
So what has it done for you, Dr Graham?
The relaxation it brings is immediate after a ‘practice’ as we call each session is incredible. So much so that I slept for 2 hours afterwards on a couple of occasions! It helps me stay calm when facing the usual stresses of work and family life with three teenagers. Slowly, however, other changes became apparent- I started that diet I had been avoiding for three years and lost 11 lbs. I am much more energised, focused, and creative than I have been for years, which is excellent.
Anything else, Dr Graham?
I was so impressed that I organised a TRE UK® workshop for patients (and some relatives of mine) and have started a clinical trial with the hope that this will provide enough data to get funding for a more scientifically robust study. With my charity hat on, we are exploring how we can teach the Total Release Experience® in our local schools to empower children to manage their health and therein lies another research opportunity.
Dr Graham, it sounds like you have connected with our process.
It is rare in medicine to come across something that is potentially so cost-effective, is safe, and teaches the patient to be self-reliant. It was also refreshing to see a local Pain Consultant recommending it as it ‘fits very well with our bio-psycho-social model of pain management’. If it shows in trials what Caroline has seen many times over in her clients who have fibromyalgia, PTSD, and anxiety, for example, then I hope this will be able to convince others to offer this as part of their treatment package. As doctors, we desperately need something other than medication they may not need or counselling that is more expensive. So the future looks very exciting!