About Alison
Meet Alison
I gained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Manchester University in the 90s and soon after decided to embark on medical training. In 2008, I qualified as a medical doctor at Leeds University, and began training in psychiatry and later on family medicine.
In these roles, I witnessed how common it is for psychological factors to influence and/or drive many of the illnesses we suffer, both ohysical and memtal ilness. Said differently, sometimes our way of dealing with personal difficulty exacerbates and compounds our troubles. We can easily get stuck and overwhlemed by the strain and uncertainty of life; it can sometimes feel an ordeal just to be alive and breathing. I felt I needed some additional skills to help clients deal with their difficulties.
In 2010, I trained in hypnotherapy and neurolingusitic programming to gain the vital competencies to empower individuals to transform their internal landscapes through NLP hypnosis.
In 2016, I embarked upon a Masters degree in Teaching Mindfulness at Bangor University. I have been delivering mindfulness-based intervention courses ever since, alongside my continuing medical practice and other therapeutic work.
My journey into mindfulness initially came through Buddhism, indeed, mindfulness is a secularised practice, derived and originating from Buddhist psychology. I have been practising Buddhism for over twenty years and have personally experienced the power of mindfulness meditation practice. More recently, I have exploried sound therapy, somatic therapy, and tantric meditations.
Daily practice develops positive emotional states. You may notice steadiness, groundedness, connectedness, joyfulness, and authenticity emerging within yourself. Others may notice changes in you too, as you embody and radiate positive emotional well-being. The development of positive emotional states, sustained with daily practice, acts as a buffer to life's challenges and means we better cope and tolerate difficulties experienced in life.
Developing a daily meditation practice will and does change you for the better! Both the MBSR and MBCT courses involve learning a variety of meditations. that are practised daily over eight-weeks change your brain; evidence-based medicine supports these claims (see MBCT research paper and MBSR brain changes article).
It takes effort to change, courage to face what is difficult and energy to maintain practice but the rewards are worth it. I liken mindfulness practice to a best friend, reliable, consistent, trustworthy, present as a witness through good and bad times, and capable of giving opportunity to reflect and learn together. On life's journey, come rain or shine, for the good times and the bad, mindfulness practice is with your, wherever you go.
There is a place for you to practice and mindfulness welcomes you. You are invited aboard to come dip your toes into the river of mindfulness, to come take your seat. Be present for your life - you only have one and none of us know when it will be over. Enjoy living in this moment and Come Flourish.
The invitation is yours.
