Bridging Practice and Research: Insights for Alexander Technique from Acupuncture Care and Research
The ASO Newsletter - 49th edition
Enabling greater understanding of the Alexander Technique.
Introduction
This month’s blog post builds on our November 2024 discussion about self-report measures and their role in Alexander Technique research. In this conversation, ASO team member Charlotte Woods PhD interviews Mandy Brass MSc, a Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture practitioner. As part of her MSc in Research, Mandy conducted a service evaluation of her acupuncture work at Dimbleby Cancer Care, an integrative oncology department at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK.
In her dual role as a researcher-practitioner, Mandy used self-report measures to gather meaningful data, giving voice to the experience of her patients while evaluating her own practice. She shares insights into how she approached the data collection process and some of the challenges she faced along the way.
Service evaluations, as Mandy explains, are an accessible and valuable way for practitioners to better understand the needs of their clients. They offer unique opportunities to reflect, grow, and develop professionally while deepening the connection between practice and research.
Additional Resources
To learn more about Mandy Brass' research process and insights, click the link below to read the full article: Reflections On Being A Researcher-Practitioner. By Mandy Brass
Standardized measures mentioned in the video discussion included the:
About
Mandy Brass is the lead acupuncturist at Dimbleby Cancer Care in Guy's Cancer Centre, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK. She has been practising Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture for over 20 years, specialising in supporting cancer patients through all stages of their journey, from diagnosis and treatment to survivorship or palliative care.
Mandy recently completed her MSc in research from the Northern College of Acupuncture. Her research project, evaluating the outcomes and patient experience of group with individual acupuncture in an NHS cancer care setting, won the Research Council for Complementary Medicine's (RCCM) George Lewith Memorial Prize for best early career research project. Mandy is a member of the British Acupuncture Council and the British Society of Integrative Oncology.
To learn more visit: https://www.rccm.org.uk/reflections-on-being-a-researcher-practitioner-by-mandy-brass/
Charlotte Woods retired from a Senior Lectureship at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester in 2016 after almost forty years of international experience in education. She qualified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique in 2017 and is a member of the STAT Research Group and part of the ASO team.
Thank You
Thank you to Mandy Brass for her generous time and contribution to this post. To our community, your participation matters! You can support ASO by subscribing for free, sharing this post, commenting below, or emailing us; we’d love to hear from you!