GT Magazine.

Article by Travel Editor Andrew Copestake.

Change is good, but the Life Change People are even better. I only wish I had met them sooner.

The company is run by an English woman called Chrissy Richman and Alex Gunn with other members of the team coming out to Thailand when necessary. They have worked with thousands of people, helping them make major changes in their lives, including, recovering from drug addiction and alcohol dependency, they worked with Aids patients in the early years and have latterly advised the government on a range of social issues, through focussed discussion groups at The House Of Lords.

Ever the cynic I arranged to meet Chrissy for a chat next time she was in London and expected the meeting to last about 15 minutes. Two hours later I was captivated. On first impression she came across as slightly scatty, was reticent about her own achievements and has a lively sense of humour.

Seeing Chrissy waiting for me at Bangkok airport was like being re-united with an old friend. I had to remind myself I’d only known this woman for two hours. As we travelled onto Chiang Mai she described how our daily life change sessions would leave plenty of free time to explore the city’s markets, visit the nearby Elephant Nature Park, indulge in stress busting massage treatments, or just relax by the pool of the hotel, a tranquil retreat whose languid grounds would be enough to bliss-out the most stressed neurotic. All the time I’d have use of Son, a driver and guide, who works as part of the life change team. He is incredibly warm hearted and would tell me fascinating facts about the country and introduce me to the delights of Thai street food.

Working with The Life Change People is not a case of off-loading pent up grievances, but about developing strategies for change. During the week we discussed ways to overcome snags and dilemmas that can get in the way and how to reframe negative self talk into meaningful positive change talk .

For me the location of the Life Change Programme is important. However good therapy may be, had I taken that route I would have been turfed out at the end of each session to the mad streets and slate grey skies of London. Each evening in Thailand, emotionally drained but strangely energised, I wandered through the bustling street markets, visited serene Buddhist temples or just relaxed by the pool. I began to sleep like a baby, waking with the dawn to seek out the saffron-robed monks as they did their early morning rounds and slowly, but surely, I could feel the stress slipping away.

The real test is how I’ve done since my return home. It would be ludicrous to suggest that my anxieties have reached zero, but 3 months on with regular online-counselling I’m learning to manage my anxieties better and focus on the things that make me feel good.

I’ve quit smoking after 20 years. I have 2 cups of coffee a day, have cleared my inbox, the snowdrift of paper in my office, and have managed to kick-start my career again. I’ve even resurrected some book projects, and started some new ones. Finally I’ve just re-read The Art Of Travel. In one chapter the author describes how depressed he can feel when he returns from travelling, a feeling I used to know well. Perhaps he should get in touch with The Life Change People.

Vol 106 2009