The Allergy Psychologists

Dr Francesca Sawer

Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director

With over 15 years’ experience working in the NHS, Francesca has worked across some of the UK’s leading hospitals, including Great Ormond Street, The Maudsley, and The Evelina Children’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s, gaining extensive experience in child and adolescent mental health, child development and emotional impact of living physical health conditions.

It was during her time leading the specialist psychology service in paediatric allergy that she uncovered a gap in support. While allergies were recognised in medical terms, the psychological impact on children and families was often overlooked.

The more she spoke to families, the more she uncovered the hidden emotional challenges of allergies, which even to her as a clinical psychologist had never been taught as part of her formal training.  Ever since, she has become passionate about raising the awareness of the psychological impact of allergies, hoping to increase funding and service provision, so that more families, children and adults can access psychological support.

Francesca is also on a mission to make information as readily available as possible and has produced a range of resources; downloads, eBooks, courses, videos and blogs to help those who need it. Over the last 6 years she has developed and refined her unique approach to supporting allergy anxiety; The Allergy Anxiety Method® which is based on evidence-based ideas but adjusted for the unique challenges of living with allergies. It has now helped hundreds of families.

Since 2023 she has joined forces with the powerhouse, leading Allergy Specialist and GP, Dr Helen Allergy, supporting Helen in her membership, developing packages for Oral Immunotherapy and between them helping thousands of people all over the UK (and beyond).

Francesca also works closely with allergy charities, including The Sadie Bristow Foundation and Allergy UK. She also consults with the food and hospitality industry regarding staff and consumer behaviour and the psychological impact of allergies, to make eating out, safer for those with allergies.

Dr Caroline Graham

Associate Clinical Psychologist 

Caroline is an HCPC registered clinical psychologist with over 15 years’ experience working in NHS psychological services.

Since qualifying in 2015 most of Caroline’s time has been spent working in paediatric health settings, supporting children, young people and their families with the emotional impact of living with health conditions. This has included working with young people who have diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and renal conditions.

Caroline is parent to a child with allergies and has lived experience of managing the extra pressures, decisions and challenges that come with this. She is more than aware of the of the uncertainty and anxiety and that can come living with allergies.

She is passionate about supporting families to live alongside allergies and other health conditions, allowing them to do the things that matter to them most.

She previously worked at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently works at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. She also brings experience from working in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and a neurodevelopmental service completing autism and ADHD assessments. She is committed to providing individualised support, getting to know the unique experiences of everyone she works with and prides herself on building strong collaborative relationships with families.