I’m a Relate-trained counsellor, an accredited parenting educator, an agony aunt with over 20 years experience of working on UK national magazines (I am now agony aunt of Women magazine), and in newspapers, television, radio and online and the author of thirty books – the two most recent being How To Have A Happy Family Life, and Live A Life Of No Regrets. I was the counsellor in Stepfamilies, a major BBC1 series, helping people sort their way through the difficulties of bringing new families together.
I’m a trustee and spokesperson for the UK parenting charity Family Lives and a trustee of The Who Cares? Trust, for “looked after” children. I’m a patron of the charity Unique Kidz and Co.
I’m a freelance journalist and have written features, mainly on relationship, health and counselling matters, for national UK magazines and newspapers – including The Times, Guardian and Independent – and have conceived and written leaflets and website material for Family Lives, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), Drinkaware, One Parent Families, the Family Planning Association and Brook Advisory Centres. These include the highly successful ‘Young Mum’s Guide’ for OPF and the controversial magazine “Hands Off” for the NSPCC.
I’m an accredited Triple P (Positive Parenting Programme) parenting educator offering parenting workshops and courses.