Tanya did her first degree in psychology at York, her clinical psychology Masters training at UCL and her doctorate (on the treatment of cocaine, amphetamine and ecstasy misusers) between University College Hospital and Surrey. She has been working in the NHS for 18 years working in Drug Dependency, HIV/AIDS and sexual health, adult mental health and eating disorders services. She was the Consultant of an in patient unit for 12 - 16 year olds with severe mental health problems and child protection issues.
Tanya designed and ran an NHS beacon awarded NHS and Care Staff training programme in the assessment and management of aggressive and violent behaviours.
Tanya now works one day a week as a Consultant in child and adolescent mental health in a general practice. In addition Tanya writes a weekly column for the Times newspaper and for several women’s magazines.
Predominantly Tanya works at the BBC presenting programmes on child behaviour, science and current affairs (Little Angels; Teen Angels; House of Tiny Tearaways; Panorama; How to Improve Your Memory - with Professor Robert Winston). Tanya is currently filming four one hour documentaries for BBC2 looking at: Sex; Death; Vanity and Spirituality. Next year she will be filming a series on child behaviour in America. Also, after appearing in last years French & Saunders Christmas Special, Tanya co-wrote a comedy series about a daytime chat show host (The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle) with Jennifer Saunders.
Tanya has published three books on child behaviour, the latest published by Penguin and is currently editing an encyclopedia of child development and the early years with Dorling Kindersley.
