Professor Tanya Byron

Professor Tanya Byron is a writer, broadcaster and consultant clinical psychologist. She has presented radio and TV programmes on memory, concepts of normal and abnormal behaviour, and child and adolescent psychology. She has also reported for the government and the NSPCC on the effects of online and social media on children.

In her role as a clinical psychologist, Tanya tackles a wide range of mental health issues from relationship problems, anxiety and stress to behavioural problems, addiction and personality disorders. Working with individuals, groups and organisations, she also often focuses on workplace psychology, the tech industry and its responsibilities, and work-life balance in the digital age.

Tanya has advised governments and policy makers in the UK and around the world on children, young people and the effects of digital media. She was also commissioned by the NSPCC to review government policy regarding the safety of young people online, and was on Lord Carter’s digital advisory board. She has also advised, written and broadcast on the psychological aspects of younth crime, technology addiction, and practical steps to integrate mental health awareness in workplaces and schools.

Having specialised in health psychology (including the psychological aspects of AIDS/HIV, drug misuse and sexual health) and women's mental health, Tanya then focused on child and adolescent mental health. She became a consultant at an in-patient unit for juveniles with severe mental health and child protection issues. As well as clinical work Tanya has taught a variety of psychological subjects to frontline staff in the NHS. In particular, she ran a Department of Health 'beacon' awarded training course in the management and de-escalation of violence and aggression at work.

A professor of Public Understanding of Science, Tanya has written books on child behaviour and parenting as well as on her personal experiences of training as a psychologist. Tanya is a regular columnist for The Times, co-wrote (with Jennifer Saunders) the comedy series The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, and also appeared on French and Saunders as herself, charged with sorting out the duo’s adolescent behaviour. Amongst her broadcast credits are Little Angels, Am I Normal? and The House of Tiny Tearaways. She has presented a Panorama episode on youth crime and co-hosted, with Professor Robert Winston, How to Improve Your Memory.