So I was glad – way back in 1973 – of the opportunity to start helping young teenage mothers to finish their schooling and get some exams under their belt while getting used to the joys and responsibilities of motherhood. This was in Bristol, a special unit for them and their babies which I helped set up.
While teaching young mums and managing The Meriton – as it is now – I developed my ‘helping skills’ as I worked with pregnant and parenting adolescent girls. I was frequently in touch with their parents, their partners, social services, sexual health clinics and more, and so I became involved with Sex and Relationships education in schools, Youth Clubs and Young Offenders. This led to my interest in counselling skills, and so to talking therapy, both doing it and teaching it.