As the nation’s most trusted advice column, over the past 45 years more than half a million readers have shared their deepest concerns and received well informed advice.
The team, which is made up of trained counsellors and experts is led by Sally Land, and offers a unique service where every dilemma sent in receives a free, confidential and personalised response.
Readers can reach out for ongoing support for as long as they want and the Dear Deidre counsellors stay in close contact with those who they are particularly concerned about.
The sender whose message is chosen for the Issue Of The Week will receive an Amazon voucher worth £100.
The Dear Deidre team aims to answer each message within one working day.
While some letters are selected for publication, all identifying details are changed, to protect readers’s privacy.
These stories in turn inform, entertain and educate a wider readership.
Any readers who request that their issue is not published, can rest assured our exchanges remain strictly private.
From sex, love and relationship problems to family disputes, friend fallouts, health worries, money concerns and more, each request receives careful consideration and attention.
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Sally, who achieved a distinction in the Certificate in Humanistic Integrative Counselling, has specialised in relationships and parenting. She has over 20 years of writing and editing women’s issues and general features.
Passionate about helping people find a way through their challenges, Sally is also a trustee for the charity Family Lives. Her team helps up to 90 people every week.
Sally took over as The Sun’s Agony Aunt when Deidre Sanders retired from the The Dear Deidre column four years ago.
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Sally says: “In the five years that I’ve been at the Dear Deidre helm, I’ve seen how some issues develop and loom large, while others melt into the background.
“In recent months, I received more messages of concern about addiction to phones – in both children and adults.
“Porn compulsivity continues to distort relationships and loneliness seems to be growing.
“Whatever the issue, we always make sure we reply with a supportive, compassionate, well informed and useful response.
“We work closely with several charities including Women’s Aid, Family Lives and the NSPCC to ensure readers are getting the best advice.
Get in touch with Deidre
Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays.
Send an email to deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page.
Sally’s top team includes:
Kate Taylor: a sex and dating writer who is also training to be a counsellor. Kate is an advisor for dating website OurTime and is the author of five self-help books.
Jane Allton: a stalwart of the Dear Deidre for over 20 years. Jane is a trained therapist, who specialises in family issues. She has completed the Basic Counselling Skills Level 1, 2, and 3. She also achieved the Counselling and Psychotherapy (CPCAB) Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Studies.
Catherine Thomas: with over two decades worth of experience Catherine has also trained as a therapist, with the same credentials as Jane. She specialises in consumer and relationship issues.
Here’s why Dear Deidre is an iconic Agony Aunt column:
- We answer EVERY email, message, or letter.
- A trained counsellor personally answers every piece of correspondence.
- We’ll keep in touch for as long as you need our support.
- Our service is completely free.
