| Laverne Antrobus | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 8, 1966 Reading, Berkshire |
| Occupation | Psychologist, Writer, Television Presenter |
| Employer | Tavistock Clinic |
| Known for | "Carrot or Stick"- a horizon guide to raising children "Biology of Dads" War In The Womb, Little Angels (TV series), Teen Angles, The All New House of Tiny Tearaways |
| Partner | Andy Barter |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | Harold and Yvonne Antrobus |
Laverne Antrobus (born 8 July 1966) is a British psychologist, author, and television presenter.
She was born in Reading, Berkshire, to Harold and Yvonne Antrobus, who moved to England from St.Vincent, West Indies in 1964. She works for the Tavistock Clinic in London as a consultant child and educational psychologist.
Contents |
Laverne Antrobus presented BBC's "Carrot or Stick" (2011) which looked at Horizon (BBC TV series) archives to find out how science has shaped our approach to parenting and education over the last fifty years. From lessons in motherly love to tough discipline to bribery tactics, she asks what's the best approach when it comes to bringing up children. In Who Needs Dads, a BBC Four documentary shown in June 2010, Laverne explored the psychological impact of a father figure on a family and the "extraordinary hidden biological changes" that occur in fathers and their children".[1] Laverne presented the BBC television series "War In The Womb",[2] In the series she investigates the theory of foetal-maternal conflict, an idea championed by Harvard evolutionary biologist Professor David Haig (biologist) and controversially believed by some to be to blame for a wide range of behavioural and psychological disorders such as Tourettes, depression and autism. She was also a child therapist on the BBC television series Little Angels,[3] Teen Angels and The All New House of Tiny Tearaways.[4] Laverne was included on the Power List 2010 and 2011 (Britain's 100 most influential black people) she was said to be influential because .... "she quite literally changes the lives of so many people she works with and does so on a grand scale"[5]
Laverne lives with her partner, photographer Andy Barter in London. They have three children. Laverne is a season ticket holder and fan of Arsenal Football Club. She is involved with several charities including Shelter. She is also a committee member of Siya Philaphula. Siya Philaphula was launched in 2001 to provide training in therapeutic communication with children and to assist and support workers engaged in community work with disadvantaged black children and their families in South Africa. Siya Phulaphula work with the Child Headed Families Project which cares for 156 families, comprising 300 children, who have been orphaned as a result of the HIV Aids pandemic and who have no kinship support.[6]