Martine J. Byer is a licensed psychotherapist and hypnotist who maintains a private practice for teens and adults and has worked in school settings and clinical agencies for over 20 years.

Additionally as a screenwriter and playwright, she has with published works in nonfiction. In 2004, she won the Actor’s Studio one act competition and had “What Difference Does it Make?” produced in their Marilyn Monroe Theatre. Other awards include, The Arts & Letters prize for Drama judged by Horton Foote and honor status at The Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. She has been a finalist at Sundance and in the Fade In Screenwriting Competition. Her screenplay, “Safe House” was produced by the American Film Institute. In 2010, she was a finalist at the O’Neill Theatre Conference with BETTE IN BED 3.

She is the author of a non-fiction book for Penguin-Putnam, Sex & the Single Parent, which uses interviews laced with humor and information to explain the potentially complicated mix of child and adolescent development when adults are looking for new romance.

For eight years, her column in Woman’s World for “Parents of Teenagers and Children” threw a psychological lifeline to its readers. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood and Ducts. Her current book, WHAT TO DO (instead of what you are doing) is available on Amazon.com.