Newspapers wishing to run “You and Me” or “Difficult Relationships” (both titles are in use) may contact me directly.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Your inclusion of this column in your paper is absolutely free of charge to you. The flagship paper pays for it and it is my decision to allow its inclusion into your paper free of charge to you. The ONLY requests I make are that you let me know, and that you include the website’s URL, and an Email address directing readers to mail questions to me. The head shot would also be helpful but not essential.

While there are more than TEN REASONS this advice column is different from Ann Landers, Dear Abby (and, therefore a good juxtaposition to those very well-loved columns) I have listed the 10 reasons that spring immediately to mind:

1. It’s short, always fewer than 210 words. It takes about 50 seconds to read and offers sound, to-the-point advice.
2. Questions are not presented in full.
3. It is anonymous. Questions go to RodESmith@mac.com – or a unique address can be made for your paper – still of course, coming directly to Rod.
4. Submitted to newspapers in two-week packs by email or download before deadline (over 2000 segments available until a newspaper generates its own unique mail).
5. Segments sometimes follow a theme.
6. Sometimes the writer expresses a personal note about general relationship issues.
7. Allows immediate access between the reader and the writer – many readers have attested to feeling as if they know the writer and his children as a result of the column.
8. The column is focused on strength, often funny, enduringly believes in the resilience of people, and covers a very wide spectrum of issues. “It is refreshingly unpredictable,” said one editor.
9. Writer is a family therapist who teaches family therapy in several countries each year.
10. Style allows for brevity, anonymity, and cutting to the chase.