In the past, New York relatives helped solved problems (5,5)
I believe the answer is:
agony aunts
'in the past new york relatives helped solved problems' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'in the past new york relatives' is the wordplay.
'in the past' becomes 'ago' (three years ago means three years in the past).
'new york' becomes 'ny'.
'relatives' becomes 'aunts' (aunt is a kind of relative).
'ago'+'ny'+'aunts'='AGONY AUNTS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for agony aunts that I've seen before include "Advisers" , "Write to these for advice" , "Columnists advising" , "people who have problems to deal with?" , "Advice columnists" .)