Hello and Welcome 

I’m Carly Uttridge — a Therapeutic family practitioner, Child, Teen and Family Coach, and mum to two teenagers.

Over the years, I’ve supported children, teens, and families across a wide range of settings, including hospitals, schools, family homes, and outdoor therapeutic spaces. My work is grounded in trauma-informed care, intuitive practice, and deep relational connection — meeting people exactly where they are, with kindness, respect, and care.

My journey into this work began in hospitals, where I supported young people and their families through some of life’s most difficult moments, including palliative and end-of-life care. It was in those quiet, emotionally charged spaces that I learned the true power of presence — not fixing, not rushing, but simply being with another person when they need it most.

But my path into this work started much earlier.

As a child, I was diagnosed with hyperactivity — now recognised as ADHD — and I struggled within the expectations of the school system. I found it hard to conform or simply “behave” in the ways that were expected of me. Thankfully i had adults around me who understood me, and supported me for me. 

That experience shaped me deeply, and it continues to sit at the heart of my work today: creating spaces where young people feel seen, accepted, and valued for who they are, not who they’re expected to be.

Later, I founded a forest school and outdoor nursery — a space designed for families and community groups to come together, reconnect, and heal. Through workshops and therapeutic experiences, we honoured children’s natural ways of expressing themselves and exploring the world, without pressure or labels.

More recently, I spent two years embedded within a large secondary school safeguarding team, supporting young people on behaviour systems, those at risk of permanent exclusion, and some of the most vulnerable students within the school community. I have also worked with young people who are in care, or who have had social workers involved in their lives, supporting them with sensitivity, consistency, and a strong focus on emotional safety.

Working so closely with young people in these contexts — and alongside the professionals supporting them — has deepened my understanding of safeguarding as something rooted in connection, trust, and compassion, rather than judgement or punishment.

Today, I specialise in supporting anxious, sensitive, and neurodivergent teens, particularly those navigating emotional overwhelm, masking, and the pressures of school life. I also work closely with young people who may feel misunderstood or labelled within systems, helping them build self-understanding, self-acceptance, and new ways of moving forward that feel safe and achievable.

What makes my work distinctive is the way I bring together safeguarding expertise with therapeutic approaches such as NLP and BWRT, alongside intuitive, relational support that weaves in creativity, nervous system awareness, and nurturing spaces for expression. This blend allows me to support young people — and their families — in ways that feel safe, respectful, and empowering.

At its core, my work with families and schools is about creating meaningful, lasting change. It is gentle, neuro-affirming, relational, and deeply human — always rooted in connection, kindness, and trust.

Want to know how we can work together? → Email now