About Carla

Carla has dedicated her career to supporting children and young people, with academic foundations in sociology, systemic therapy, and relationship-based social work. She has worked across SEND, mental health, mainstream and alternative education, and with care-experienced young people, in roles spanning direct mentoring, programme design, and organisational strategy.

As Founder of The Thoughtful Studio and a Director at a South London youth organisation, Carla has seen first-hand how skilled frontline practice can transform outcomes for young people and the systems around them.

Mental health runs through both Carla's professional and personal life, shaping her approach to training and facilitation. She believes in the value of lived experience and creating reflective spaces where practitioners can better understand themselves, the young people they support, and the systems they work within.

Known for her warm and honest approach, Carla brings a strong interest in relational practice, inclusivity, and systems thinking. As a mother and someone who has followed a non-linear path herself, she understands that meaningful change is rarely straightforward, and that is often where the most important learning happens.