About charlotte clarke
Developing relational practices in the settings and communities that influence children’s lives.
As a child who experienced significant trauma, I studied psychology and Mental Health Science in pursuit of understanding, opportunity and hope. Through research and practice, I was able to formulate a pathway that facilitated my own recovery and enabled mental health improvement in others.
As a practitioner, I was focused on looking beyond the binary labels that surround mental health and neurodiversity. I was passionate about providing practical support and progressive development for the people I worked with and leveraged my experiences to raise awareness and drive systemic change.
Throughout my clinical career I created an addiction recovery programme that was used by Salford University and the YMCA. I have worked to support victims of murder and supported work at the Warrington Peace Centre and The Greater Manchester Resilience Hub. I led the ‘No to Neurophobia’ campaign and launched a ‘pay what you can’ counselling service in conjunction with Shine Bright UK.
Despite my one to one work, I continued to be troubled by the ever rising statistics that surround children’s mental health. After the birth of my daughter, I began searching for opportunities to support transformational change. I want to be a champion for the future life of every child and ensure that the quality of every life matters. I want to look beyond survival, further than good enough and create the best possible outcomes for our future generation.
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​During the pandemic, I crossed paths with Paul Dix and through understanding the work he has led in schools was able to recognise some of the barriers shame created in my own trauma recovery. I could empathise with young people who were ashamed of their behaviour but unable to adjust it. I recognised myself in children who disliked themselves, who felt they didn’t belong and felt the weight of the ‘outlier’ label they carried.
As I learnt more about the role shame plays in the life of children and young people and the way in which relational practice can play to prevent this, the more I realised that it was the central piece of the revolution I’d been looking to create.
Since March 2021, Paul and I have worked closely together to help thousands of children and young people live and learn in emotionally safe and highly nurturing environments. When the Adults Change, children are able to experience a sense of belonging, access support, develop resilience. They are able to develop a strong sense of self and a relational norm that helps them hold high expectations and clear boundaries with compassion and kindness.
When the Adults Change, children are given the opportunity to explore, learn, process and understand the world they live in safely. From a place of emotional safety, children’s brains are able to develop strong neurological pathways and cognitive connections. They are able to establish healthy norms and develop protective factors that will support them for the rest of their lives.
The removal of shame from the lives of children and young people has the potential to change everything we currently understand about the behaviour of children and young people and their social, emotional and mental health needs.
To wrap every child in relational care would ensure that regardless of cognitive preferences, neurodiversities or life experiences, every child would be entitled to hope, opportunity and understanding. It was the mission I started the day I was misdiagnosed with a mental illness and it is the mission I continue to chase today.
Say hello
Everything starts with a conversation.
You can book time in Charlotte's diary by emailing: Hello@WhenTheAdultsChange.com