As a passionate educator and champion of young people, Gill Deesi created Yalla Thrive to meet a gap she found time and again in the schools she worked with.

The curriculum is stretched, teachers are struggling with higher levels of need, resources are scarce and young people are crying out for more individualised support.

Yalla Thrive has neem designed with the needs of young people front and centre. Making use of the her more than 20 years of experience working with and teaching young people alongside her Masters of Science in Education, Gill uses trauma informed approaches alongside NLP, CBT, Timeline Therapy and Play Therapy Techniques to allow growth of emotional literacy as well as communication, confidence and resilience skills.

My approach is built on experience, continued learning, and genuine care.

After nearly two decades working in schools across the UK and internationally, I’ve had the privilege of supporting young people from a wide range of backgrounds, each with their own challenges, strengths and stories. That experience has shaped how I work today. Practical, relational, and focused on what actually helps.

Alongside this, I have continued to invest in my own learning. Drawing on coaching, NLP and CBT-informed approaches and other evidence-based practices, I constantly refine and develop the tools I use so they stay relevant, effective and grounded in real life.

But more than anything, my work comes from a place of understanding.

As a mum, I know what it feels like to question yourself. To wonder if you’re getting it right. To feel overwhelmed by advice coming from every direction. Family, friends, professionals, social media, all offering different answers. It can feel noisy, confusing and, at times, quite isolating.

That’s why everything I do is rooted in compassion, honesty and simplicity.

There is no judgement here. No expectation of perfection. Just a calm, supportive space where young people and families feel heard, understood and guided in a way that makes sense for them.

Because when we strip it back, this work isn’t about quick fixes or perfect outcomes.
It’s about building confidence, strengthening understanding, and helping young people feel secure in who they are.

Yalla Thrive supports children and young people across a wide range of ages, backgrounds and experiences.

I primarily work with children and teenagers from early primary through to secondary school, supporting them with confidence, emotional wellbeing, friendships and resilience as they grow and navigate the challenges around them.

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with individuals aged 4 through to adulthood, across a variety of settings and circumstances. This has included mainstream education, international schools, alternative provision, and working with young people facing significant life challenges through to high-performing and high-profile environments.

I’ve supported individuals from all walks of life, from those navigating complex personal situations to those in highly privileged environments. What this has taught me is simple but important.

No matter someone’s background, every young person needs to feel seen, understood and supported.

Item descriptionThere is no “type” of child that this work is for.

Some young people come because they are struggling.
Others come because they want to grow, build confidence and feel more secure in themselves.

All are welcome.

• Low confidence or self-esteem

• Anxiety, worries or overthinking

• Friendship challenges or social difficulties

• Emotional regulation and behaviour

• School-related stress or disengagement

• Big life changes or transitions