Dr Christina Poulatova has launched Climb Youth Therapy in Newcastle, providing tailored support for children, teenagers, and families to address early signs of anxiety, stress, and other pressures before issues escalate, with a focus on practical tools and family involvement.
A Newcastle children’s wellbeing specialist has opened a new service designed to step in before everyday pressures harden into more serious difficulties. Dr Christina Poulatova has launched Climb Youth Therapy to support children, teenagers, young adults and their families with early intervention work around anxiety, exam stress, low confidence, body image, social media pressure, university adjustment, workplace strain and eating-related concerns.
Rather than presenting itself as a substitute for NHS mental health care, the service is intended to give families a first response when warning signs begin to appear. Poulatova said the approach centres on practical tools such as breathing techniques, coping strategies and confidence-building exercises, with support tailored to each young person’s needs. She also offers free 20-minute introductory consultations so families can talk through their concerns before committing to longer support.
Poulatova, originally from Greece, moved to Newcastle to study and has built her career around children’s wellbeing and rights. Her PhD focuses on children’s rights in war and armed conflict, while her work in higher education has brought her into contact with students from a wide range of cultural and geographical backgrounds as they adapt to life in the UK. That experience, she said, has shaped her understanding of how quickly pressures can build and why intervention at an earlier stage can matter.
The new service also recognises that young people’s difficulties often affect the wider family. Climb offers guidance for parents as well as children, reflecting a broader trend in youth support services that emphasises family involvement and timely access to help. Similar models elsewhere, such as fully funded therapy schemes for vulnerable young people, have underlined the value of removing barriers and reaching families before crises escalate.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
