Yvalia is a registered Social Worker who previously worked in child protection and education welfare in boroughs across East and South West London. She was the founding Programme Director of the Frontline Social Work programme. Yvalia is now an  Associate Professor of Social Work, and the Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Working With Children & Young People: Social Pedagogy degree at Kingston University.

Yvalia specialises in trauma and attachment and is a qualified Practice Educator and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She has written for the Guardian Social Care, Community Care, and Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She has been a Trustee for SPPA since 2019 and is currently the Endorsement Coordinator.