Healing the Mind, Body & Soul
Based in the historic town of Hawick in the picturesque Scottish Borders, A Positive Start CIC (APS CIC) is a trauma informed, emotional health and wellbeing, asset-locked community interest company. Working holistically to nurture and nourish the whole being; mind body & soul, we are committed to supporting community mental health, providing professional, person-centred counselling, holistic therapy and psycho-education.
We work face-to-face and online with adults both one to one and group support in a person-centred way. We help individuals to recognise, cope with, and heal from the negative impacts of trauma, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), abusive and toxic relationships, divorce, separation, poverty, unemployment, mental and physical health issues, inequality, discrimination, care experience, exclusion, and isolation. We advocate for a trauma-informed society, recognizing that recovery is a two-way street; self-awareness and the impact we each other & the world around us. Our CPD-accredited training and applied trauma-informed training are designed to educate and empower. Additionally, we offer a variety of products, materials, and workshops, mostly available by donation, through our Lived Learning store.
We believe our clients are the experts in their own lives and encourage them to become curious about their symptoms. By helping individuals understand trauma and dysregulation, we support them in becoming aware of how trauma may shape and influence their lives and relationships. Guided by Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach to healing, which emphasizes compassion, empathy, congruence, and love, we provide a safe, regulated, non-judgmental, and confidential space where clients are truly seen and heard. For more information about our trauma-informed training and workshops for organizations, businesses, services, and individuals, please contact us. Join us in our mission to create a safer, healthier, and more compassionate, trauma-informed society.
Aligned with our dedication to nurturing the next generation of trauma-informed therapists, we offer practicum placements for students. Lived Experience Practitioners (LEPs) play a crucial role in our organization, serving as a bridge between academic learning and real-world experience.. By appropriately sharing wisdom from their own experiences, they inspire hope and belief in the possibility of recovery in others. LEPs provide formalized peer support and practical assistance to those using our services, helping them regain control over their lives and their unique recovery journeys.
Within a person-centred relationship of mutuality and information sharing, LEPs promote choice, self-determination, and opportunities for fulfilling socially valued roles and connecting to local communities.
Our Mission
At A Positive Start, our mission is to foster a safe and non-judgmental environment where individuals feel genuinely seen and heard. We prioritize person-centred principles such as congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding to cultivate trust. In the face of trauma, we offer reassurance, understanding, safety, and truth. All our staff, volunteers, and subcontractors undergo trauma-informed TRUST training to ensure a consistent and supportive experience for everyone we serve.
Our ethos is rooted in creating a balanced and inclusive support system for all clients. We operate on a model where paying clients contribute to the accessibility of services for non-paying clients, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the therapy we provide. Our therapists are self-employed professionals who share our commitment to this mission. They work on a part-paid, part-voluntary basis, charging far less per hour than the £50 plus typically charged by professionals in private practice.
Additionally, all of our therapists agree to support both paying and non-paying clients referred through our services, ensuring that everyone receives equitable care. This collaborative approach allows us to sustain a professional service that prioritises community well-being and equitable access to therapy.
We are committed to a holistic approach to healing that integrates mind, body, and spirit. Our thrift shop promotes environmental responsibility by encouraging recycling and waste reduction through curated second-hand clothing. This not only supports individual healing journeys but also contributes to a sustainable future. We believe everyone has the right to access quality holistic support for their healing journey, encompassing mind, body, and soul.
At APS CIC, our values are central to our operations; we prioritise people, embodying a person-centred approach in our organisation.
Person-Centred Counselling
Dealing with life's challenges through understanding and empowerment
Counselling & Therapy
Person-centred counselling offers a secure, confidential, and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings. The initial session is both an assessment and an opportunity to meet the counsellor who will accompany you on your journey. It's also the moment to ask questions and ascertain if our services meet your requirements.
We provide a range of tools and holistic approaches to help manage emotions. Among these is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is a safe, gentle, and non-invasive therapy available to anyone interested in trying it.
Please note; Our services are not suitable for individuals experiencing current crisis. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, do not use this site, instead, contact emergency services or the Samaritans for immediate assistance
S.T.A.N.D - Stop, Think, Act, Never Doubt
We utilize the acronym STAND as a mnemonic aid during recovery. There is a gap between the Trigger and our Response to it. We can teach you to recognize this space and STAND in your power.
Grooming & Abuse Prevention
Parent Protectors is a CPD-accredited live workshop designed for parents and caregivers. This workshop focuses on raising awareness about grooming behaviours to support prevention efforts and contribute to abuse prevention.
We welcome instructors, trainers and organisations interested in continuing professional development and enhancing their expertise in safeguarding practices.
Developed in the face of growing recognition that children and adults can become victims of behaviours that can lead to the Manipulation, Exploitation, Abuse and Coercive Control, from others who seek to gain from their misery.
Understanding how this happens is crucial if we want to prevent it.
"There are only two ways to influence human behaviour - you can choose to manipulate or inspire!"
Lived Experience Insight
"Experience is, for me, the highest authority" Carl Rogers
Lived Experience
We help people to recognise, cope and heal emotionally from the impact of trauma.
"We cannot avoid trauma, suffering is part of the human condition. If we try to deny it, we create more suffering. If we try to avoid painful experiences, we create more pain"
- Dr. Peter Levine
Our small, empathetic team of Lived Experience Practitioners, also known as “wounded healers,” brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our organization. Continued professional development is essential to our business and growth. We are passionate about supporting people holistically on a compassionate journey of self-discovery and recovery.
Evidence- Based Practice
We rely on a blend of lived experience and evidence-based practice for our decision-making process.
Lived experience adds a layer of depth to our comprehension, whereas evidence-based practice, grounded in critical thinking and the best available evidence, guarantees that our services are optimally positioned for success.
Individual experiences of life vary, and similar experiences do not necessarily lead to identical outcomes. Gathering a wide range of personal experiences usually yields more accurate insights.
As practitioners, we are in a constant state of learning and growth, drawing on insights from listening to people's firsthand experiences, staying abreast of the latest scientific research, and engaging in ongoing personal development.
Training & Development
Combined lived experience and the latest scientific literature we create innovative training courses, Workshops and Webinars covering a wide ranged of topics that we are passionate about.
Trauma Informed TRUST with Lived Experience Insight is a 3 day live workshop for adults who work with survivors of trauma and are interested in learning more trauma and the impact it has on individuals, relationships, children and communities.
CPD accredited by the EFT & Mindfulness Centre.
Join us online for our latest weekend workshop Breaking free from People-Pleasing 12th October, 4pm-6pm.
Holistic Therapies & Spiritual Wellbeing
Spiritual wellness does not mean that you need to become religious, although the two often have overlapping practices and principles. Rather, your spiritual health should focus on how you are connecting with your inner soul and the greater world around you.
Ways you can support your spiritual health:
Spend time in nature, Practice Mindfulness, and spend a few minutes each day meditating, and
if you are religious, take the time to practice your faith.
Holistic health is often defined as a form of healing that looks at the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.
Together with our associates, we are able to offer a wide range of holistic therapies, including creative art with the attentive artist, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and coaching sessions.
