Holistic Healing-Mind, Body, Soul
Person-Centred, Trauma-Informed Support for Healing and Growth across the Lifespan
A Positive Start CIC (APS CIC) is a trauma-informed emotional health and wellbeing organisation supporting individuals, families, and communities across the Scottish Borders through relational, educational, and early-intervention approaches to embodied emotional health.
We recognise that wellbeing is not only about thoughts. It lives in the body, in relationships, and in our deeper sense of meaning and connection. When these begin to return to balance, people often rediscover a natural sense of flow and steadiness in their lives.
We provide integrated support through:
- Person-centred counselling and psychotherapy
- The APS Early Intervention EFT Pathway™ — a structured six-session early-support intervention for stress-related coping patterns and cravings
- Reunification therapy and family support — helping families rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and navigate complex transitions
- Social-emotional literacy and emotional regulation programmes for children, young people, and adults
- Trauma-informed training and workshops for parents, professionals, and communities (including safeguarding and prevention programmes)
- Holistic therapy and psycho-education
- Coaching for individuals and small teams — supporting confidence, clarity, and sustainable change
- Practicum and counselling student placements delivered in collaboration with colleges and universities to support ethical learning and trauma-informed practice
Our specialist consultancy, workforce education, and professional services are delivered through The TRUST Foundation, the trauma-informed services arm of A Positive Start CIC.
Together, these services provide connected pathways for personal healing, family reconnection, community safety, and professional learning.
Championing Social-Emotional Literacy Life Skills
“Global Presence Ambassador” is an honorary designation awarded passionate Life Skills pioneers around the world. Ambassadors come from a broad array of backgrounds and professions, reflecting the diversity of Life Skills employed in the twenty-first century and a glimpse of future vibrancy.
Parenting 2.0 recognises that life skills – from emotional regulation to effective communication – are just as essential as academic learning. As the creators of Reconnect & Regulate, our work focuses on helping individuals, families and communities recognise, understand and heal from trauma, build resilience and foster deeper connections.
Our Trauma-Informed & Trauma-Proactive Principles
At A Positive Start CIC, we work in trauma-informed, trauma-curious and trauma-proactive ways. The term trauma-proactive, developed by Florence Koenderink (Beyond the Trauma Wall), describes approaches that aim to prevent harm by creating safer systems, relationships and environments — not only responding after difficulties arise.
For us, trauma-proactive practice means supporting safety, connection and nervous system awareness before a crisis occurs. Our work is guided by these principles:
Safety comes first
emotional and nervous system safety matter.
Curiosity over judgement
we ask what someone has experienced, not what is “wrong” with them.
People are not broken
trauma responses are adaptive survival strategies, not disorders.
Relationship heals
genuine connection creates change.
Regulation before reasoning
calm comes before clarity.
Choice and consent matter
healing happens at the person’s pace.
Environment shapes wellbeing
spaces, language and tone matter.
Strengths are amplified
we focus on resilience, not deficits.
Lived experience is valued
wisdom comes from real life, not just theory.
Compassion with boundaries
kindness and safety go hand in hand.
Person-centred CUE
we practice Congruence (authenticity), Unconditional Positive Regard and Empathic Understanding in every relationship.
TRUST Framework
we respond to distress through Trigger recognition, Reassurance, Understanding, Safety and Truth.
We believe healing begins within, grows through connection, and leads to lasting change.
Memberships and Placement Partners
We work in partnership with trusted organisations and training providers who share our commitment to ethical practice, trauma-informed care and positive community impact.
Person-Centred Support
Supporting Your Journey with Knowledge and Care
Person-Centred Therapy
Taking the step to seek support is courageous. Our person‑centred, trauma‑informed approach offers a safe, confidential space to explore thoughts and emotions at your own pace.
Your first session is a chance to meet your counsellor, ask questions, and gently assess how we can best support your needs.
We believe in holistic wellbeing and provide practical tools for managing emotions, including Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)—a gentle, non‑invasive method many find helpful in releasing stress and restoring balance.
Please note, our services are not suitable for immediate crisis situations. If you or someone you know is in danger or needs urgent help, contact emergency services or Samaritans. You are not alone, and help is available.
S.T.A.N.D - Stop, Think, Act, Never Doubt
STAND serves as a powerful mnemonic in the recovery process, helping individuals regain awareness and control. Between a trigger and our response lies a crucial space—one where choice, reflection, and empowerment exist. Learning to recognize this gap allows you to step into your strength, respond with clarity, and reclaim your personal power.
STAND -Parents as Protectors
Trauma can deeply affect confidence and hinder healing. STAND supports individuals in rebuilding trust, recognising inner strength, and moving forward with resilience.
In a world where manipulation, exploitation, abuse, and coercive control threaten children and adults, awareness is vital. This workshop helps participants spot warning signs, understand harmful dynamics, and take informed steps to protect themselves and others.
At its core, STAND affirms that influence can be rooted in either manipulation or inspiration. By fostering knowledge, self‑awareness, and practical strategies, the program empowers families to choose inspiration‑driven protection—keeping children safe, informed, and resilient.
Lived Experience Insight
"People only seriously consider change when they feel accepted for exactly who they are." – Carl Rogers
Our Approach to Healing
We recognise the vital role lived experience can play in healing. When personal insight is combined with reflection, training, and support, it can help create spaces where people feel understood, less alone, and more able to reconnect with their own strengths.
As Peter Levine reminds us:
“We cannot avoid trauma; suffering is part of the human condition. If we try to deny it, we create more suffering.”
Our empathetic team of lived experience practitioners — sometimes described as wounded healers — bring both understanding and compassion to their work. Alongside ongoing professional development and supervision, they support people in ways that honour the connection between personal experience, resilience, and recovery.
Working alongside qualified therapists and student counsellors on supervised placements, they contribute to a holistic, person-centred approach that supports individuals on their journey of self-discovery, regulation, and healing.