Testimonials

1-1, In-person Support

I am naturally cautious about sweeping statements, but I can truly say that my experience with Deborah Crozier and A Positive Start has been life changing.

Before I met Debs, I was completely broken and without much hope. From the surroundings and atmosphere of the premises to Debs’ energy and her dedicated staff, nothing has felt more “right”. I’ve engaged with other therapies and therapists over the years and have never received as much support and encouragement or experienced such patience and trust.

Deb’s person-centred approach, whilst not unique is presented in such a gentle, subtle way that nothing jars and nothing is impossible. Yes, therapy is painful and distressing, but no more so than when the process is the biggest part of the problem. To find and connect with an organisation and people that simply care has been a revelation to me.

I am moving forward in a way that was never possible before and was frankly not available. Debs opens up a whole new world of opportunity and has the ability to adapt to each individual client’s needs and understanding of their own difficulties in a profound way.

I am also neuro-divergent and find new environments and people a real challenge. Debs and her staff go out of their way to make the journey fit the client and that is what ultimately makes the biggest difference.

STAND: Parents as Protectors Program (Online)

The course is brilliant. I’m only about a 1/4 if the way through but it is really opening my eyes to the ways abuse and grooming is insidious in our culture and how it is even celebrated. The way we are groomed to question our own instincts and nervous system awareness is scary. It is becoming clear that we teach our children to do the same and how this makes them susceptible to being exploited.

I have a social work degree and over 10 years practice with children and families and have never been taught this perspective before. Thank you.

1-1, In-Person Support

“We all have a story. A line of events that have shaped our personality, our point of view, the way we perceive the world and how we treat others. Life is full of cruelty, injustice and violence that affects everyone more or less, but if affects us and leaves its mark. Having a place of comfort, a person like my therapist offers a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

I consider myself incredibly lucky. I was raised by a loving Mom in every aspect, supportive and empathetic. Still, I got issues! Traumas evolved in anxiety, feeling that I am not good enough. I struggled with my personal demons and although on the outside I was smiling and appeared completely fine, my inside was shattered.

I always wanted to try therapy but the stigma of ‘crazy person’ and most of all, the cost of the sessions was a barrier that I couldn’t overcome. I met my practitioner for the first time in September of 2022. She had been recommended by a friend and so I instantly got in touch. It was almost like the universe was giving me a sign, a direction to go in. I really didn’t know what to expect, I was anxious & had doubts. I was on the verge of changing my life completely. Guided by unresolved childhood traumas and impulse – I was lost.

The first session was an amazing experience. It is hard to describe but if you can imagine being stuck in a cage. A locked box with no key and no obvious way out, and then you find this person, who shows you that your cage only seems to be shut but in reality it is not only open, but has no walls so you can leave anytime you choose and decide for yourself which way you want to go. She explains that nothing is carved in stone and as long as you are with your own, personal truth you can do what you want, you can shape your reality and design your life to be truly happy.

She guides you the way out of the darkest hole and shows you the light.

The emotional support received at A Positive Start has changed my life. It has helped me to understand what matters and what is real in contrast to an illusion, that only seems to be reality but isn’t. I am so very grateful for the support and guidance received, I don’t know where I would be without it.

My personal opinion is that everyone should at least once in their lifetime have a support session.
Treat it like a part of a general mental health check up, like when you go to have an eye or an hearing test, you should also check if your brain is aligned with your body.

Its such a massive shame and huge loss that mental health conditions are marginalised and stigmatised so often.

We all struggle and we all need to get help sometimes. The support I received from my practitioner at APS; her empathy, insight and understanding, support and care makes this happen, supporting to people when they need it the most”

1-1, In-person Support

I am a 56 year old man, who – until I received excellent support from A Positive Start CIC based in Hawick – suffered from the, at times, debilitating effects of anxiety and depression. At the time of my referral to the service my anxiety was so severe I was unable to work.

For years my doctors merely prescribed medication. All this did was mask the underlying causes of my illness. Medication in no way solved the problem. I needed to try a new way, apart from swallowing pills for the rest of my life, to get well, and I found it:-

The holistic approach.

This approach, offered by A Positive Start, to aid realising a better state of mental health, worked well for me, and may do likewise for you, too. The techniques employed to assist me reach the level of improvement I have obtained working with the A Positive Start team, such as Mindfulness, may differ somewhat to techniques you’ll receive. The treatment is very much bespoke, in that it will be adapted to meet your specific needs. I am now back in full time employment and enjoying my life again.

Obviously, medication works for some, but I honestly hold the opinion that this must be balanced by dealing with the whole person – attempting to establish the root cause or causes that have led a person to be medicated in the first place, is paramount. And, A Positive Start excels in this approach, from my experience.

The staff at A Positive Start are well-educated in the workings of the human mind. They are patient, caring, eager to help, and everything is totally confidential. I was always made to feel welcome, and appreciated as a human being, and not seen as merely a number, as some organisations consider clients to be.

We need this organisation to expand not only here in Scotland, but to other countries of the United Kingdom – and beyond.

I have no hesitation in recommending A Positive Start CIC to friends, family and beyond.

Trauma Informed TRUST course (online)

Excellent course that brings together and makes sense of trauma and the impact it has on others and ourselves.
would recommend that everyone should do this course.
The combination of video, worksheets, quizzes and assignments, and lived experience examples provides a deeper understanding and fuller learning experience.

Trauma Informed TRUST course (online)

This course has been so valuable in assisting me to help others recognise and understand the behaviours and long term affects of trauma. A very insightful course with so much, well explained and easy to understand information giving me a better grasp of how to identify trauma responses which would otherwise be assumed as irrational or damaging behaviours. I have taken so much from this course and would highly recommend to anyone as we are all either healing ourselves in one way or another or surrounded by others who are quietly fighting their own battles of past traumas. Being able to recognise this is a huge step forward in managing our own behaviours and learning how to respond better to other peoples triggers without making a bad situation worse. Excellent course!

Reconnect & Regulate – (Classroom Based)

I rate the overall experience of this 8 week program as Excellent! ‘We had some honest and helpful discussions in our group – well facilitated and well explained by Lorna.

Being encouraged to check our SUD levels routinely has helped bring awareness to my emotions. I really enjoyed the grounding exercises. They really helped to ease me into each session and i have continued to use them at home, mostly when I struggle to sleep.

I see things more clearly, I am more attuned to my emotions. I am very much more aware of my nervous system and when I become dysregulated. With this awareness I can prepare myself better to respond rather than react. I believe now that I am not broken, I am worthy of living my life freely, my way and with peace and joy. Understanding things like ‘Neuroception’ puts a little flutter in my stomach, a lump in my throat. I feel excited to learn that with commitment, patience and practice I can change the narrative, the perceived default beliefs – its valuable, life-changing!

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to do this course. I feel honoured to have been part of something truly special. I think this information should be known by everyone – the world would be a better place.

The 8 weeks was perfectly done, perfectly thought out each week. It was clear the amount of work that has gone into producing all the materials – phenomenal! It all came together so well – it was an honour and a joy to be part of it. Thank you