At A Positive Start CIC, we believe that healing begins with being seen, heard, and valued exactly as you are. We do not see people as problems to be fixed—we see whole, worthy humans navigating life’s challenges, often carrying pain they never chose.

 Our Approach

• Person-Centred Counselling: Grounded in empathy, respect, and unconditional positive regard, our counselling offers a safe space to explore your feelings, experiences, and hopes at your own pace.
• Psychotherapy: For those seeking deeper exploration, our psychotherapy sessions support long-term growth, helping you understand patterns, heal wounds, and build resilience.
• Trauma-Informed Practice: We recognise that trauma lives in the body as well as the mind. Our work is designed to regulate, not retraumatise—creating environments where safety is felt, not assumed.
• Rooted in Lived Experience: We honour the wisdom of lived experience. Your story matters, whether spoken aloud or quietly held, and we meet it with compassion, not evaluation.

Donation Based Services We Offer

• One-to-One Therapy – face-to-face or online, tailored to your needs
• Couples Therapy – supporting relationships with empathy and understanding
• Group Therapy – fostering connection, shared learning, and community healing

Free Student Counselling – supporting learning with care

We offer free counselling delivered by counselling students as part of their professional training and development.

This work exists to support learning while providing safe, relational, trauma-informed support to those who may otherwise face barriers to access.

Student counsellors work within clear ethical frameworks and are:

• carefully selected
• appropriately trained
• supported through regular professional supervision (in-house and privately)
• guided by person-centred and trauma-informed principles

Those accessing counselling are informed, respected and free to choose whether student-delivered counselling feels right for them.

Learning happens in relationship. By offering free student counselling, we create space for students to develop confidence, presence, and ethical practice – while offering compassionate support to the community.

Self-Care matters – for everyone.

To protect both student wellbeing and the quality of support offered, we do not overload our students. Places are therefore limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our approach supports:

• the next generation of counsellors
• ethical, reflective learning
• accessible support rooted in dignity and care

Why Choose Us

We walk alongside you, never ahead of you. Healing is not linear, and we respect the pace at which change unfolds. Our commitment is to provide tools, reflections, and supportive spaces that help you reconnect with your inner voice, rebuild self-trust, and cultivate resilience.

At A Positive Start CIC, therapy is not about fixing—it’s about empowering you to grow, reconnect, and thrive.

Fees & Accessibility

At A Positive Start CIC, we believe that healing should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we offer:

• Free Initial Assessment – every client is welcomed with a no-cost first session to explore needs and ensure our services feel right for you.
• Tiered Donation-Based System – we operate on a sliding scale to make therapy affordable and inclusive:
• Student Counselling: Free/Donation (optional)
• Low or No Income: £10–£20 per sessions
• Funded Referral (Council, etc.): £25 per session
• Part-Time Employed / Retired: £25–£40 per session
• Full-Time Employed/Supporter: £50–£80 per session

This flexible approach ensures that cost is never a barrier to accessing support. We trust individuals to choose the tier that reflects their circumstances, honouring both autonomy and equity.