Our Mission
Creating safety. Building understanding. Strengthening connection. Supporting positive change.
A Positive Start CIC is dedicated to fostering emotional safety, healing, connection, belonging and growth through person-centred, trauma-informed and trauma-proactive approaches.
We bring together professional knowledge, lived experience and genuine human connection, recognising that every person's experiences, circumstances and needs are different.
We believe meaningful support begins with being heard, respected and understood, rather than judged, labelled or expected to fit a system.
Emotional Safety
Creating compassionate environments where people can feel heard, respected and supported at their own pace.
Understanding Experiences
Exploring how lived experiences shape our responses, relationships and ways of navigating the world, with curiosity rather than judgement.
Connection & Belonging
Recognising the importance of human relationships, community, inclusion and opportunities to reconnect with ourselves and others.
Education & Early Support
Improving understanding, encouraging emotional awareness and providing opportunities for support before difficulties become more established.
What We Do
Our work combines therapeutic support, psychoeducation, prevention and community-based opportunities for learning and connection.
- Person-centred counselling, psychotherapy and CBT for adults.
- Individual, couples and group support, both face-to-face and online.
- Psychoeducation to support understanding of trauma, nervous system responses and emotional regulation.
- Prevention and early-intervention resources for children and families, delivered through parents, schools and partner organisations.
- Community programmes encouraging creativity, storytelling, connection and wellbeing.
- Training and education informed by professional knowledge and lived experience.
We are committed to making support more accessible while developing sustainable services that can continue to benefit our communities.
Supporting People to Find Their Own Way Forward
Our work aims to support people to:
- Understand their nervous system responses.
- Develop emotional awareness and regulation.
- Strengthen confidence and self-worth.
- Rebuild trust in themselves and others.
- Experience connection and belonging.
- Explore possibilities for positive change.
We do not believe there is one prescribed pathway to healing. Each person's journey is individual, and our role is to offer understanding, encouragement and support without imposing expectations.
“Trauma separates us from ourselves and from others. Healing reunites us.”
Deborah J Crozier, MSc
Founder, A Positive Start CIC
A Place to Begin
Whether someone is seeking therapeutic support, opportunities to learn or a sense of connection, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
Understanding experiences. Building connection. Supporting positive change.
