Our Approach

At A Positive Start CIC, healing begins with being truly seen and heard.

We create safe, non-judgmental spaces where individuals feel reassured, understood, and supported. Our work is rooted in person-centred principles—congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding—ensuring that every interaction builds trust and encourages personal growth.

Central to our practice is the TRUST framework, our trauma-informed model that recognises the impact of lived experience while supporting individuals to reconnect with their strengths and capacity for healing. Through compassionate understanding and practical guidance, we help people move towards greater self-awareness, resilience, and well-being.

Working With a Student Counsellor

At A Positive Start CIC, some clients choose to work with a student counsellor as part of their counselling journey.

We are an approved practicum placement site for several universities and colleges, which means counselling students complete part of their professional training with us while gaining the supervised client hours required to qualify.

Our student counsellors are in the final stage of their HND counselling training, working towards professional registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Carefully Selected and Supported

We take great care in selecting the students who train with us. Each student counsellor has demonstrated strong personal qualities for therapeutic work and a genuine commitment to supporting others.

Many bring valuable life experience and previous employment in caring or supportive professions, enabling them to offer thoughtful, compassionate, and grounded support.

Supervision and Professional Standards

Although student counsellors are completing their training, they do not work independently.

All student counsellors at A Positive Start CIC receive:

Regular internal supervision within the organisation
External supervision through their university or college training programme
Ongoing guidance to ensure their work meets professional and ethical standards

This structure ensures that clients receive safe, supported, and high-quality counselling.

A Positive Experience for Many Clients

Working with a student counsellor can be a very positive experience. Students at this stage of training are often highly motivated, reflective, and deeply committed to their development as counsellors.

Many clients value the warmth, care, and fresh perspective they bring to the counselling relationship.

Your Choice

When accessing counselling through A Positive Start CIC, you can choose whether you would prefer to work with a student counsellor or a qualified counsellor.

If you would like to find out more or arrange an initial appointment, please contact us through our website or by email.

Supporting Families & Communities

We are committed to strengthening the safety and wellbeing of families and communities.

One of the ways we do this is through our STAND – Parents as Protectors programme. STAND helps parents, carers, and guardians develop the confidence and awareness needed to recognise grooming behaviours, trust their instincts, and take action to protect children.

As part of this work, A Positive Start CIC partners with Safeguarding Fundamentals, where we serve as a Regional Ambassador in Scotland. Safeguarding Fundamentals is a pioneering initiative designed to help organisations strengthen safeguarding practice and create environments where children are safe and supported.

You can learn more about their work here:
www.safeguardingfundamentals.com

Through partnership and education, we aim to increase awareness, strengthen safeguarding knowledge, and empower adults to protect children with confidence.

Accessible Support for All

A Positive Start CIC operates using a tiered donation system alongside funded sessions, helping ensure therapeutic support remains accessible.

We work with a combination of self-employed practitioners, student counsellors, and funded placements so that people can access support whether they are:

Living on a low or no income
Referred through funded services or local authority support
Able to contribute the full session fee

This balanced approach allows us to prioritise community wellbeing while maintaining high-quality trauma-informed support.

Our Commitment

Through a holistic understanding of mind, body, and emotional wellbeing, A Positive Start CIC is committed to helping individuals heal, grow, and reconnect with themselves.

We work with schools, colleges, community organisations, and workplaces to help create environments where people feel safe, respected, and valued.

Together, we can build a safer, healthier, and more compassionate trauma-informed society.

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