# A Positive Start CIC

> Supporting Community Mental Health &amp; Bridging the Gap between Education &amp; Lived Experience


## Posts

- [Is It Possible There Can Be Two Selves?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/is-it-possible-there-can-be-two-selves/): I was recently asked a question that landed quietly but powerfully: “Is it possible there can be two selves?” My answer came without hesitation: “Absolutely.” What follows is not theory offered from a distance, but reflection shaped through lived experience, me search, we search, research — alongside trauma-informed understanding and spiritual insight. This is not something I have only studied; it is something my own nervous system lived through, and did what it needed to do to protect life when life was under threat. Because depending on where you stand — psychology, spirituality, trauma, neuroscience, lived experience — the idea [&hellip;]
- [Opening the door](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/opening-the-door/): I’ve locked you out long enough Kept you away Trying to keep you safe Warm, nowhere near my cold heart I’ve locked that door triple locked and dead bolted it so many times Combination locks where only I know the code Secure and safe Safe from me The me who let you down The me who failed you The me who let them hurt you The me who sits alone The me who was better off alone The me who needs to say sorry but can’t find the words The me who was scared of feeling The me who preferred [&hellip;]
- [When “Discipline” Becomes Harm: Understanding Cruelty Disguised as Parenting](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-discipline-becomes-harm-understanding-cruelty-disguised-as-parenting/): When “Discipline” Becomes Harm: Understanding Cruelty Disguised as Parenting There is a kind of harm in childhood that many people never talk about. It doesn’t leave bruises. It doesn’t always involve shouting. Often, it was normalised. And one of the main reasons people stay silent is simple: Many don’t want to hurt the ones they love. They protect others from the truth, even when those truths shaped their entire childhood. This blog is not about exposing individuals or assigning blame. It’s about naming the patterns that were common in certain generations — patterns many adults now look back on and [&hellip;]
- [Your Body Is Wise: And How We Frame Our Responses Shapes Everything](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/your-body-is-wise-and-how-we-frame-our-responses-shapes-everything/): There’s a line that has been echoing in me ever since I read it: “Your body knows what to do. Your body is wise.” — Yuki Askew &#8211; a comment on one of my posts. It spoke to a truth I have lived, witnessed, and now teach every day. The Body Speaks Before the Mind Does There were moments in my life when the dynamics in an environment shifted and, before I had words or conscious awareness, my body knew. Every cell pulled me to run. Not a thought. Not a choice. A full-body survival instinct. Some call that a [&hellip;]
- [The Devouring Mother Archetype](https://apositivestart.org.uk/therapy-blog/the-devouring-mother-archetype/): According to Jung, the ‘Devouring Mother’ archetype, consumes her children psychologically and emotionally, preventing their independence from her (Know Your Archetypes, 2020). This mother is selfish rather than selfless. She acts as if she is protecting her children from the real world, while she is sabotaging their independence by not teaching them life skills (Know Your Archetypes, 2020). By infantilizing the child, the mother keeps the child helpless and maintains her need to feel superior by getting attention in the form of sympathy from others (Psychology Today, 2022). The devouring mother acts lovingly until her child shows signs of dissent [&hellip;]
- [Triangulation](https://apositivestart.org.uk/therapy-blog/triangulation/): Triangulation is a manipulative tactic, used to create divisions and tensions within a group dynamic (Bay, 2024). Triangulation has three distinct roles: the target, the persecutor and the rescuer (Bay, 2024). The rescuer often confuses the persecutor with the target (Bay, 2024). The persecutor is the person pulling the emotional strings (Bay, 2024). The perpetrator’s goal is to bait the target into acting like a perpetrator and cause a break down in trust and communication within the group (Bay, 2024). Both the target and rescuer are being manipulated to act out of impulse and fear (Bay, 2024). When you are [&hellip;]
- [Resentment](https://apositivestart.org.uk/therapy-blog/resentment-2/): Letting go of anger can be a lot harder than you realize, especially if you continue to feed your anger by hyper-focusing on negative emotions such as hostility, hate and bitterness, until your anger festers into resentment (Clinic, 2024). If your feelings of being wronged by circumstances or situations go unchecked, you may begin to feel inadequate, which can lead to catastrophic thinking, cognitive dissonance and victimhood (FEE, 2018). Your perceptions and reality become distorted if you hold onto anger (Clinic, 2024). When anger takes residence in your body it can weaken the immune system leading to digestive issues and [&hellip;]
- [Avoidant Personality](https://apositivestart.org.uk/therapy-blog/avoidant-personality/): Avoidant Personality (AVP), or Avoidant Personality Disorder as classified by the DSM- (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), is characterized as hypersensitivity to rejection due to a deep sense of inadequacy (Fariba and Sapra, 2021). AVP can be genetic or the result of childhood physical and emotional abuse (RETTEW et al., 2003). People with this disorder have a longing for a meaningful connection to others but their intense fear of rejection, leads to maladaptive behaviour patterns that ensures their isolation and continued emotional harm (Fariba and Sapra, 2021).  It is a doom loop that is hard to [&hellip;]
- [Reputation Savaging](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/reputation-savaging/): Reputation savaging is an act of violence by innuendo to cause a targeted individual to be lowered in a group’s estimation (Petric, 2022). A ruined reputation seriously effects the well-being of those who experience it (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2018). An individual’s reputation affects how they feel about themselves and how others see them. Reputation savaging affects victims on a biological, social and psychological level. Understanding the behaviour of those that steal reputations will help you to be more discerning in the company that you keep. Understanding the realities of anti-social behaviour is the key to protecting your [&hellip;]
- [The Limits of Your Life Are the Limits You Choose” — But It’s Not the Whole Story](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/alisons-library/): I saw a post today that read: “The limits of your life are the limits you choose.” At first glance it feels inspiring, almost liberating — as if choice alone shapes destiny. But it also got me reflecting on something important: Nothing is relevant until it becomes relevant. Nothing truly lands until you can apply it to yourself. Before I say anything more about quotes and self-help books, I want to share something personal. A friend of mine died in 2023. We initially met when she approached me for therapy for unresolved trauma. She was kind, thoughtful, curious, and exhausted [&hellip;]
- [How Trauma Held in the Body Shapes Our Thoughts, Behaviours, and Vulnerabilities](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/how-trauma-held-in-the-body-shapes-our-thoughts-behaviours-and-vulnerabilities/): Trauma isn’t just something that happened to us — it’s something that lives in us. It lives in our bodies, in the patterns we learned to survive, and in the emotions we pushed down because they were too much to hold at the time. When old wounds stay unhealed, they don’t disappear. They simply go underground — shaping our thoughts, behaviours, and relationships in ways we often don’t recognise. Trauma in the Body → Reactions in the Present When the body senses something as threatening or unsafe, it doesn’t check whether the danger is happening now or in the past. [&hellip;]
- [Intergenerational Trauma Isn’t About Blame — It’s About Nervous Systems Doing Their Best](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/intergenerational-trauma-isnt-about-blame-its-about-nervous-systems-doing-their-best/): Why children self-soothe, why parents struggle, and how the 7Rs Pathways offer the route to repair We often talk about cycles in families as though they are rooted in deliberate choices or moral failings. But most intergenerational trauma has nothing to do with intentional harm. What truly passes from one generation to the next is: A dysregulated nervous system that has never known safety. This is not a story of fault — it’s a story of biology. When Parents Grow Up Without Safety, They Cannot Model It Consider a parent raised within a setting shaped by: high-control religious beliefs large [&hellip;]
- [When Survivors Heal, Systems Shift](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-survivors-heal-systems-shift/): Over the past few weeks, my posts about trauma have sparked some deep conversation and connection. Yet when I spoke about the challenges around funding, gatekeeping, and entrenched thinking within safeguarding systems, the response was very different — absolute silence. I’ve been reflecting on why this happens, and what it might say about the bigger picture. These reflections aren’t about blame or criticism. They come from observation, lived experience, and a deep wish to understand and improve how we support people. What I’ve come to realise is this: Survivors who heal become highly attuned, insightful, grounded observers of human behaviour [&hellip;]
- [When Prevention Work Isn’t Understood: A Call for Clarity in UK Safeguarding Funding](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-prevention-work-isnt-understood-a-call-for-clarity-in-uk-safeguarding-funding/): I want to share something important about the challenges we face in delivering grooming-prevention training across the UK. This is not about criticising any individual funder — it’s about highlighting a recurring pattern that affects prevention work nationally. We applied for funding for a safeguarding project &#8211; and not for the first time. The funding is to develop: interactive training videos early intervention grooming prevention trauma-informed education for adults This training is designed to stop grooming before it starts. During the early discussion, the funder asked: “How will you safeguard the children taking part in the videos?” A fair question [&hellip;]
- [Implying](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/implying/): I am not implying that people is positions of power and influence are directly involved in grooming rings and group based sexual exploitation of children and adults, I’m stating it as a known reality. &nbsp; I am not simply suggesting that those positions include legal and justice fields, police departments, teachers and educational professionals, school and day care staff, councils and authorities, bankers and financial institutions, the elite, journalism, property owners and managers, business owners and successful entrepreneurs, sports providers, entertainers, health care personnel and many many more, I’m stating it as clearly as I can. &nbsp; I am not [&hellip;]
- [Making the Bed](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/making-the-bed/): I have a plan. One concocted with a trusted soul, out of need, want and care. One with direction, expansion and peace at the core. I want to make my bed. I want to sleep in my bed. I’m over 50 years old. I live in a 2 bedroom house. There’s just me and my dog here. I have a double bed and a single bed. I sleep on the sofa. I’ve had many, many addresses, houses, caravans, flats. My own and other people’s. Shared and solo. Many places with luxury beds, fancy bedding, beautifully decorated bedrooms, I slept on [&hellip;]
- [In 2 places at once](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/in-2-places-at-once/): I recently sat with someone, a relative stranger, someone offering to collaborate and connect in the joint purpose and pursuit of protection and awareness. We talked about my story, a few parts of my life experience, about grooming rings and the need for inquiries and greater understanding. I told my story, directly, honestly with an awareness that it was an uncomfortable topic but in full knowledge of the importance of these conversations. This was done in a safe, considered and respectful manner. An opportunity that I am grateful for and one that holds hope. In the hours afterwards, once home, [&hellip;]
- [Social Emotional Literacy: The Essential Life Skill That Shapes Our Future](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/social-emotional-literacy-the-essential-life-skill-that-shapes-our-future/): Social Emotional Literacy (SEL) is not “soft.” It’s not optional. It’s not a luxury for some. SEL is the foundation of human connection, healthy relationships, emotional stability, community wellbeing and societal transformation. It is the essential life skill — shaping how we understand ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we participate in the world. Why SEL Matters Across Every Part of Society Early Learning Children grow when they feel emotionally safe. SEL helps them develop trust, curiosity, empathy and the secure foundation that supports lifelong resilience. Education Schools with SEL woven into their culture experience fewer behavioural crises, [&hellip;]
- [The Journey Before The Journey](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-journey-before-the-journey/): If you’d asked me where A Positive Start began when I first started this work, I would’ve confidently said: “It began because of the domestic violence.” At the time, that felt true. It felt obvious. The dramatic moment. The crisis. The breaking point. The event that almost ended my life. But what I discovered as the journey unfolded — as I tracked my recovery with genuine curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to see beyond the obvious — was that the real beginning wasn’t the trauma I believed had “created” the problem. That moment was only a symptom. An eruption at [&hellip;]
- [The TRUST Framework: Creating Truly Safe, Trauma-Informed Spaces](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-trust-framework-creating-truly-safe-trauma-informed-spaces/): This framework is free to use in community, education, care and support settings. Please credit Deborah J Crozier &amp; A Positive Start CIC when sharing or delivering. © 2021–2025 Deborah J Crozier, A Positive Start CIC. All Rights Reserved. Many spaces say they are trauma-informed because they use gentle language, display wellbeing posters, or follow safeguarding procedures. But a trauma-informed environment is not created through policy or terminology. It is created through presence. Trauma-informed practice is felt — in the nervous system — before it is understood in the mind. It is relational, embodied, and based in how we show [&hellip;]
- [Empathy Will Save Humanity](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/empathy-will-save-humanity/): Why Feeling Deeply Is Not a Weakness, but Our Greatest Intelligence “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.” — Hannah Arendt We are living through a time where empathy is being dismissed, numbed, and in places actively discouraged. Sensitivity is called weakness. Depth is labelled dramatic. And those who feel the suffering of others are often told to “toughen up.” But empathy is not the problem. The absence of empathy is. Empathy is the ability to feel with another person — to sense their emotional [&hellip;]
- [Why Mindfulness Can Be Triggering for Trauma Survivors](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/why-mindfulness-can-be-triggering-for-trauma-survivors/): This is a personal theory supported by trauma research… Mindfulness, meditation and stillness practices are widely recommended for emotional well-being, anxiety, stress and mental health. They are used in therapy rooms, schools, GP practices, yoga studios and community programmes. And for many people, these practices are genuinely supportive. However, it has been my experience—both personally and in my work with clients who have Post-Traumatic Stress and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress—that mindfulness is not always safe to introduce. In some cases, it can be deeply triggering and even retraumatising. This has led me to a theory, which I offer gently and with [&hellip;]
- [The Nervous System Isn’t Asking Your Permission](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-nervous-system-isnt-asking-your-permission/): It is almost impossible to fully convey the impact of nervous system activation to someone who has never experienced it. What may look, from the outside, like being “over-sensitive,” “attention-seeking,” or “childish” is, on the inside, a state of terror. The person is not reacting to the present moment as others see it — they are reacting to something their nervous system has recognised from the past as dangerous. The threat may be invisible to others, but it is completely real to the person experiencing it. Benjamin Fry describes this powerfully in The Invisible Lion: When someone has been through [&hellip;]
- [What Looked Like Nothing, Felt Like Everything](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/what-looked-like-nothing-felt-like-everything/): A reflection on trauma responses people don’t see Years ago, I had just started a new job — I’d only been there about a week. One day, I went off to a meeting elsewhere in the building. When I came back, the office I usually worked in was completely closed. The lights were off, the door was locked, and no one was there. I hadn’t expected that. No one had mentioned anything to me. It turned out that everyone had gone to work in a different office for the afternoon. For them, this was normal — something that happened occasionally. [&hellip;]
- [Beyond Blame: Understanding Incel Identity Through Attachment, Not Outrage](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/beyond-blame-understanding-incel-identity-through-attachment-not-outrage/): There is a growing concern in education, safeguarding, and mental health fields about the influence of figures like Andrew Tate and others who appeal to boys and young men. It can feel easy — and even comforting — to say the problem starts with these influencers. But when we place the blame solely on external personalities, we risk missing what is actually happening beneath the behaviour. The incel identity, and the behaviours associated with it, do not begin with ideology. They begin with pain. They begin with attachment wounds — the parts of a young person that did not feel [&hellip;]
- [It’s Not “Attention Seeking.” It’s a Nervous System in Survival.](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/its-not-attention-seeking-its-a-nervous-system-in-survival-2/): Across education, social care, healthcare, policing, and even politics, there is still a widespread misunderstanding of trauma. Behaviours rooted in survival are often misinterpreted as: “Attention-seeking” “Manipulative” “Excuses” “Lack of discipline” “Bad attitude” And those of us who respond with compassion are sometimes seen as soft, naïve, dismissed as ‘snowflakes’ or too forgiving. But here is a truth many have not yet been taught: Trauma is not psychological misbehaviour. It is a nervous system doing its best to stay alive. Before we go any further, we need to ask one essential question: What does this behaviour bring up in us? [&hellip;]
- [The camera doesn’t lie?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-camera-doesnt-lie/): “The camera cannot lie, but it can be an accessory to untruth.” — Quote by Harold Evans. Whilst reading through comments left on news items about Epstein, Andrew and Virginia Giuffre the most repeated and applauded opinion is that of Virginia looking happy in the photograph and that equating to her complicity and perceived enjoyment and that in turn negating any suggestion of grooming or coercion. Comments including perceptions such as her ‘certainly not looking traumatised or coerced in the photograph and that she knew what she was doing, that she didn’t look too bothered even with his arm around [&hellip;]
- [Guess Who](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/guess-who/): Those of us of a certain age will remember the board game Guess Who where based on questions about appearance or features we eliminated characters to work out who our opponent was describing, who their mystery person was. I spent many hours playing the game with my cousin, hoping they wouldn’t ask the right questions. Simple clues solved the mystery. Identifying perpetrators of abuse, grooming and sexual exploitation isn’t as simple. I recently read a comment on a post about Epstein that stated it seemed impossible that a certain politician could be a paedophile or an extortionist because: he was [&hellip;]
- [The Game](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-game/): I’ve sat with this since the news about the collapse of the grooming gangs enquiry started to break and the later news about royal family emails and other revelations. I’ve sat with this as I’ve listened to politicians and influential people discuss the world of grooming and exploitation, a world they’ve never known. I’ve sat with this as I’ve read countless comments from an enthralled public, mostly blaming the survivors. I’ve sat with this as a survivor of grooming rings, abuse and organised sexual exploitation and violence in my childhood and as an adult. I’ve sat with this as an [&hellip;]
- [Collaboration and Repair: Learning to Stay in the Room When We Get It Wrong](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/14346/): It’s easy to talk about collaboration when everything is going well. It is much harder to stay in collaboration when discomfort, mistakes, and misunderstandings arise. We don’t often speak about that part — the repair. Recently, I was reminded how important repair is when we work with others from a place of heart, integrity, and shared purpose. In The River Room Songbook, one of our songs, RAIN, is adapted from a mindfulness practice I have used in therapy for years. I had always known it as a free, widely-used grounding tool. I hadn’t realised it originated with Tara Brach, who [&hellip;]
- [When Collaboration Isn’t Collaboration: On Alignment, Authenticity, and the Quiet Politics of Community Work](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-collaboration-isnt-collaboration-on-alignment-authenticity-and-the-quiet-politics-of-community-work/): I’ve been reflecting on a question I was asked recently during a community ‘collaboration hub’ session: “What stops you from collaborating with others?” Around the table, the responses were mostly: Time Funding Capacity Opportunity I listened. Considered. I understood what they meant — but none of these have ever really stopped me. Time? I am always busy. Truly. My schedule is full most days from early morning to late evening — and yet I still collaborate when the work aligns with my values. Funding? I am often broke. I collaborate for free regularly. I share ideas, resources, time, energy and [&hellip;]
- [Trauma-Informed Healing Through Nervous System Awareness](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/trauma-informed-healing-through-nervous-system-awareness/): Using embodied nervous system attunement to help people recognise, regulate, and return to themselves with dignity and care. My understanding of nervous system states began very early in my life. After a near-death experience as a young child, my body seemed to pay close attention to the world around me. I spent part of my childhood in Africa — curious, adventurous, and endlessly observant. I was the child who wandered off to explore, to understand, to feel the world directly. I was captivated by people, landscapes, sounds, and atmosphere. Even then, I sensed things through my body first. Like many [&hellip;]
- [The Bridge Between Chakras, the Vagus Nerve, and Interpersonal Neurobiology](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-bridge-between-chakras-the-vagus-nerve-and-interpersonal-neurobiology/): Have you ever sensed that science and spirituality might be describing the same truth in different languages? I’ve often reflected on how the vagus nerve, the chakra system, and Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) all seem to meet at the same intersection — where energy, emotion, and connection flow together. A Meeting Point Between Science and Spirituality While the connection between chakras and the vagus nerve isn’t formally recognised within mainstream neuroscience, an increasing number of integrative and trauma-informed practitioners are exploring these parallels. The two systems appear to describe the same process through different languages — one energetic, the other physiological. [&hellip;]
- [When the Body Knows Before the Mind](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-the-body-knows-before-the-mind/): Understanding fainting, fear, and the wisdom of the vagus nerve Someone once told me they believe they faint in the presence of evil. To some, that might sound far-fetched or even dramatic — but to me, it made perfect sense. I believe there’s truth in it, though perhaps not in the way it first appears. When the body detects overwhelming threat, the vagus nerve — the great communicator between brain and body — can trigger an emergency response. It slows the heart, drops the blood pressure, and reduces blood flow to the brain. Consciousness fades, and we faint. This is [&hellip;]
- [The Opposite of TRUST: A Mirror We All Must Face](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-opposite-of-trust-a-mirror-we-all-must-face/): Trauma-informed practice isn’t just about understanding others — it’s about choosing how we show up in every interaction. Every day, in every conversation, we have a choice: To walk the path of alignment, compassion, and light — or to fall into the unconscious patterns that perpetuate harm. Even those who intend to help can become part of the problem when awareness slips. And that’s why I’ve been reflecting deeply on TRUST — the framework that underpins my trauma-informed work — and its shadow opposite. Because everything that heals can also be inverted to harm. The TRUST Framework (A Trauma-Informed Approach) [&hellip;]
- [When Truth Becomes Too Inconvenient to Hear: Trauma, the Inquiry, and a Hybrid Model for Justice and Repair](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-truth-becomes-too-inconvenient-to-hear-trauma-the-inquiry-and-a-hybrid-model-for-justice-and-repair/): The national inquiry has stalled — and for many survivors, the impact runs far deeper than frustration or disappointment. What we’re witnessing isn’t just politics; it’s trauma being reactivated in real time. When politicians try to control or manage the truth, survivors experience something painfully familiar — being unseen, unheard, ignored, silenced, or not believed. The nervous system doesn’t distinguish between now and then when it senses threat. The body remembers. Trauma in Real Time Trauma isn’t the event itself; it’s what happens inside of us as a result of it. It’s stored in the body — in the nervous [&hellip;]
- [From Collapse to Connection: Understanding the Dorsal Vagal State and the Path Back from Despair](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/from-collapse-to-connection-understanding-the-dorsal-vagal-state-and-the-path-back-from-despair/): &nbsp; When we talk about trauma, we often speak of fight or flight—but rarely of the quietest survival state of all: freeze or collapse. Yet it’s this state—the dorsal vagal response—that I know most intimately. After the attempt on my life, when I lost consciousness through strangulation, my body did something remarkable: it protected me the only way it could. It shut down. I now understand that moment—and the long, ghost-like months that followed—as dorsal collapse, a state where the nervous system withdraws energy to survive what feels utterly inescapable. &nbsp; &nbsp; The Three States of the Nervous System Polyvagal [&hellip;]
- [As Above, So Below](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/as-above-so-below/): I’ve been reflecting, as I regularly do… Let’s consider the environment. Chaos on the outside, chaos on the inside. Calm on the outside, calm on the inside. Hate on the outside, hate on the inside. Love on the outside, love on the inside. This is how it might work for those of us who have experienced the contrast — who know both chaos and calm, hate and love, and can recognise the difference. But what about those who haven’t? Those who have only ever known chaos, hate, pain, suffering, and fear? For them, “as above, so below” isn’t yet a [&hellip;]
- [Filtering Reality: Attention, Awareness, and the Expanding Mind](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/filtering-reality-attention-awareness-and-the-expanding-mind/): In The Doors of Perception, Aldous Huxley described something extraordinary. Under the influence of mescaline, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in the peyote cactus, his brain activity didn’t increase — it decreased — yet his perception expanded. Colours deepened, time slowed, and he felt profoundly connected to life itself. Peyote has been used for thousands of years in Indigenous ceremonial practices across the Americas, valued for its ability to open the mind to spiritual awareness. Huxley’s experiment was part of his own search to understand consciousness beyond the limits of ordinary perception. From that experience, he proposed something radical: [&hellip;]
- [Learning to Say No: Reclaiming Ourselves Through the STAND Framework](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/learning-to-say-no-reclaiming-ourselves-through-the-stand-framework/):  How We Learned to Fear “No” From early childhood, many of us were conditioned to equate obedience with love. When we complied, we were rewarded with affection or approval. When we resisted, expressed anger, or said no, we were met with disapproval, punishment, or withdrawal. We didn’t just learn this from what people told us — we learned it from what we saw. We watched the adults in our lives say yes with a smile, even when their eyes said no. We saw them appease, overextend, and agree to things that clearly made them uncomfortable. We noticed the change in [&hellip;]
- [Silencing](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/silencing/): As I sit down to write, to put down in words the past events and experiences that shaped my present I hear a familiar noise. Every time I peel back a new layer of my story I hear familiar words running through my mind and body, not running, yelling. Old threats, old manipulation and traps. Old warnings. Enforcements of silence. “Don’t you dare. Keep quiet. Or else” “You know what will happen if you talk” “No one would believe you anyway” “You brought it on yourself” And many more. The fear wallops my body as I take out the paper [&hellip;]
- [Duality](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/duality/): How we view the world and the people in it depends on our internal filter. A filter constructed from our experiences and understanding, from the flow or otherwise of our nervous system, and from the surroundings we live in. 2 people viewing the same event will see and experience it in different ways. 2 people having the apparently same experience will view it in different ways. The impact will differ depending on many factors and on the internal lens. Balance and duality and truth to me is the key. 2 things, and more, can be true at the same time. [&hellip;]
- [Uncomfortable](https://apositivestart.org.uk/survivors-blog/uncomfortable/): We are going to make you uncomfortable. Our truth is going to shake your illusion. Our words and our message are going to raise questions you don’t want to ask, never mind answer. Our vulnerability transforms to strength as you listen, read and understand. Our rawness will surprise you. And I’m no longer sorry. Survivors can make people uneasy. Trigger a resistance based in discomfort and uncertainty. That’s a good thing. Not something to run from as I always did. Scared of causing someone that itchy feeling, feeling guilty for unsettling them with my truth. Scared of the rejection in [&hellip;]
- [Finding Belonging Away From Home](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/finding-belonging-away-from-home/): I’ve been reflecting on what it really means to belong — not just to live somewhere, but to feel that deep exhale of “this is home.” Is it possible to truly belong to a place you weren’t born or raised in? Is belonging something we’re invited into through acceptance — or something that grows through time, love, and showing up? Maybe it’s both. For me, the question runs deeper than geography. There was a time when my nervous system was always alert — always scanning for threat. My instinct was to run. That flight response becomes familiar when life has [&hellip;]
- [RAS-A-Mataz! Your Brain’s Sixth Sense in Action](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/ras-a-mataz-your-brains-sixth-sense-in-action/): Ever walked into a room and felt something was off before anyone said a word? That’s not imagination — it’s your Reticular Activating System (RAS) at work. The RAS sits deep in the brainstem and acts like your inner filter. It decides what information reaches your awareness and what fades into the background. It constantly scans your surroundings for what feels important — and here’s the key — it doesn’t just look for danger. It looks for whatever you’ve trained it to find. After trauma, the RAS often becomes finely tuned to threat — alert, cautious, and on guard. But [&hellip;]
- [When Care Becomes Control: A Trauma-Informed View on Technology and Mental Health](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/when-care-becomes-control-a-trauma-informed-view-on-technology-and-mental-health/): With so much talk in the media lately about Digital ID — and the growing public concern around surveillance, privacy, and data control — I’ve found myself reflecting on how easily good intentions can blur into overreach. While technology continues to promise safety, convenience, and efficiency, many people instinctively feel uneasy about the potential for misuse or intrusion. This tension between innovation and autonomy reminded me of a conference I attended a few years ago, where I experienced that same uneasy feeling first-hand. I attended an online presentation by a space technology company called Astrosat, based in Musselburgh, who work [&hellip;]
- [When People Try to Turn Others Against You](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/when-people-try-to-turn-others-against-you/): It’s something we see everywhere — from gutter media &amp; politics to workplace bully&#8217;s, even within families, so called friendships and community groups. Someone hears something they don’t like or disagrees with your truth, and instead of having a respectful conversation, they try to influence others against you. It often shows up as gossip with a spiteful edge — subtle comments, half-truths, or outright lies designed to discredit and isolate. But here’s the thing: People who do this reveal far more about themselves than they do about the person they’re targeting. A person who smiles to your face but speaks [&hellip;]
- [How Far is “Farthest”? Rethinking the Language of Welfare and Worth](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/how-far-is-farthest-rethinking-the-language-of-welfare-and-worth/): When the Department for Work and Pensions classifies someone as “furthest from the labour market,” it might sound like neutral language — a simple policy term. But for the person it describes, already living in a state of survival, it can feel like a final verdict. “Farthest” sounds unreachable. Irredeemable. Beyond help. And when your nervous system is already in collapse — exhausted, anxious, and numb — those words don’t just label you. They confirm what trauma has already whispered: you’re too far gone. But here’s the truth — how far is farthest, really? In reality, it’s just one step. [&hellip;]
- [4 Years](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/4-years/): Convicted of a less serious offence” “Cleared of more serious charges” “Prostitution related offences” “Is now a mentor and advocate….his six-week business course that he&#8217;s been teaching fellow inmates, &#8220;Mr. Combs can reach so many more on the outside than he can on the inside.&#8221; “Transported male escorts, and”Jane” to participate in prostitution” “He then apologized to all victims of domestic violence who may have witnessed the 2016 hotel security camera video depicting him attacking Ventura.” “The rapper also said he couldn&#8217;t disclose where they were or what they were doing, but that it was a &#8220;15-year-old&#8217;s dream.&#8221; 4 years, [&hellip;]
- [The Streets of…](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-streets-of/): “Let me take you by the hand..  And lead you through the streets of London Show you something to make you change your mind” Lyrics from a well known song by Ralph McTell, released in 1969. I wish the world I knew could be shown to those who don’t see it. That I could take them by the hand, lead them through the streets of not only cities but along the well trodden pavements in our small, sheltered, hidden away towns and villages. That I could take them on a tour of the haunted houses and camouflaged businesses that kept [&hellip;]
- [17 Years of A Positive Start: From Rock Bottom to Rising Strong](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/17-years-of-a-positive-start-from-rock-bottom-to-rising-strong/): Seventeen years ago today, I began a journey that I called A Positive Start. At the time, I’d been working on myself for a while, trying to make sense of why I kept ending up back at square one. The thing about dysregulation and survival mode is that while you’re living in it, you don’t see it — not in yourself and not really in others. But once you do see it, you can’t unsee it, and you begin to notice it everywhere. I was living in West Cumbria then, once again unemployed and feeling like I’d gone full circle. [&hellip;]
- [The Experience of Incongruence: When Words and Energy Don’t Match](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-experience-of-incongruence-when-words-and-energy-dont-match/): There’s a moment we’ve all felt but can’t always explain — when something feels off. The words sound calm, kind, even loving, yet something inside contracts. Your stomach tightens, your breath shortens, and your body whispers, something isn’t right. That moment is the experience of incongruence — when what’s being said doesn’t match what’s being felt or communicated energetically. It’s the mismatch between words and truth. For those who have experienced trauma, abuse, gaslighting, coercion or manipulation, incongruence isn’t subtle — it’s a familiar language. It’s a quiet tension between what’s presented to the world and what’s actually happening behind [&hellip;]
- [Powerhouse](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/powerhouse/): Do I want to set the world on fire? Not really, can you imagine the mess. But I do want to shine a light. Some of us use our position to do so, our knowledge and experience, certificates and status. Some of us use our wisdom, insights and truth. Some use the arts, creativity shaping our vision. Some simply our presence. Every one has a story, a truth to tell. Moments of joy and moments of hell. Everyone has their story, tales of times gone by The who, the when, what and the Why Stories shine a light on our [&hellip;]
- [From Dysregulation to Evil: When Fear Becomes Power and Systems Lose Humanity](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/from-dysregulation-to-evil-when-fear-becomes-power-and-systems-lose-humanity/): Understanding How Disconnection Shapes Behaviour, Narcissism, and Harm When we begin to recognise dysregulation in ourselves, we start to see it everywhere — in others, in relationships, in workplaces, and within the very systems that shape society. What begins as an individual survival response — a nervous system doing its best to stay safe — can, without awareness, evolve into something far more destructive when fear and disconnection are left unhealed. This is the pathway from dysregulation to narcissism, and, at its extreme, to evil — the absence of empathy and the enjoyment of another’s suffering. From Safety to Survival: [&hellip;]
- [Through the Windows of the Nervous System](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/through-the-windows-of-the-nervous-system/): How Our Inner State Shapes the Way We See the World In the same room, three people stand side by side — yet each looks out of a different window. One sees harmony. Another sees chaos. The third sees hell. These three windows represent how we experience life through our nervous system. Each window filters the world through the lens of our past experiences — shaping not just what we see, but how we feel and respond to what’s in front of us. What’s often misunderstood is that it’s almost impossible to truly comprehend the views from the other windows [&hellip;]
- [What It Really Means to Be Trauma-Informed and Person-Centred](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/what-it-really-means-to-be-trauma-informed-and-person-centred/): The terms trauma-informed and person-centred are often used in today’s conversations about wellbeing, education, and social care — but rarely do they capture the depth of what these approaches truly mean. Being trauma-informed is not about excusing poor behaviour or avoiding accountability. It’s not about being “soft” or turning everyone into snowflakes. And being person-centred is not about pleasing everyone or offering endless comfort. Both are about authentic human connection — meeting people with empathy, fairness, and honesty, while maintaining healthy boundaries and encouraging personal responsibility. Understanding Without Excusing A trauma-informed approach recognises that pain often drives behaviour — but [&hellip;]
- [TRUTH: The Anchor for Healing and Mental Wellbeing](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/truth-the-anchor-for-healing-and-mental-wellbeing/): At A Positive Start CIC, we speak often about T.R.U.S.T., because without trust, there is no safety — and without safety, healing cannot happen. Our T.R.U.S.T. framework reminds us that: ✨ T – Trigger recognition ✨ R – Reassurance ✨ U – Understanding ✨ S – Safety ✨ T – Truth Truth is more than a word. It’s an anchor — something the body feels when we are connected and safe. It brings coherence to the mind, steadiness to the body, and peace to the soul. When truth is missing — through lies, gaslighting, or manipulation — we become unanchored. [&hellip;]
- [The Value of Life in a Culture of Convenience](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-value-of-life-in-a-culture-of-convenience/): I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will: this isn’t about looking left or right. Sadly, we’ve become so polarised as a society that not making that clear can create hostility and resentment for simply sharing thoughts and opinions. My intention here is not to argue politics, but to stand back, take a wider view, and ask: what is the true value of life? From its very beginning in the womb to its final breath, life has always been sacred, precious, and worthy of reverence. Yet, in many ways, our modern culture has drifted from that understanding. We see [&hellip;]
- [When Humanity Loses Its Way](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-humanity-loses-its-way/): Recently, I witnessed people rejoicing in the death of a young father. Equally as shocking was that a violent and disturbing video of his murder was shared and reshared online and witnessed by millions — including children. To me, this notion is abhorrent. I cannot align myself with any ideology that seeks to justify the death of another human being. Whoever it is, whatever the circumstances, celebrating loss of life is wrong. It hurts my soul. I don’t consider myself right or left. I hold a balanced view. I don’t agree with everything others think or feel, but that has [&hellip;]
- [Self-Abandonment, Boundaries, and the Balance of Rights](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/self-abandonment-boundaries-and-the-balance-of-rights/): Self-abandonment often begins quietly. It’s the small moments where we silence our truth to keep the peace, where we say “yes” when every part of us longs to say “no.” It can look like: Allowing others to decide for us, even when we feel uneasy. Walking away from relationships, not because they’re unsafe, but because we didn’t feel safe enough to speak up. Carrying resentment instead of voicing our needs. At first, these choices may feel protective. But over time, they disconnect us from ourselves. Instead of guarding our wellbeing with clear boundaries, we protect others’ comfort at the expense [&hellip;]
- [Compulsion, Relief, and the Possibility of Change](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/compulsion-relief-and-the-possibility-of-change/): Lately I’ve been reflecting on the nature of compulsion — how the body can drive us toward destructive relief, even when the cost is high. This post is not written as a statement of fact, nor as a denial of anyone’s lived experience. It is an exploration. I’m asking questions shaped by my own history of trauma and compulsion, and wondering whether neuroplasticity might hold insights that could ease suffering in conditions such as Body Integrity Dysphoria. I don’t have BID, and I cannot know what it is like to live with it. What I do know is the torment [&hellip;]
- [If Not for Everyone, Then for Whom?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/if-not-for-everyone-then-for-whom/): Therapeutic Principles as a Way of Being “We do not owe everyone we encounter therapeutic principles.” That was a comment left on one of my blog posts by an accredited therapist and supervisor. It was even endorsed by others. I’ve been reflecting on what this means — not only for us as therapists, but for the clients and communities we serve. Because for me, therapeutic principles are not tools I switch on for work and off when I go home. They are not reserved for paying clients. They are values I live by. Coming Home to Carl Rogers When I [&hellip;]
- [Working Man – A Song That Holds Our Story](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/working-man-a-song-that-holds-our-story/): The first time I heard Working Man by Celtic Thunder, originally written by Rita MacNeil, I felt as though someone had captured the echoes of my childhood and poured them into song. The words carried me back to the mining village where I grew up, to the men who worked underground and the families who carried that weight above it. This post is also written for a dear friend. They reminded me of this song only this morning, sharing how deeply personal it is for them during an incredibly difficult time. It struck me that music often does that—it surfaces [&hellip;]
- [Beyond Labels: Why Name-Calling Harms More Than It Helps](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/beyond-labels-why-name-calling-harms-more-than-it-helps/): In the run-up to public demonstrations or moments of collective expression, it’s common to see leaders, politicians, and media rushing to apply labels. Before a single banner is raised, the story is already framed: one side dismissed as extremist, the other portrayed as the sole voice of reason. But labels aren’t neutral descriptions. They are frames — ways of telling the public how to see someone before they’ve even spoken. The Harm of Political Labels When figures are branded as far right or far left, it rarely reflects the whole picture. These labels don’t invite conversation; they shut it down. [&hellip;]
- [Speechless](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/speechless/): You know that feeling when a chunk of food gets stuck in your throat or when you swallow ice? When your tea is too hot. That throat infection you got as a kid when even juice hurt. That’s how talking felt. I didn’t speak for a while when I was a child. It wasn’t that I couldn’t physically, I didn’t know the words anymore, the pain was too sharp, it made my breathing erratic, hurt my eyes. I could only speak when it was just me and my mum together or very trusted friends. With anyone else, when I was [&hellip;]
- [Mushrooms in the Dark](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/mushrooms-in-the-dark/): There’s an old saying: “Treat people like mushrooms – feed them BS and keep them in the dark.” Never has that felt more relevant than today. Normally, I try not to get into politics. It’s not my world, and I prefer to focus on healing, growth, and the human spirit. But right now, it’s hard not to—because the choices being made ripple into every part of our lives. No one is untouched. It doesn’t just feel chaotic here in the UK. It seems crazy all over the world. And the systems that were once set up to protect us, to [&hellip;]
- [The Mirror of Projection: Why We See Narcissists Everywhere but Ourselves](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-mirror-of-projection-why-we-see-narcissists-everywhere-but-ourselves/): The word narcissist has become one of the most overused labels of our time. Scroll through social media or listen to conversations and it doesn’t take long before someone is accused of being one. It’s a word often thrown like a dart—sharp, loaded, and designed to stick. But what happens when the very behaviours we condemn in others are the same ones we practise ourselves? What Projection Really Means Projection is the psychological process of disowning uncomfortable feelings or traits within ourselves and attributing them to someone else. It’s a very human defence mechanism—we all do it. But when projection [&hellip;]
- [The Girl in the Dirty Dress](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-girl-in-the-dirty-dress-shame-survival-and-the-power-of-co-regulation/): The Girl in the Dirty Dress: Shame, Survival, and the Power of Co-Regulation When our nervous system is overwhelmed, our rational, intelligent thinking brain goes offline. In those moments, the body does what it must to survive. We freeze. We go silent. We disconnect. Years later, many of us look back on those frozen moments with shame, asking ourselves: “Why didn’t I scream? Why didn’t I run? Why didn’t I fight back?” But these aren’t failures. They are survival responses. And when those responses happen in childhood, they can leave behind powerful images and beliefs that shape the way we [&hellip;]
- [Behind The Façade](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/behind-the-facade-boarding-school/): Behind the façade. The words Boarding School conjure up different meanings depending on our exposure and experience. For me it presents memories of abuse, mixed with thoughts of friends and fun. Adventures and pain, laughter and fear. From high school to boarding school, home to dorm, mum to strangers, alone to never alone; a shift in environment and in the way I’d view the world. People say children in boarding schools are privileged. That they are part of a separate group, elite, removed. I have heard the expectations of luxury and the jokes about what goes on after lights out. [&hellip;]
- [When Trauma Speaks in Dreams: From Nightmares to Healing](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-trauma-speaks-in-dreams-from-nightmares-to-healing/): For many years, I have experienced vivid dreams that stayed with me long after waking. You know the kind &#8211; that leave a trace of terror in your soul. At times they left me panicked, sweating, or in tears. For a long time, I wondered why my mind wouldn’t let me rest. But as I’ve learned more about trauma and healing, I’ve come to see that these dreams were not just random stories — they were my body and nervous system processing what once felt unbearable. The man in the shadows After being attacked as a child, I carried the [&hellip;]
- [An Uncomfortable Truth](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/an-uncomfortable-truth/): Women are capable and active in the sexual exploitation of children and adults, online, directly and within rings of abuse and grooming. The recent coverage of Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison interview and more noticeably the responses to her words, highlights that people are often uncomfortable with this reality and will find reasons that they would notsearch for if it were a male in question. The majority of reported and prosecuted perpetrators are male. This does not show the unreported and undisclosed incidents or involvement. Child on child abuse reports are increasing. Male children being targeted by both sexes of adults is [&hellip;]
- [Breaking the Self-Fulfilling Prophecies of Trauma](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/breaking-the-self-fulfilling-prophecies-of-trauma/): Complex trauma leaves invisible imprints that can quietly shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. One of the most powerful — and painful — ways this shows up is through self-fulfilling prophecies. Rejection Take rejection, for example. A simple, everyday situation like sending a text to a friend can trigger an entire spiral. At first, the person waits patiently, refreshing their phone every few moments to check if the message has been read. When no reply comes, the internal dialogue starts: “They’re ignoring me. I must have said something wrong. They don’t like me anymore.” The mind races [&hellip;]
- [The Power of Telling the Truth About Anxiety](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-power-of-telling-the-truth-about-anxiety/): Last night, during our CBT group for anxiety, we watched a short video showing common situations that can trigger anxious thoughts — like public speaking. The narrator offered examples of typical worries: “I might forget my words… I might embarrass myself… people will see I’m nervous and judge me.” The suggested solutions were reframes: “It’s okay to be nervous, lots of people are… the more I talk the less people will notice… the more I practice, the better I’ll get.” All useful strategies. But I couldn’t help noticing something important was missing — something that made all the difference for [&hellip;]
- [What Does It Really Mean to Love and Accept Yourself Unconditionally?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/what-does-it-really-mean-to-love-and-accept-yourself-unconditionally/): “Love and accept yourself unconditionally.” It sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? But for many of us, those words land with a thud. Instead of comfort, we feel resistance. Instead of inspiration, we feel guilt, shame, or even anger. I remember hearing that phrase at different points in my own healing journey and thinking: “If I can’t do this, does that mean I’m broken beyond repair?” What I didn’t realise then was that struggling to connect with those words doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it means you’re human, and often it means you’ve been through experiences that made self-love feel unsafe or [&hellip;]
- [Hope](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/hope/): Encountering hope. Once, then, and now. Over my lifetime hope has meant different things. The dreams and wishes I had as a child are returning, replacing, and reframing the wishes of many years. I recently had a conversation about how to lead people to a place where hope feels both possible and safe. This led me to later look back at the aspirations I had and how they were shaped by both my environments and my connection to the world around me, also moulded by my disconnection from myself and from a safe space to dream. Once As a little [&hellip;]
- [Gratitude Attitude: Planting Seeds of Self-Worth](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/gratitude-attitude-planting-seeds-of-self-worth/): In our Self Discovery for Recovery program, we begin with the foundations: looking within, practising self-care, and repeating daily I Am affirmations. Why? Because repetition drives neuroplasticity. The more often we plant healthy thoughts, the stronger they grow. Our thoughts shape our lives. Each one is a seed. Some grow into weeds that choke our growth, while others blossom into resilience, hope, and strength. The question is—are you planting intentionally, or letting weeds take over? When we believe we have no choice, we often forget: not choosing is still a choice. By failing to plant with intention, we allow the [&hellip;]
- [The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Neural Pathways, Trauma, and Self-Worth](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-stories-we-tell-ourselves-neural-pathways-trauma-and-self-worth/): From the moment we are born, our brains are wired with remarkable potential. Dr. Dan Siegel’s Interpersonal Neurobiology reminds us that human beings develop through two kinds of neural pathways: Experience-Expectant Pathways These are the “hardwired” pathways we are born with, designed to expect and rely on certain experiences. For example, our brains are primed for language—we expect to hear words, to connect, to be nurtured. Importantly, as children, we are also hardwired to expect care. We anticipate being comforted when we cry, protected when we are frightened, and seen when we express joy. Experience-Dependent Pathways These pathways are shaped [&hellip;]
- [STAND: Parents as Protectors – A Journey of Awareness, Not Blame](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/stand-parents-as-protectors-a-journey-of-awareness-not-blame/): Parenting in today’s world can feel overwhelming. We’re constantly juggling everyday responsibilities while trying to keep our children safe in a world that doesn’t always feel safe. That’s why we created STAND: Parents as Protectors — a free, online, self-paced program for parents, caregivers, and those in loco parentis who want to deepen their understanding of how to protect children from harm. This is not about blame, criticism, or “teaching granny how to suck eggs.” It’s about sharing insight drawn from lived experience — real-life lessons about how our own histories shape our reactions and decisions. When we become more [&hellip;]
- [Through the Lens of the Dorsal Space](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/through-the-lens-of-the-dorsal-space-why-forcing-motivation-can-harm-not-help/): Through the Lens of the Dorsal Space: Why Forcing ‘Motivation’ Can Harm, Not Help When you’re in the dorsal space, you can see life happening around you — people laughing, planning, dreaming — but it’s like watching it all through thick, soundproof glass. You can see their joy, but it doesn’t touch you. You can’t step through. You can’t feel it. It’s not that you don’t want to — it’s that your nervous system has switched into survival mode, and joy has become unreachable. I see this often with clients who have lived through complex trauma. They describe feeling like [&hellip;]
- [Walking the Tightrope: Staying Trauma-Informed While Protecting Ourselves and Others](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/walking-the-tightrope-staying-trauma-informed-while-protecting-ourselves-and-others/): Remaining trauma-informed while protecting both ourselves and those who rely on us for support can feel like walking a tightrope. It’s a precarious balance of boundary-setting and self-awareness, and it’s not always clear where one ends and the other begins. Even when we take care to make decisions with compassion, integrity, and awareness, there’s no way to predict exactly how those decisions will land with others. This is particularly true when we’re holding responsibility—not just for ourselves, but for an organisation, those who give their time and energy to support it, and those who benefit from its work. As a [&hellip;]
- [Comfortable visibility](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/comfortable-visibility/): This year has been a year of firsts for me. New experiences and challenges, new realisations. The most striking one just now is that it can be safe to be seen. I have spent most of my life staying in the shadows and carefully monitoring my voice, checking that no one saw me and being cautious with my words. Living within a world of abuse and exploitation whilst juggling normality taught me, and others, how to stay invisible in order to stay safe. It’s an expensive and dangerous trade off. It’s only now that I have the freedom and foundations [&hellip;]
- [My Approach to Therapy](https://apositivestart.org.uk/general/my-approach-to-therapy/): Meeting You Where You Are My therapeutic approach is intentionally simple, responsive, and deeply person-centred. It’s about meeting you where you are on the day, not fitting you into a pre-prepared plan. I keep my session notes minimal — often no more than “held space” — unless there’s something important to record, such as a disclosure or a sudden change. This means my full attention stays with you, not on paperwork. Minimal notes are not “no notes” — they are focused, purposeful, and meet professional and safeguarding standards. I also choose not to read referral notes before we meet. This [&hellip;]
- [Why Storytelling?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/why-storytelling/): We talk to be heard. We talk to convey and connect, to direct, resolve and understand. We talk through our stories, our experiences and insights. A shared human gift. Self expression with the aim of creating connection. To pass on opinions and ideas, to offer snippets of life in the hope of aiding another. As a young child I was encouraged to read story books, to listen to fairy tales and children&#8217;s classics. My mum and I would spend hours making up stories as we walked the dogs by the river. Creating adventures from our imagination, not realising at that [&hellip;]
- [Under the Skin: What the Rise of Cosmetic Surgery Says About Self-Worth](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/under-the-skin-what-the-rise-of-cosmetic-surgery-says-about-self-worth/): You don’t have to look far to see it. Scrolling through social media, watching a reality show, or even chatting with friends, it’s become normal to hear, “I’m just getting a little tweak,” as casually as if they’d said, “I’m getting my hair done.” Cosmetic procedures — from injectables to full surgeries — have moved from rare, whispered-about luxuries to everyday appointments on the calendar. The message that we should constantly “improve” our appearance has seeped into the mainstream, often so subtly that we forget to question it. The culture of constant self-editing We live in a world where filters [&hellip;]
- [From Danger Detector to Joy Seeker: How the Reticular Activating System Shapes Our Focus](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/from-danger-detector-to-joy-seeker-how-the-reticular-activating-system-shapes-our-focus/): The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network in the brainstem that acts like a filter. Every second, it processes millions of bits of sensory data — but it only lets through what matches your current focus or beliefs. If you’ve ever noticed a certain car model everywhere after thinking about it, or heard your name in a noisy room, that was your RAS at work. It’s like your brain’s personal search engine, prioritising what it thinks matters most. When you’ve lived through trauma, that filter often becomes tuned to threat detection. Your brain becomes a danger radar — scanning [&hellip;]
- [Why Compassion, Empathy and Kindness Are the Foundations of Healing](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/why-compassion-empathy-and-kindness-are-the-foundations-of-healing/): When we meet someone who is struggling — whether with trauma, neurodivergence, or life’s many challenges — the way we respond matters. Compassion, empathy, and kindness create safety. Judgement, criticism, and harshness create fear. When we feel judged or criticised, our internal defences activate. For people who have experienced complex trauma, these defences often come from a place of survival. They are not a conscious choice — they are an automatic nervous system response. These reactions can shut us down, block trust, and make moving forward feel impossible. Self-Compassion: The Bridge Through the Barriers One of the most powerful tools [&hellip;]
- [The Distance Travelled](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-distance-travelled/): I remember sitting in my home with nothing. No money. No bank account. No reserves. My abuser had beaten me and squeezed my jaw so hard it was almost broken — all to force me to hand over my benefits. Two weeks’ worth of income for me and my child, gone in an instant. The electricity had run out on the 50p meter, and I couldn’t afford to top it up. I sat in front of the gas fire, toasting bread and heating a tin of beans for my little one’s lunch. I boiled water on a camping stove for [&hellip;]
- [The Illusion of Inclusion: When Trauma-Informed Practice Misses the Mark](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-illusion-of-inclusion-when-trauma-informed-practice-misses-the-mark/): In recent years, the phrase “trauma-informed” has become widespread across services—from schools to healthcare to local authorities. On paper, this is a welcome shift. It signals a growing awareness that trauma shapes behaviour, that safety matters, and that healing requires more than just surface-level support. But for those of us with lived experience of trauma—especially those working in grassroots, community-based organisations—the reality often tells a different story. Behind closed doors, beneath the polished language, many of us encounter something we don’t talk about enough: exclusion by stealth. It rarely looks like open hostility. It’s more subtle than that. A non-response [&hellip;]
- [Time-Limited Therapy and the Myth of Quick Healing](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/time-limited-therapy-and-the-myth-of-quick-healing/): Time limits make sense in many areas of life. But not in healing. Not in therapy. And certainly not when we’re working with complex trauma. Too often, I meet people who have been offered six or eight sessions of therapy — sometimes as little as a single hour per week — and then expected to “pick up the reins” and carry on. Alone. We know why this happens. Funding. Staffing. Systems under pressure. It’s not that individual professionals don’t care — many do. But when services are shaped by cost rather than compassion, the result is always the same: the [&hellip;]
- [When Love and Empathy Are Misunderstood](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-love-and-empathy-are-misunderstood/): Too Soft? Too Compassionate? Good. When Love and Empathy Are Misunderstood – A Call for Something REAL There’s a particular kind of pain that comes with seeing someone in trauma—whether a child, a parent, or a student—when no one else seems to see it. They see a troublemaker, a problem, a drain. You see a child frozen in shame, or flailing in fear. You see connection-seeking—not attention-seeking. You recognise the signs. The nervous system shutdowns. The survivor strategies. The dorsal vagal collapse hiding behind the outbursts or silences. And when you name it? You’re dismissed. “You’re too soft.” “You’re enabling [&hellip;]
- [The Cost of Incongruence in Trauma-Informed Practice](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/the-cost-of-incongruence-in-trauma-informed-practice/): It’s easy to say the right things. “Inclusive.” “Person-centred.” “Trauma-informed.” These words are everywhere—in training manuals, policies, funding bids, and introductory slides. But saying the right thing isn’t the same as living it. When someone raises a concern, gives feedback, or reaches out with lived experience, the responses often sound like this: “We’re really busy.” “We’re doing our best.” “You misunderstood.” “You should have followed up.” “You could have done more.” That last one is particularly revealing. It subtly shifts the responsibility back onto the person who had already made the effort. It reframes a lack of response as a [&hellip;]
- [‘We Borrow Health from Tomorrow’ – Exercise, Diet & Trauma Recovery in Midlife](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/we-borrow-health-from-tomorrow-exercise-diet-trauma-recovery-in-midlife/): When we’re young, we rarely think twice about what we eat, how much we move, or whether we’re getting enough rest. Our bodies seem to just get on with it. Late nights, takeaways, skipping meals, or grabbing sugar and caffeine to keep going—somehow, we bounce back. But what we don’t realise is that in those younger years, we’re borrowing health from tomorrow. And eventually, tomorrow comes. As we move into midlife—often around the same time trauma and unresolved emotional patterns begin to show themselves more vividly—we start to feel the consequences. The body keeps the score, as Bessel van der [&hellip;]
- [Systemic Exclusion](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/is-bacp-membership-the-only-measure-of-a-good-therapist-why-its-time-to-rethink-regulation-in-counselling/): Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reviewing counselling job listings — often alongside students I support — and I’ve noticed something deeply concerning: Nearly every role demands the same thing: “Applicants MUST be registered with BACP, BABCP or NCS — full or provisional.” Some roles go further, insisting practitioners have their own private therapy rooms. While that isn’t universal, the pattern is clear: these jobs are closing the door on skilled, ethical, trauma-informed professionals who have simply chosen not to align with one of these institutions. As someone with years of experience supporting individuals through trauma and emotional distress, [&hellip;]
- [From the River Room to the World: Teaching Emotional Regulation Through Song](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/from-the-river-room-to-the-world-teaching-emotional-regulation-through-song/): Teaching emotional regulation to adults is not always easy. In my work with A Positive Start CIC, I’ve often met adults who instinctively dismiss grounding techniques, breathwork, or vagus nerve activation as “woo woo” or “silly.” They weren’t taught about the nervous system, emotional regulation, or the power of somatic practices. For many, it&#8217;s hard to see the value of these tools until crisis strikes — by which point, the thinking brain is offline and the tools feel inaccessible. And then I started noticing something else: The same resistance I saw in adults often showed up in children. Children feeling [&hellip;]
- [De humanising Modernism and Zombie Architecture](https://apositivestart.org.uk/blog/de-humanising-modernism-and-zombie-architecture/): A sense of place refers to the emotional and psychological connection you feel towards a specific location (Bo and Rani, 2025). It is the feeling and comfort of going home, a sense of belonging, an identity from experiencing a space that resonates with your values and memories and culture (Bo and Rani, 2025). Sometimes we don’t have people or family in our lives or an ideology that gives us a sense of belonging, sometimes we find our identity in a place to call home. The Scottish Borders has architecture dating from the 12th century, influenced by medieval Scotland and the [&hellip;]
- [Our Mission](https://apositivestart.org.uk/general/our-mission/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;634442&#8243;]A Positive Start CIC is dedicated to fostering emotional healing, safety, and growth through trauma-informed, person-centred approaches. We provide counselling, psychotherapy, psycho-education, and social-emotional learning (SEL) in both individual and group settings, face-to-face and online. By honouring lived experience and empowering those impacted by adversity, exclusion, or trauma, we help individuals reconnect with themselves and their communities. Through therapy, creative education, peer mentoring, collaborative projects, and community initiatives, we promote nervous system regulation, self-worth, and lifelong resilience—supporting people not only to recover, but to thrive. Deborah J Crozier  &#8211; Founder &amp; CEO [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;14523&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;187037&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [We’re All on the Sliding Scale: People-Pleasing, Narcissistic Traits, and the Path to Congruence](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/were-all-on-the-sliding-scale-people-pleasing-narcissistic-traits-and-the-path-to-congruence/): It’s easy to label others as narcissistic or manipulative. But what if I told you we’re all on a sliding scale—between people-pleasing on one end and narcissistic traits on the other—and that both ends of this scale reflect incongruence? They may look different, but they are often fuelled by the same thing: unresolved emotions stored in the body and shaped by survival. Whether we’re constantly trying to keep others happy or blaming everything outside of ourselves, we are not acting from truth—we are acting from protection. At A Positive Start CIC, we support self-awareness and healing through our RAPPORT framework—a [&hellip;]
- [Silence](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-silence-hurts/): Over the years, I’ve heard many people say something like this after trying therapy: “They just sat there and stared at me. I didn’t know what to say. I felt exposed and uncomfortable.” Often these are people who came for support but left feeling even more alone. And when that happens, something sacred—the trust between client and therapist—can break before it even begins. This experience is far more common than it should be. And I want to talk about it—not to criticise other therapists, but to shed light on something important: There’s a huge difference between therapeutic silence and feeling [&hellip;]
- [Seeing the Same Screen, Reading Different Code](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/seeing-the-same-screen-reading-different-code/): Sometimes the hardest part of communication is not the words themselves, but the way we interpret what we don’t understand. A family friend once shared how, when trying to communicate with certain colleagues &#8211; they felt like their words left their mouth and fell through the floorboards — picking up dust and distortion before landing somewhere else entirely. What they meant and what the other person heard often felt worlds apart. My son offered a powerful analogy that helped everything make sense &#8211; “It’s like you’re  both looking at the same thing on a computer. You see graphics. they see [&hellip;]
- [When Strength Is a Shield](https://apositivestart.org.uk/lived-experience-blog/when-strength-is-a-shield-hyperindependence/): Hyper-independence is often mistaken for strength. It’s praised in society as self-reliance, competence, and resilience. But underneath the polished surface lies a very different story — one of pain, protection, and deep survival. What Is Hyper-Independence? Hyper-independence is the compulsion to carry everything alone. It’s the belief that asking for help is dangerous. That trusting others is a risk not worth taking. It’s not a personality quirk — it’s a nervous system response formed in the fire of unmet needs, broken trust, and chronic invalidation. While it can stem from childhood trauma — like emotional neglect, inconsistent care, or having [&hellip;]

## Pages

- [Counselling Contract and Agreement](https://apositivestart.org.uk/counselling-contract-and-agreement/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Student Counsellor Consent & Contract](https://apositivestart.org.uk/student-counsellor-consent-contract/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Client Details Form](https://apositivestart.org.uk/client-details-form/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Meet The Team](https://apositivestart.org.uk/meet-the-team/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-uydo&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11688&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;88&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; style=&#8221;inherited&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;312683&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_gallery el_id=&#8221;gallery-318462&#8243; medias=&#8221;62,11525,7860,3180,63,12332,14791,12461,13653,67,14862,14792,11860,12347,13776,14865,12018,7865&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; media_items=&#8221;media|nolink|original,icon,title,caption,sep-one|full,team-social&#8221; screen_lg=&#8221;1000&#8243; screen_md=&#8221;600&#8243; screen_sm=&#8221;480&#8243; single_text=&#8221;under&#8221; single_width=&#8221;3&#8243; images_size=&#8221;one-one&#8221; single_shape=&#8221;circle&#8221; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_overlay_anim=&#8221;no&#8221; single_text_anim=&#8221;no&#8221; single_image_anim=&#8221;no&#8221; single_h_align=&#8221;center&#8221; single_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; single_title_dimension=&#8221;h5&#8243; single_icon=&#8221;fa fa-plus2&#8243; single_border=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_title=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_caption=&#8221;yes&#8221; carousel_rtl=&#8221;&#8221; single_half_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; single_title_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; single_title_serif=&#8221;&#8221; single_no_background=&#8221;yes&#8221; items=&#8221;eyIxMzc2M19pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9saW5rIjoidXJsOmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudW5kc2duLmNvbXx8dGFyZ2V0OiUyMF9ibGFuayJ9LCIxMzc2OV9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9saW5rIjoidXJsOmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudW5kc2duLmNvbXx8dGFyZ2V0OiUyMF9ibGFuayJ9LCIxMzc3MF9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9saW5rIjoidXJsOmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudW5kc2duLmNvbXx8dGFyZ2V0OiUyMF9ibGFuayJ9LCIxMzc2Nl9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9saW5rIjoidXJsOmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudW5kc2duLmNvbXx8dGFyZ2V0OiUyMF9ibGFuayJ9fQ==&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;509168&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Learn More](https://apositivestart.org.uk/learn-more/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text]Our Approach At APS CIC, healing begins with being truly seen and heard. We create safe, non‑judgmental spaces where individuals receive reassurance, understanding, and practical support. Rooted in person‑centred principles—congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic awareness—every interaction is designed to cultivate trust and encourage personal growth. Central to our practice is the TRUST framework &#8211; our trauma‑informed model ensures compassionate care that acknowledges lived experience while guiding individuals toward healing and self‑empowerment. Supporting Families &amp; Communities We proudly deliver the STAND: Parents as Protectors programme, equipping parents, carers, and guardians with the tools to safeguard young lives. This initiative [&hellip;]
- [Register Your Interest](https://apositivestart.org.uk/register-your-interest/)
- [Applied TRUST & RAPPORT](https://apositivestart.org.uk/applied-trust-and-rapport/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;178478&#8243;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; font_family=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;76&#8243; radius=&#8221;sm&#8221; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_height=&#8221;340&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;181015&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;13340&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;153478&#8243;][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;336479&#8243;]Applied TRUST and RAPPORT on the Healing Journey[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;216835&#8243;]Learn how to create emotional safety &#8211; for others and for yourself[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;4&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; subheading=&#8221;+ Professionals supporting people with trauma or dysregulation + Parents and carers navigating [&hellip;]
- [The River Room Songbook](https://apositivestart.org.uk/the-river-room-songbook/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;85&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-wvjs&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;60&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; bottom_divider_inv=&#8221;waves-opacity&#8221; shape_bottom_invert=&#8221;yes&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; shape_bottom_height=&#8221;200&#8243; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;808357&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;4&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;385519&#8243; subheading=&#8221;A heart-led collaboration between A Positive Start CIC and My Body is My Body&#8221;]Introducing The River Room Songbook[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;171074&#8243;]The River Room Songbook is a unique extension of the MBIMB mission &#8211; lovingly created to support children&#8217;s emotional healing, confidence building, and nervous system regulation through the power of music, movement and storytelling. This trauma-informed collaboration is rooted in our [&hellip;]
- [MBIMB Ambassador](https://apositivestart.org.uk/mbimb-ambassador/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;251946&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;892757&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_size=&#8221;custom&#8221; foreword=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;193390&#8243; heading_custom_size=&#8221;clamp(20px, 3vw, 30px)&#8221; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Empowering children through prevention, compassion, and confidence[/vc_custom_heading][vc_separator sep_color=&#8221;,Default&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;true&#8221; shape_bottom_height_percent=&#8221;10&#8243; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;625792&#8243; shape_bottom_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; shape_bottom_color_solid=&#8221;#fef9f3&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;3/12&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;892757&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;13265&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; shape=&#8221;img-circle&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;287124&#8243; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fmbimb.org%2Fambassadors%2F&#8221;][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;9/12&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;157127&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;155949&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;justify&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; [&hellip;]
- [Testimonials](https://apositivestart.org.uk/testimonials/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;100778&#8243;] 1-2-1 Therapy What a year it&#8217;s been. I&#8217;m in my 50&#8217;s and finally, I&#8217;m in tune with who I am. That sounds dramatic but it&#8217;s true. The 1-2-1 support with A Positive Start is hard to put into words. So I&#8217;ll paint a picture. Last summer I was terrified to leave my house, often scared to leave my favourite spot in my living room. I only went out when I needed to and I only communicated when I had no option. All I felt was fear or emptiness. I was existing, day to day with no ability [&hellip;]
- [](https://apositivestart.org.uk/real-cpd/)
- [REAL Membership](https://apositivestart.org.uk/real-membership-and-cpd/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; back_image=&#8221;13115&#8243; back_attachment=&#8221;inherit&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;30&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;494367&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;5/12&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;191305&#8243;][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; toggle=&#8221;yes&#8221; max_height=&#8221;&#8221; closed_txt=&#8221;&#8221; btn_margin=&#8221;std&#8221; open_txt=&#8221;&#8221; btn_align=&#8221;left&#8221; width=&#8221;7/12&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;192220&#8243;][vc_column_text text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;207909&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Regulated. Ethical. Accessible. Lived-Experience-Led[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; separator=&#8221;under&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;967009&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; text_color_solid=&#8221;#ff0000&#8243; subheading=&#8221;Every course we accredit aligns with four key pillars: • Regulated: Learning that supports nervous system safety through pacing, grounding and embodied awareness. • Ethical: Grounded in compassion, reflection, and relational integrity – not just rules, relationship. • Accessible: Designed [&hellip;]
- [Safeguarding Policy, Procedure & Forms](https://apositivestart.org.uk/safeguarding-policy/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;142799&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;109061&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; text_color_solid=&#8221;#ff0000&#8243; subheading=&#8221;At A Positive Start CIC, the safety and well-being of everyone we work with and everyone we serve is our top priority. To ensure a safe and supportive environment, we follow clear safeguarding and health &#038; safety procedures. These forms are designed to provide transparency., accountability, and peace of mind for all participants, families, and staff. Why these forms are important: -Safeguarding Concern Form: [&hellip;]
- [Register for Group CBT](https://apositivestart.org.uk/register-for-group-cbt/)
- [About Us](https://apositivestart.org.uk/about-us/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11959&#8243; multiple_media=&#8221;yes&#8221; back_attachment=&#8221;fixed&#8221; back_position=&#8221;center center&#8221; kburns=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;70&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;187994&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;1500&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;14882&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;70&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; shape=&#8221;img-round&#8221; radius=&#8221;std&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;266828&#8243; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact%20Us|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_button button_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; radius=&#8221;btn-square&#8221; border_animation=&#8221;btn-ripple-out&#8221; wide=&#8221;yes&#8221; hover_fx=&#8221;outlined&#8221; shadow=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow_weight=&#8221;std&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; icon_position=&#8221;right&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;186261&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fcontact%2F&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; icon=&#8221;fa fa-envelope-o&#8221;]GET IN TOUCH[/vc_button][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;justify&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;200973&#8243;][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;205534&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;149614&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; subheading=&#8221;We Honour Humans&#8221;] What We Do [/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;custom&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;493874&#8243; heading_custom_size=&#8221;clamp(18px,4vw,20px)&#8221;] At A Positive Start, we honour humans &#8211; their stories, [&hellip;]
- [Reconnect & Regulate Program](https://apositivestart.org.uk/reconnect-regulate-program/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11959&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;74&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;row-letaral section-lateral row-horizontal-display overflow-hidden shape-bg additions&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;638710&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;840519&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Reconnect &amp; Regulate 8 Week Program[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;149668&#8243;] What Does It Mean to Reconnect &amp; Regulate? It means returning to yourself. It&#8217;s the process of gently coming back into your body, your emotions, your relationships, and your truth after trauma [&hellip;]
- [Workshops by Donation](https://apositivestart.org.uk/workshops-by-donation/)
- [Register for STAND](https://apositivestart.org.uk/register-for-stand/)
- [STAND - Parents As Protectors Workshop](https://apositivestart.org.uk/stand-parents-as-protectors-online-workshop/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; back_image=&#8221;7484&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;80&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;100&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; style=&#8221;inherited&#8221; row_name=&#8221;About Us&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;228607&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;100&#8243; heading_display=&#8221;inline&#8221; badge_style=&#8221;yes&#8221; inline_media=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; back_color=&#8221;color-210407&#8243; media_height=&#8221;100&#8243; radius=&#8221;std&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;109114&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Supporting Parents &amp; Caregivers to;[/vc_custom_heading][vc_button button_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; size=&#8221;btn-lg&#8221; radius=&#8221;btn-square&#8221; hover_fx=&#8221;outlined&#8221; outline=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_skin=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow_weight=&#8221;lg&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fstand-parents-as-protectors%2F&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;129355&#8243; icon=&#8221;fa fa-book&#8221;]Learn More[/vc_button][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;3&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;7&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/4&#8243;][vc_icon icon=&#8221;fa fa-heart&#8221; icon_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; size=&#8221;fa-3x&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; linked_title=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; align=&#8221;left&#8221; title=&#8221;Reconnect &amp; Regulate&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;572289&#8243; icon_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]-so [&hellip;]
- [How to Register for Therapy](https://apositivestart.org.uk/how-to-register-for-therapy/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11831&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;85&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;522860&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;2/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;717370&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;173977&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; subheading=&#8221;A Step-by-Step Guide&#8221;]Accessing Emotional Wellbeing[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;130401&#8243;]In‑Person Appointments Step 1: Register for Support You can register for in‑person emotional wellbeing sessions through: • Our Website Contact Page • The Counselling / Emotional Wellbeing Page • Email: info@apositivestart.org.uk • Phone: +44 01450 367422 (Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm) Step 2: Appointment Confirmation • We will arrange a mutually convenient date and time. • You will receive confirmation [&hellip;]
- [Our TRUST Framework](https://apositivestart.org.uk/our-trust-framework/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_image=&#8221;10962&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;60&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;195867&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_button button_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; size=&#8221;btn-xl&#8221; radius=&#8221;btn-square&#8221; wide=&#8221;yes&#8221; hover_fx=&#8221;outlined&#8221; outline=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_skin=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow_weight=&#8221;xl&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; icon_position=&#8221;right&#8221; scale_mobile=&#8221;no&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;131132&#8243; icon=&#8221;fa fa-arrow-right-circle&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact&#8221;]Contact Us about T.R.U.S.T Framework Training[/vc_button][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;194860&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;103565&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;202244&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;659167&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; separator_color=&#8221;yes&#8221; badge_style=&#8221;yes&#8221; inline_media=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator=&#8221;under&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_height=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;684514&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; subheading=&#8221;Creating Safe &#038; Supportive Spaces for Healing &#038; [&hellip;]
- [Supporting Regulation](https://apositivestart.org.uk/supporting-emotional-regulation/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11955&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/4&#8243; mobile_height=&#8221;280&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;262900&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_separator sep_color=&#8221;,Default&#8221;][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; align_medium=&#8221;align_center_tablet&#8221; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/4&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; text_align=&#8221;text-left&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;144611&#8243;]Emotional Dysregulation[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;376901&#8243;]Emotional dysregulation is the inability to regulate emotional responses appropriately. It can lead to mood swings, significant mood changes, and emotional flashbacks and may involve a range of emotions such as sadness, anger, irritability, and frustration. Unaddressed, it can profoundly disrupt an individual&#8217;s life.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; [&hellip;]
- [International Clients](https://apositivestart.org.uk/international-clients/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; shape_bottom_height=&#8221;150&#8243; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;0&#8243; inverted_device_order=&#8221;yes&#8221; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1732226575611{border-top-width: 1px !important;}&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;184059&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; border_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;6&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_image=&#8221;11937&#8243; back_position=&#8221;center top&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;148882&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_custom_heading sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;161083&#8243; subheading=&#8221;for our international community of clients&#8221;]Online Person-Centred Counselling[/vc_custom_heading][vc_button button_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; size=&#8221;btn-xl&#8221; text_skin=&#8221;yes&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fcontact&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;138362&#8243;]Contact Us Now[/vc_button][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11833&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;70&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1731607224822{border-right-width: 1px !important;}&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;396703&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; border_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;135104&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; text_color_solid=&#8221;#ff0000&#8243; subheading=&#8221;We [&hellip;]
- [Memberships](https://apositivestart.org.uk/memberships/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11769&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;61&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;185302&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;49&#8243; border_color=&#8221;transparent&#8221; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;581801&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; border_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; text_size=&#8221;&#8221; text_italic=&#8221;yes&#8221; heading_display=&#8221;inline&#8221; badge_style=&#8221;yes&#8221; inline_media=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; foreword=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_height=&#8221;100&#8243; radius=&#8221;std&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;273875&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;] &#8220;Invest in healing today for a Brighter, Safer Tomorrow&#8221; [/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;177826&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Memberships support our mission of creating a safer, healthier, more compassionate &amp; Trauma Informed future.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11750&#8243; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;70&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; style=&#8221;inherited&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;535118&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; [&hellip;]
- [Members Area](https://apositivestart.org.uk/members-area/): [vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11688&#8243; multiple_media=&#8221;yes&#8221; back_attachment=&#8221;fixed&#8221; back_position=&#8221;left bottom&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;75&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;justify&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;6&#8243; column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_top_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; top_divider=&#8221;book&#8221; shape_top_h_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; shape_top_height=&#8221;150&#8243; shape_top_opacity=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_top_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;140817&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;130296&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][uncode_woocommerce_my_account][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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- [Practicum Students at APS CIC](https://apositivestart.org.uk/practicum-students-at-aps-cic/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11576&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;75&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;307373&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;186832&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Bridging the Gap between Education and Lived Experience[/vc_custom_heading][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; subheading=&#8221;We champion the creation of safe, non-judgmental, trauma-informed environments that ensure individuals are acknowledged and understood, which we consider a vital part of the healing journey. To nurture the upcoming cadre of trauma-informed therapists, we provide counselling practicum placements for students eager to acquire significant experience and insights. As a certified Practicum site, [&hellip;]
- [Client Feedback](https://apositivestart.org.uk/in-your-own-words/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;207637&#8243;]June 2023 &#8220;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 [&hellip;]
- [](https://apositivestart.org.uk/9856-2/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;9858&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;188020&#8243; title=&#8221;Click to Open&#8221; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F11%2FPart-1-Inner-Child..pdf&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [](https://apositivestart.org.uk/9708-2/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;114362&#8243; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;9710&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;111123&#8243; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2FINTRODUCTION-2-1.pdf&#8221; title=&#8221;Click to Open&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [RAPPORT GUIDE](https://apositivestart.org.uk/rapport-guide/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;9656&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;155358&#8243; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2FRAPPORT-GUIDE-1.pdf&#8221; title=&#8221;Click to Open &#8220;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [RAPPORT - E-Workbook 2. Behaviours](https://apositivestart.org.uk/self-discovery-for-recovery/rapport-e-workbook-2-behaviours/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;673778&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;9639&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;180421&#8243; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2FRAPPORT-Workbook-2-Behaviours-1.pdf|target:_blank&#8221; title=&#8221;Click to open workbook&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [RAPPORT E-Workbook 1 - Triggers](https://apositivestart.org.uk/self-discovery-for-recovery/rapport-e-workbook-1-triggers/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;191225&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; font_family=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; border_color=&#8221;transparent&#8221; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;5/6&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;130522&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; border_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;9055&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;three-two&#8221; media_title_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;137039&#8243; media_link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2FRAPPORT-Workbook-1-Triggers-2.pdf&#8221; title=&#8221;CLICK TO OPEN WORKBOOK&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Self Discovery for Recovery](https://apositivestart.org.uk/self-discovery-for-recovery/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11527&#8243; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;108463&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;capitalize&#8221; separator=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;190671&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; text_color_solid=&#8221;#ff0000&#8243; subheading=&#8221;An Online Workshop featuring the RAPPORT pathway. Created and facilitated by Deborah Crozier, Person-Centred Counsellor and Founder of A Positive Start CIC. .&#8221;] Self Discovery For Recovery- A Journey Back to You [/vc_custom_heading][vc_button button_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; size=&#8221;btn-xl&#8221; radius=&#8221;btn-square&#8221; border_animation=&#8221;btn-ripple-out&#8221; wide=&#8221;yes&#8221; hover_fx=&#8221;outlined&#8221; outline=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_skin=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow_weight=&#8221;lg&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;200087&#8243; icon=&#8221;fa fa-edit&#8221;]Register Now[/vc_button][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11833&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;85&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;100&#8243; [&hellip;]
- [About Our Service](https://apositivestart.org.uk/home/about-us/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;900757&#8243;]Based in the Scottish Borders, our Mental Health Services are underpinned by our trauma-informed approach to support delivery. We work with people experiencing mental health issues to live as independently and as holistically as possible. Multi-agency working with a range of statutory and voluntary organizations, including our colleagues at NHS Borders are a key part of the services we deliver, ensuring that the people we work with get the support they need. We work closely with the EFT &amp; Mindfulness Centre who provide accredited training and EFT supervision for our team members and the CPD service who certify [&hellip;]
- [APS Student Support Sessions](https://apositivestart.org.uk/aps-student-support/)
- [Who We Are](https://apositivestart.org.uk/who-we-are/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; style=&#8221;inherited&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1555675677008{border-bottom-width: 1px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;550578&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Who We Are[/vc_custom_heading][vc_gallery el_id=&#8221;gallery-33778&#8243; medias=&#8221;62,7857,7908,7856,7884,7860,7861,7862,7864,7863,7865&#8243; gallery_back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; media_items=&#8221;media|lightbox|original,title,caption,team-social&#8221; screen_lg=&#8221;1000&#8243; screen_md=&#8221;600&#8243; screen_sm=&#8221;480&#8243; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_h_align=&#8221;center&#8221; single_reduced=&#8221;three_quarter&#8221; single_h_position=&#8221;center&#8221; single_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; single_title_dimension=&#8221;h5&#8243; single_border=&#8221;yes&#8221; carousel_rtl=&#8221;&#8221; single_half_padding=&#8221;&#8221; single_title_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; single_title_serif=&#8221;&#8221; single_no_background=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;405496&#8243; gallery_back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; title=&#8221;Who We Are&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [RAPPORT](https://apositivestart.org.uk/rapport/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; style=&#8221;inherited&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1646602431058{border-bottom-width: 1px !important;}&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;174172&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; border_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;right&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;105564&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;900&#8243; separator=&#8221;over&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;251019&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; subheading=&#8221;A Mind-Body Approach to Emotional Healing&#8221;]Coming Soon&#8230;&#8230; Self Discovery for Recovery Project[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;500&#8243; text_italic=&#8221;yes&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;zoom-in&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;201064&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;] &#8220;The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well&#8221;. &#8211; HIPPORCATES [/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;32&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;154110&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;43&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; [&hellip;]
- [Trauma Informed Approaches](https://apositivestart.org.uk/trauma-informed-approaches/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;900&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;capitalize&#8221; text_italic=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;123742&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Before I allow you into my circle of trust&#8230; here&#8217;s what you need to know&#8230;[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; subheading=&#8221;Triggers Due to my experiences, my mind and body responds differently in certain situations and environments. I do not always know what situation or environment will cause the reactions. Very often, these are knee-jerk reactions that happen outside of my awareness, which I am not always able to control. I am hypervigilant, [&hellip;]
- [Complex PTSR](https://apositivestart.org.uk/complex-ptsr/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;140670&#8243;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;159852&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Understanding Complex Trauma[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;212595&#8243;]Traumatic experiences by definition are frightening &amp; overwhelming. At A Positive Start CIC, we seek to explore and understand trauma, distress and human suffering without using medicalisation or pathologisation. The &#8216;D&#8217; in many mental health issues such as CPTSD or PTSD is for &#8216;disorder. The medical term disordered is a condition characterised by a lack of normal functioning. There is a tendency to interpret &#8216;disordered&#8217; as [&hellip;]
- [Are You Trauma Informed?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/4120-2/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; back_image=&#8221;16&#8243; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;80&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;168986&#8243;]A Positive Start CIC[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;capitalize&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;103974&#8243; subheading=&#8221;Trauma Informed TRUST- with Lived Experience Insight&#8221;]Advocating for a Trauma Informed Society[/vc_custom_heading][vc_button size=&#8221;btn-sm&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fapositivestart.org.uk%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact|target:_blank&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;206659&#8243;]Request More Information[/vc_button][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; back_image=&#8221;21&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;80&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_top_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; top_divider_inv=&#8221;tilt-opacity&#8221; shape_top_invert=&#8221;yes&#8221; shape_top_h_use_pixel=&#8221;true&#8221; shape_top_height_percent=&#8221;33&#8243; shape_top_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; shape_top_index=&#8221;0&#8243; shape_top_responsive=&#8221;yes&#8221; shape_top_mobile_hide=&#8221;yes&#8221; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; bottom_divider=&#8221;tilt-opacity&#8221; shape_bottom_flip=&#8221;yes&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;true&#8221; shape_bottom_height_percent=&#8221;33&#8243; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;1&#8243; row_name=&#8221;Sample 6&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;bottom&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; [&hellip;]
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- [Counselling First](https://apositivestart.org.uk/counselling-first-book-online/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;480727&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;] Person-Centred Counselling &amp; Psychotherapy [/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;173999&#8243;]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 [&hellip;]
- [Triggers](https://apositivestart.org.uk/stand-for-triggers/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; separator=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Exploring Triggers[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;4741&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;76&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;72&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]We absorb information from our environment through the 5 senses; 1. Sight | Visual light and colour is detected by cells in the retina at the back of the eye. 2. Sound | Auditory hair cells in the ear move in response to specific frequencies of sound. 3. Taste | Gustatory taste buds on the tongue react to salt, sour, bitter, sweet and umami tastes in our food. 4. Smell | Olfactory special cells in [&hellip;]
- [Downloadable Resources](https://apositivestart.org.uk/resources/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; back_image=&#8221;3980&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;77&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_font=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; subheading=&#8221;We have included a wide range of self-help resources for you to download to use at your leisure. Just click on the desired heading link to download.&#8221;]Downloadable Resources[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;102641&#8243;]5 New Free Self-Help Resources for Members &#8230;.. Wheel of Awareness by Dr Dan Siegel Finding Me  Stress Eating Building True Power Building Self-Esteem Bringing Basic Awareness to your Life &nbsp; Scheduling Something Pleasant Emotional Awareness Meditation Bringing Support and Peace to Pain Boosting Mood with Music Acceptance of our Circumstances Mindful Meditation Guide and Journal Being Still [&hellip;]
- [Communication](https://apositivestart.org.uk/communication/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;4593&#8243; back_attachment=&#8221;inherit&#8221; back_position=&#8221;center center&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;85&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221; back_size=&#8221;100&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;70&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221;]Communication Skills[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Learning effective communication skills is an important step in the healing process. Most communication falls into one of four categories; Passive, Aggressive, Passive-Aggressive, Assertive. Understanding communication and learning how to communicate assertively can have a positive impact on our relationships. Passive communication is timid, self-effacing, withdrawn, avoidant and lacks confidence. Passivity may present as people-pleasing, feeling used and put-on by others. Many victims of emotional abuse are passive communicators. Aggressive communication is [&hellip;]
- [The 3 Cs of Manipulation](https://apositivestart.org.uk/the-3-cs-of-manipulation/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221;]The 3 C&#8217;s of Manipulation[/vc_custom_heading][vc_single_image media=&#8221;4572&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;65&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; shape=&#8221;img-circle&#8221; shadow=&#8221;yes&#8221; shadow_weight=&#8221;xl&#8221;][vc_column_text] Control People who manipulate and abuse others, begin by taking control of the situation. Keen observers, they seek vulnerability in others, instinctively knowing who to target and how. They will use their knowledge, skills, charm, charisma, gaslighting and powers of persuasion to convince people of things that they may not otherwise be inclined to trust.  In Grooming Behaviours, we refer to this as &#8216;The Invisible Seduction&#8217;. Confuse People who manipulator others, aim to confuse. They may overwhelm their victims with unnecessary information, focusing and narrowing their attention [&hellip;]
- [Gaslighting](https://apositivestart.org.uk/gaslighting/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_image=&#8221;4206&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;95&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;169742&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221;]What is Gaslighting?[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; border_color=&#8221;transparent&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]Gaslighting is a form of psychological and emotional abuse that causes victims to doubt and question their own judgement, reality, self-perception and sometimes their sanity. Gas-lighters twist and distort the truth in order to manipulate, confuse and control their victims. The term originates from the 1938 play Gas Light, by Patrick Hamilton which was adapted for film in the 1940&#8217;s. The storyline features a man [&hellip;]
- [Healing](https://apositivestart.org.uk/healing/)
- [Webinar Registration](https://apositivestart.org.uk/webinar-registration/): [vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;3&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;75&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Types of Trauma](https://apositivestart.org.uk/types-of-trauma/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; border_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1555597628314{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_right&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; back_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; back_image=&#8221;4220&#8243; back_repeat=&#8221;repeat-x&#8221; back_attachment=&#8221;scroll&#8221; back_position=&#8221;right center&#8221; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; kburns=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;53&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;4&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; back_size=&#8221;100&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221;][/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Types of Trauma[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;131874&#8243;]Trauma can be experienced in a number of different settings. Settings might include home life, at school, the work place, in the wider community or in a war zone. Whether an event is deemed traumatic is defined by the &#8216;subjective experience&#8217; of it rather than the [&hellip;]
- [S.T.A.N.D© - Trauma Informed Response](https://apositivestart.org.uk/s-t-a-n-d-trauma-informed-response/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221; column_width_pixel=&#8221;1600&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;5/12&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h5&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;capitalize&#8221; separator=&#8221;under&#8221; separator_color=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; subheading=&#8221;Stop, Think, Act, Never Doubt&#8221;] S.T.A.N.D© [/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text] “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” &#8211; Viktor E. Frankl [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]S.T.A.N.D© is an acronym for Stop, Think, Act, Never Doubt &#8211;   trauma informed response to be applied in situations when an individual may triggered by the behaviours of others.  I [&hellip;]
- [Trauma Informed Membership](https://apositivestart.org.uk/trauma-informed-membership/)
- [Membership](https://apositivestart.org.uk/membership/)
- [Home Staging](https://apositivestart.org.uk/home-staging/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;56&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;90&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; row_name=&#8221;Hello&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;4&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;4&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221;]Welcome to A Positive Start[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221;]Supporting, Encouraging &amp; Empowering &#8211; Mind, Body &amp; Soul.[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]A Positive Start is an asset locked, profit for social purpose, Community Interest Company.  Founded on a People First philosophy, supporting and reinvesting in people. Based in the Scottish Borders, Our services include Counselling, Holistic Therapy &amp; Spiritual Healing, CPD certified Bespoke Training, Coaching, Mentoring &amp; Personal Development. We deliver [&hellip;]
- [What is Overwhelm?](https://apositivestart.org.uk/3861-2/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Overwhelm![/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]Overwhelm is an emotional state in which we are struggling to deal with the current situation. Overwhelm can happen to anyone at any time, especially given how busy society has become in recent years. Overwhelm can happen for a number of reasons including (but not limited to), Underlying physical or mental health conditions. Issues in relationships. Demands from occupation or career; Being overworked when you are trying to do more than you [&hellip;]
- [Self Help](https://apositivestart.org.uk/self-help/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Self Help[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;189979&#8243;]Learning about ourselves and our internal landscape; understanding how and why we think and feel the way we do, is an important step in the recovery process.  I have put together some self help techniques and exercises that have helped me on my journey and that I hope you will find them to be useful tools to help you on yours. Remember, Emotional Healing from trauma takes time, hard [&hellip;]
- [Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/adverse-childhood-experiences-aces/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;519751&#8243;]What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)? The word ACEs is an acronym for Adverse Childhood Experiences. Experiences in childhood that adversely impact our health, wellbeing, learning and development. ACEs are sometimes referred to as childhood trauma. The ACEs study was a collaborative effort between Kaiser Permanente (San Diego, CA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA) designed to examine the long-term relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a variety of health behaviours and health outcomes in adulthood. An underlying thesis of the ACE Study is that stressful or traumatic childhood experiences have negative neurodevelopment. [&hellip;]
- [Disclaimer for A Positive Start CIC](https://apositivestart.org.uk/disclaimer/): If you require any more information or have any questions about our site&#8217;s disclaimer, please feel free to contact us by email at info@apositivestart.org.uk. All the information on this website &#8211; https://apositivestart.org.uk &#8211; is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. A Positive Start CIC does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website (A Positive Start CIC), is strictly at your own risk. A Positive Start CIC will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with [&hellip;]
- [NLP](https://apositivestart.org.uk/nlp/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221;]NLP[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;] Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) [/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]NLP is the practice of understanding how people organize their thoughts, feelings, language, and behaviour to produce the results they do. NLP provides people with a methodology to model outstanding performances achieved by geniuses and leaders in their field. NLP is also used for personal development,  success in business, and in therapy. A key element of NLP is that we form our unique internal [&hellip;]
- [Emotional Freedom Technique](https://apositivestart.org.uk/emotional-healing/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221; shape_dividers=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;103993&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;4&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; subheading=&#8221;At A Positive Start CIC, we understand that true healing involves mind, body, and soul. That&#8217;s why we offer a range of energy healing techniques as gifts for our clients &#8211; powerful tools you can use to support your journey to wholeness and balance. Energy healing can help you: &#8211; Release emotional blockages &#8211; Soothe a dysregulated nervous system &#8211; Reconnect with your authentic self Restore [&hellip;]
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- [Thoughts Become Things](https://apositivestart.org.uk/thoughts-become-things/): Well this is embarrassing! You&#8217;re Early &amp; We&#8217;re Late! We are still updating our content Come Back Soon :0) &#8211; It&#8217;s worth the wait!
- [The Culture of Narcissism](https://apositivestart.org.uk/the-culture-of-narcissism/): [vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text] NPD In recent years the term Narcissistic Abuse has become a popular term used to describe a wide range of negative traits, from selfishness to arrogance. It is important to note that an individual  displaying Narcissistic traits doesn&#8217;t necessarily have a Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). It is  unwise to diagnose or label someone as having a personality disorder without first seeking a professional medical opinion.  NPD is a mental health condition that should only be diagnosed by a qualified psychologist. A Balancing Act If you imagine we are all on a [&hellip;]
- [The Impact of Learned Behaviour](https://apositivestart.org.uk/abusive-relationships/the-impact-of-learned-behaviour/): [vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;149308&#8243;][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;108617&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;213920&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;377581&#8243;]Early Experience[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h4&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;246575&#8243;]Most of the relationships throughout our lives influence our behaviours, both positively and negatively, frequently both. We are constantly learning and absorbing new information, new language, perspectives, ideas and beliefs from each other. Politics, Fashion, Music, Food, Hobbies &amp; Interests, Goals, Habits and much, much more. Original thought is [&hellip;]
- [Healing the Soul](https://apositivestart.org.uk/healing-the-soul/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;0&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; el_class=&#8221;row-letaral section-lateral row-horizontal-display overflow-hidden shape-bg additions&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;6&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; font_family=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11069&#8243; back_attachment=&#8221;fixed&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;89&#8243; radius=&#8221;lg&#8221; shadow=&#8221;lg&#8221; shadow_darker=&#8221;yes&#8221; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;384730&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;800&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Where to Begin?[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;2&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/4&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_reduced=&#8221;yes&#8221; subheading=&#8221;Understanding how our thoughts and internal language impacts our feelings and actions.&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;488989&#8243;]Think, [&hellip;]
- [Abusive Relationships](https://apositivestart.org.uk/abusive-relationships-2/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_gallery][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221;]LIFTING THE FOG[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243;]Before you can begin to cope with an abusive relationship, you must first be able to recognise that it&#8217;s abusive.[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221;]The very nature of the abusive relationship can leave victims confused and uncertain of which way to turn.  They will often question whether the relationship is indeed abusive, or if the problem is with them; &#8220;I&#8217;m over-sensitive&#8221; &#8221; I take things the wrong way&#8221; or &#8221; [&hellip;]
- [Narcissistic Relationships](https://apositivestart.org.uk/narcissistic-relationships/): Romantic Relationships Often referred to as Seducer or Casanova Narcissists. The first thing to say is, it is not wise to diagnose or label people with a personality disorder. NPD is a mental health condition that should only be diagnosed by a qualified psychologist. With that said, if you are in a relationship with someone who you believe is displaying the traits of NPD, it is important to educate yourself so you understand what you are dealing with, and learn how you can protect yourself. What signs should I be looking for if I think I am in a romantic [&hellip;]
- [Narcissistic Personality Disorder](https://apositivestart.org.uk/abusive-relationships/narcissistic-personality-disorder/): What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? (NPD) NPD is a mental health condition that usually develops in adolescence or early adulthood and is characterized by; Persistent Grandiosity A superior sense of self/Inflated sense of self-importance/ arrogant Abuse of Power &amp; Control/ Impersonally exploitative behaviour A need for Excessive admiration and praise A fragile self-esteem Lack of empathy/ An inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs of others Sense of Entitlement/Pretentious and boastful A belief that they are special &amp; unique Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, Ideal love Arrogant &amp; Demanding Reacts negatively/Aggressively to criticism Encounter difficulties in relationships Accept [&hellip;]
- [Abusive Relationships](https://apositivestart.org.uk/abusive-relationships/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_gallery][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;528&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221;]LIFTING THE FOG[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;108233&#8243;]Before we can begin to cope with a toxic relationship, we must first be able to recognise that it&#8217;s toxic.[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;840588&#8243;] The very nature of the toxic or abusive relationship can leave victims confused and uncertain of which way to turn.  They will often question whether the relationship is indeed abusive, or if the problem is with them; &#8220;I&#8217;m over-sensitive&#8221; &#8221; I take things [&hellip;]
- [All Workshops](https://apositivestart.org.uk/all-workshops/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading]All Workshops[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]Looking for your profile and account settings? View your account here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][uncode_index el_id=&#8221;index-187827&#8243; loop=&#8221;size:10|order_by:date|post_type:lp_course|taxonomy_count:10&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; screen_lg=&#8221;1000&#8243; screen_md=&#8221;600&#8243; screen_sm=&#8221;480&#8243; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_padding=&#8221;2&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Contact](https://apositivestart.org.uk/contact/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; back_image=&#8221;907&#8243; parallax=&#8221;yes&#8221; kburns=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;75&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;bottom&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; mobile_height=&#8221;360&#8243;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky=&#8221;yes&#8221; width=&#8221;3/12&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;2&#8243; mobile_visibility=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221;][/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;-4&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; radius=&#8221;sm&#8221; shadow=&#8221;lg&#8221; width=&#8221;9/12&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243;]Contact Us[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; [&hellip;]
- [S.T.A.N.D© Parents As Protectors](https://apositivestart.org.uk/stand-parents-as-protectors/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-gyho&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inverted-device-order&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;788483&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;900&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;900&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; separator_color=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator=&#8221;under&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;838119&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]STAND[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;800&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;capitalize&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; subheading=&#8221;STAND is a trauma-informed program built on lived experience insight, designed to empower parents, carers, and guardians in their role as protectors. Engaging with such a deeply important and complex topic requires courage, and the very fact that you are here speaks to your dedication to the safety and wellbeing of children—a commitment that truly [&hellip;]
- [Training](https://apositivestart.org.uk/training/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_raw_html]JTVCbGVhcm5fcHJlc3NfZmVhdHVyZWRfY291cnNlcyU1RCUyMA==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
- [Counselling](https://apositivestart.org.uk/counselling-first/): [vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;97&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;165448&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;11021&#8243; back_position=&#8221;center top&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;39&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;174330&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-nhtu&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;905017&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Person-Centred Support[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;241403&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Life often thrusts us into challenging situations without warning, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, unprepared, and unsure of how to cope. Sometimes, the cause is clear, such as the loss of a loved one, relationship difficulties, illness, job-related stress, or intense public scrutiny. Other times, the reasons may be less apparent, or it may seem as [&hellip;]
- [Workshop Profile](https://apositivestart.org.uk/workshop-profile/)
- [Workshop Checkout](https://apositivestart.org.uk/workshop-checkout/)
- [Home](https://apositivestart.org.uk/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;95&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; back_image=&#8221;13067&#8243; back_position=&#8221;left center&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;70&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152998&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;146763&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;101562&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; subheading=&#8221;Person-Centred, Trauma-Informed Support for Healing and Growth across the Lifespan&#8221;]Holistic Healing-Mind, Body, Soul[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; text_color=&#8221;color-nhtu&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;606950&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;] Located in the historic town of Hawick in the picturesque Scottish Borders, A Positive Start CIC (APS CIC) is a trauma‑informed emotional health and wellbeing organisation dedicated to supporting community mental health. We are committed to empowering individuals, families, and communities through trauma‑informed and [&hellip;]
- [My account](https://apositivestart.org.uk/my-account/)
- [Checkout](https://apositivestart.org.uk/checkout/)
- [Cart](https://apositivestart.org.uk/cart/)
- [Shop](https://apositivestart.org.uk/shop-2-copy/shop-2/shop/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_image=&#8221;10246&#8243; back_attachment=&#8221;scroll&#8221; back_position=&#8221;center center&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;25&#8243; overlay_color_blend=&#8221;soft-light&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;935998&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;600&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;141589&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Welcome to our Vintage style thrift Store, raising funds to support community mental health in the Scottish Borders[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;light&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;375441&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;accent&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_italic=&#8221;yes&#8221; sub_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;118535&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; subheading=&#8221;Our vintage style thrift store is due to open on Monday 5th June 2023 at the Sandbed [&hellip;]
- [Privacy Policy](https://apositivestart.org.uk/privacy-policy/): Who we are Our website address is: https://apositivestart.org.uk  What personal data we collect and why we collect it Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the [&hellip;]

## Products

- [Make A Donation](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/make-a-donation/): Thank you supporting the expansion our trauma-informed emotional regulation initiatives within the community.    Your generous contribution enables us to continue creating trauma-informed, emotionally secure environments where individuals can heal, grow, thrive. Every donation, whether large or small, directly contributes to the of resources,, community programs that have a meaningful impact.    We sincerely appreciate your trust our mission. Together we can foster a compassionate world where emotional regulation and healing are accessible to everyone.    Thank you joining us on this important journey.
- [STAND - Parents As Protectors Workshop](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/stand-parents-as-protectors/): We believe all parents and caregivers should have access to this vital information, which is why we offer this workshop to parents and caregivers for Free.    To continue providing this support, we rely on donations. If you're able, please consider making a contribution to help us reach more families and keep children safe from harm.    Thank you for your support.    We ask that organisations contact us to discuss funding for frontline professionals.
- [Trauma Informed T.R.U.S.T. Framework Poster](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/trauma-informed-t-r-u-s-t-framework-poster/): A3 Glossy Finished Poster    Trauma Informed T.R.U.S.T Framework    Ideal for Staff Room, Office, Classroom or Therapy Room    Creating Safe &amp; Supportive Spaces for Healing &amp; Growth    Designed by A Positive Start CIC    Royal Mail 2nd Class Delivery
- [Mindfulness Meditation Guide & Journal](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/11863/): Transform your well-being with Mindfulness.com's 12-Page Mindful Meditation Guide &amp; Journal    Accessible to Everyone: Downloadable with a "Name Your Price" donation (suggested price: £4).    After purchasing, you have 90 days to download your copy.
- [Online Counselling Session](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/online-counselling-session/): Person-Centred therapy sessions for international clients (Ages 18+)    Our service is built on trust, we ask clients to choose the most affordable price for them, with our Name your price service starting from just £50.00 to £200 per session    &nbsp;
- [Initial Assessment Online](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/initial-assessment/): Person-Centred Initial Assessment session for international clients (Ages 18+)    An initial assessment online with one of our accredited therapists from just £25.00
- [Trauma Informed Membership](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/trauma-informed-membership/):    	Bi-Newsletter &amp; Blog   	Access to CPD Partner Libraries   	Online Courses, Workshops &amp; Materials   	Discounts, Updates, Guidance &amp; Support   	TRUST Course &amp; Emotional Healing Workshops   	Online Consultation &amp; Community Support  
- [Patron Membership](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/patron-membership/): Thank you &amp; Welcome to your APS Patron Membership     	1 x Patron Member Welcome Letter   	1 x Downloadable Worksheet   	Access to Blog Posts   	Bi-Annual Newsletter (Dec &amp; June)   	APS Community Thrift Store 20% Discount Card   	Online Workshops Discount  
- [Student Membership](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/student-membership/):       Learning is a life long journey which is why our student membership is suitable for learners of all ages. Whether you are starting out professionally or are curiously self-aware, this fairly priced package is rammed full of useful information and offers excellent value for money.    Student Welcome Pack (downloads)     	Student Welcome Letter   	Vision Worksheet   	Self-Care Worksheet   	Brief Guide to Trauma pdf   	Instructions for anonymising client notes pdf   	Client Session Plan pdf   	Ethical &amp; Professional Issues in Counselling Self Assessment pdf   	50% discount to our Trauma- Informed TRUST online course, designed to deepen your understanding and practical skills in trauma-sensitive practices.   	and more...        
- [Therapy Session](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/therapy-session/): 60 minutes Counselling/Therapy Session.    Payment in advance of pre-booked appointments only.    Please only pay for a session if you are an existing client who has attended a free initial assessment and your therapist has booked a next appointment with you at your last session.    Add your chosen donation into the basket add 1 to the quantity box, add to basket - you will see 1 appear in your basket. A new secure payment window will open for adding your card details.    Thank you.
- [Initial Assessment Template (by Donation)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/initial-assessment-session-notes-template-pdf/): Initial Assessment Template (by Donation)  Download &amp; Print  &nbsp;
- [Becoming Self-Aware Worksheet](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/becoming-self-aware-worksheet/): Becoming Self-Aware is a reflective practice worksheet that can be used by Therapists working with clients, or as a self help tool .    Downloadable Worksheets by Donation created by A Positive Start CIC.  Exercises and Worksheets created to assist you on your healing journey...     	Name your Price   	Add to Basket   	Purchase   	Click on Link following Purchase and Download    Thank you for supporting our project, advocating for a trauma informed society....    Positive about community mental health &amp; wellbeing
- [Therapy Session Template (by Donation)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/therapy-session-notes-template/): Therapy Session Template (by Donation)  Download &amp; Print
- [Senses Walk Worksheet (by Donation)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/senses-walk-worksheet/): Exercises and Worksheets created to assist you on your healing journey...    Downloadable Worksheet.    Senses Walk Worksheet- Mindfulness Worksheet created by A Positive Start CIC.
- [Finding Me Worksheet (by Donation)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/finding-me-worksheet/): Finding Me - Mindfulness Worksheet (by Donation)  created by Mindfulness Exercises    Download &amp; Print
- [Building Self-Esteem Worksheet](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/building-self-esteem-worksheet/): Exercises and Worksheets created to support you on your healing journey...    Downloadable Worksheet BY DONATION    Building Self-Esteem - Mindfulness Worksheet created by Mindfulness Exercise
- [Stress Eating Worksheet (by Donation)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/stress-eating-mindfulness-exercise/): Stress Eating - Mindfulness Worksheet (by Donation)  Created by Mindfulness Exercise    Download &amp; Print
- [Bringing Basic Awareness Worksheet (by Donation)](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/bringing-basic-awareness/): Bringing Basic Awareness to Your Life- Mindfulness Worksheet  created by Mindfulness Exercises.    &nbsp;
- [Trauma Informed TRUST with Lived Experience Insight](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/trauma-informed-trust-with-lived-experience-insight/): This course is called Trauma informed TRUST with lived experience insight and is  CPD Accredited by the EFT &amp; Mindfulness Centre. We encourage you to check out the EFT &amp; Mindfulness Centre    
- [RAPPORT GUIDE to SELF-CARE](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/rapport-guide-to-self-care/): The word Rapport means to build an harmonious, loving relationship&#8230; At A Positive Start CIC RAPPORT is an acronym guiding us on the journey of self-discovery for recovery. Recognise Accept Process Practice Observe Reflect Transform Many of us, for many reasons spend much of our time neglecting ourselves and putting other peoples needs and feelings before our own. The first step in the recovery journey is self-care, which many people find incredibly difficult. This 11 page downloadable resource provides a simple guide in building an harmonious, loving relationship with self.
- [Me & My Inner Child Workbook](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/my-journey-to-me/): Me &amp; My Inner Child - The Journey Workbook  Download &amp; Print
- [Self Discovery for Recovery - Workbook 2 Behaviours](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/self-discovery-for-recovery-workbook-2-behaviours/): Self Discovery for Recovery Workbook 2 - Behaviours.    After Purchase, Download and work through it online. Printable exercises are created in greyscale so you can print them off without using too much ink.
- [Self Discovery for Recovery Workbook 1 - Triggers](https://apositivestart.org.uk/product/self-discovery-for-recovery-workbook-1-triggers/): Self Discovery for Recovery Workbook 1 - Triggers.    Self Discovery for Recovery Workbooks are designed for you to work through at your own pace and in your own time.    The first book in the series focuses on Triggers and is packed full with 67 pages of useful information and exercises to assist you on your healing journey.    Use Download link after purchase to receive your copy.


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