Who We Are
Evie Logan
I’m Evie, a qualified trauma psychotherapist working part-time at A Positive Start CIC. I work integratively to adapt each approach to the need of every client, whilst interconnecting trauma-informed skills into my practice.
Alex Cameron
I am Alex Cameron and I have been a volunteer in A Positive Start's Community Thrift Shop since
July 2023. I have lived in Hawick for the past five years after relocating from Edinburgh
Lorna Peddie
My name is Lorna Peddie. I am a lived experience practitioner (LEP) at A Positive Start CIC.
I have experience across substance use services of around 20 years.
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Liz Sneddon
I am Liz Sneddon, local to Hawick, I have been a Director at A Positive Start CIC since December 2019.
Coco Chanel Crozier
I am Coco Crozier, general dogs body and professional hugger at A Positive Start CIC since 2018.
Jake Bown
I'm a full stack developer and Head of Digital Solutions at @yarringtonltd. I built the website along with numerous digital systems now in use at A Positive Start CIC. I provide ongoing IT support for the team and am editor for the Deb-On-Air, Hearts and Minds Podcast.
Andy Crozier
I am Andy, Local to Hawick. Married to Deborah, I've been involved as both a volunteer and a Director at A Positive start since 2017.
Christine Kyle
I am Christine, I live locally in Hawick and have been a Director at A Positive Start CIC since its inception in 2017.
Sharon Paxton
I am Sharon, an Online NLP Master Practitioner, Confidence Coach and Director at A Positive Start CIC since 2019.
As a Lived Experience Expert Practitioner myself, I came to my profession during my own journey of recovery following a difficult childhood that created adversity throughout adulthood. I was told on countless occasions from a young age that I was never going to make anything of myself.
Deborah J Crozier
I am Deborah Crozier, a person-centred counsellor (CFACCPH) and a Chartered Fellow member of the Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists, and Hypnotherapists. I founded A Positive Start CIC in 2008, which began as a trauma-informed training program and evolved into a Community Interest Company in Hawick in 2017. My passion for learning is ongoing; I am currently pursuing a postgraduate master's degree in contemporary drug and alcohol studies at UWS and am preparing to release my first book 'When I'm Gone'. This book delves into the experiences and aftermath of non-fatal strangulation in domestic violence settings and the subsequent healing journey. It will be available in September 2024 on our Lived Learning website.
Learning is accessible to anyone with curiosity and a quest for answers, so don't be misled by the illusion of intelligence. Remember, you are the expert of your own life; you understand your feelings, what is effective for you, and what is not. Learning grants us all a deeper comprehension, and for my team at APS and me, it is instrumental in perpetually enhancing the services we offer to our community. We strongly advocate for and support your curiosity about your mental health and wellbeing, assisting you on your path to self-discovery. There is substantial research available to aid recovery. I highly recommend Dr. Dan Siegel's comprehensive Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) available online through the Mindsight Institute, Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, and Dr. Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing and Trauma Recovery. For readers, Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk’s 'The Body Keeps the Score' is an insightful starting point. Fortunately, the latest developments in trauma knowledge are promising and provide significant progress for individuals overcoming trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Response
