Testimonials
What People Say About A Positive Start CIC
“A Positive Start gave me more than therapy — they gave me hope.”
“I’m in my 50s and finally in tune with who I am.”
“I am moving forward in a way that was never possible before.”
“I now believe I am not broken.”
“This course opened my eyes in ways 10 years of professional training never did.”
“I am back in full-time employment and enjoying my life again.”
Across counselling, early-intervention pathways, safeguarding education, and community programmes, people often describe feeling:
✔ heard
✔ safe
✔ understood
✔ more confident in themselves
✔ more connected to others
✔ better able to respond rather than react
Many people arrive feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Over time, they begin to find movement again — in confidence, understanding, and connection.
Sometimes change begins simply by having the right space to start.
1-2-1 Therapy Support
“I’m in my 50s and finally, I’m in tune with who I am.”
Last summer I was terrified to leave my house. I often stayed in one place in my living room and only went out when absolutely necessary. I felt lost, numb, angry, and unable to look ahead beyond daily tasks.
When I first came to A Positive Start I would arrive early but stand outside pacing, building the courage to come in.
Over time there was a shift.
I started to feel comfortable and heard — a feeling of safety I had not experienced in any other support setting. As my confidence grew, I began creating art again, writing again, and going outside more. I started to see that I had choices.
A Positive Start gave me more than therapy — they gave me hope.
“My experience with Deborah Crozier and A Positive Start has been life-changing.”
Before I met Debs I felt completely broken and without hope.
From the surroundings and atmosphere to the patience and encouragement of the team, nothing has felt more right.
I am neurodivergent and find new environments very difficult, but the team adapted the journey around me. That made the biggest difference.
I am moving forward in a way that was never possible before.
“The emotional support I received at A Positive Start has changed my life.”
I had always wanted to try therapy, but stigma and cost were barriers.
From my first session, I realised something was different. I began to understand myself in ways I never had before. It felt like someone had shown me the door out of a locked room I didn’t realise I could leave.
Everyone should experience this level of support at least once in their life.
“I am now back in full-time employment and enjoying my life again.”
For years my anxiety was severe and medication only masked the problem.
The holistic approach at A Positive Start helped me understand the root causes and reconnect with my life. The support was adapted to my needs and helped me move forward in a sustainable way.
The staff are patient, caring, and genuinely committed to helping people recover.
Supervised Student Counselling
“The compassion and genuine desire to support people at A Positive Start CIC is something you truly have to experience to understand.”
“A compassionate counsellor helped me talk through past and present difficulties, validating my experiences and making a positive impact beyond my own life.”
“I felt safe in my sessions and experienced my counsellor as warm, empathetic, professional, and easy to talk to.
I felt listened to and understood, and I felt comfortable and well supported working with a student counsellor.”
“A Positive Start CIC provides a clean, comfortable, relaxed space. The staff are warm and welcoming, and their lived experience brings a genuine compassion you really have to experience to understand.”
“I can’t thank the team enough for supporting me through some difficult periods in my life and helping me reach a better place.”
“We talked about helpful tools and strategies, and it was good to refresh some approaches I had used in the past during difficult times. The support I received created a space where I felt comfortable enough to share my struggles and also begin recognising some of the positive things in my life again.”
“I felt well supported and appreciated throughout my time with A Positive Start CIC. Very satisfied with the service I received.
STAND – Parents as Protectors (Online Programme)
“I have a social work degree and over 10 years practice with children and families and have never been taught this perspective before.”
This course opened my eyes to how grooming behaviours are normalised in our culture and how easily instincts can be overridden. It highlighted how important nervous system awareness is in protecting children.
“This course gives you the opportunity to understand yourself as a parent in a completely new way.”
STAND helped me reflect on how my own regulation affects safeguarding decisions and gave me meaningful tools to strengthen my protective instincts.
Knowledge becomes action. It starts with us — and this is a gift.
“My eyes have been completely opened from new perspectives — absolutely for the better.”
Even with previous professional experience in social care, I realised my understanding of grooming dynamics had been limited. This course helped me understand manipulation tactics, barriers to disclosure, and the importance of trusting instincts.
STAND is compassionate, practical, and empowering for parents and carers at any stage of their journey.
Trauma-Informed TRUST Course (Online)
“Excellent — 100%”
This introduction to trauma has been incredibly informative and offered valuable insights about myself and others. It provides a strong foundation for understanding triggers and learning how to reconnect and regulate more effectively.
“Everyone should do this course.”
The combination of videos, worksheets, quizzes, and lived experience examples created a deeper understanding of trauma responses that might otherwise be misunderstood.
It helped me respond differently to others and to myself.
“This course completely changed how I understand trust.”
For a long time, I understood trust as something based on logic, shared goals, or professional roles. This course completely shifted my perspective. I learned that trust is not just a mental decision — it is a physiological experience.
Understanding trust through a nervous-system-informed lens helped me recognise that when I quickly don’t feel safe, it isn’t a personal failure or being “too sensitive”. It is my body responding to protect me. That insight alone has been incredibly powerful.
This course has fundamentally changed how I understand safety, trust, and my own responses. I would highly recommend it to others.
“Great course, easy to follow and full of valuable knowledge.”
The course was well structured, clearly delivered, and focused on important issues. I found it engaging, practical, and very useful, and would strongly recommend it to others.
Reconnect & Regulate Programme
“I am more aware of my nervous system and can respond rather than react.”
Checking SUD levels helped me understand my emotions more clearly. The grounding exercises supported my sleep and daily regulation.
I now believe I am not broken. I am worthy of living freely and with peace and joy.
“It was an honour to be part of something truly special.”
The course was thoughtfully designed and clearly delivered. It helped me understand neuroception and how my body responds to stress. With practice I now feel able to change old patterns and beliefs.
I think this information should be known by everyone — the world would be a better place.
Why People Choose A Positive Start CIC
Across counselling, early-intervention programmes, safeguarding education, and community learning spaces, people often describe experiencing:
- feeling heard without judgement
- increased confidence and self-understanding
- practical regulation strategies
- renewed hope and direction
- safer relationships with themselves and others
These experiences continue to shape the growing wellbeing community developing through A Positive Start CIC across the Scottish Borders