As A Positive Start CIC moves into new premises at the end of May 2026, we are introducing clearer session fee structures to help ensure the long-term sustainability of local support.

For many years, a large proportion of our work has been offered free of charge through funded provision or where employers have supported access to sessions. In the absence of this funding, we now need to introduce standard fees to help maintain safe, consistent therapeutic services within the community.

We recognise that some people have previously accessed support through funded or voluntary provision. Wherever funding becomes available, we will continue to offer reduced or supported places wherever possible.

Introducing standard fees helps ensure the service remains accessible and available to the community for the long term.

Private counselling for individuals across Scotland typically ranges between £40 and £90 per session. At A Positive Start CIC, we aim to keep counselling accessible, ethical, and sustainable for our community while continuing to offer support that reflects the values of a Community Interest Company.

Alongside our standard session fees, we offer reduced-cost and funded places wherever possible. However, these depend on external funding and are not always available.

Some people are referred to A Positive Start CIC by NHS teams, GPs, wellbeing services, social work, employers, or other partner organisations. While we work collaboratively with these services, we are not an NHS-funded provider, and referrals do not automatically include funded sessions.

In previous years, a significant amount of support at A Positive Start CIC was offered free of charge through external funding or through time given voluntarily while other employment made this possible. As the organisation grows and becomes more established, this is no longer sustainable. Introducing standard session fees helps ensure the service can continue to operate safely and remain available to the community long term.

Like all professional services, counselling involves trained practitioners giving their time, skill, and care. Where support is described as “free,” this is almost always because a funder, employer, or partner organisation is covering the cost on someone’s behalf.

If funding becomes available to support your sessions, we will always let you know. If you are unsure what applies in your situation, we are always happy to talk through the options with you.

Standard session: £55.00 (60 mins)
Individual counselling offers a safe, supportive space to explore experiences, strengthen emotional awareness, and develop confidence in your own regulation and decision-making.
This fee reflects not only the session time, but also professional supervision, training, safeguarding responsibilities, preparation, and ongoing development that support safe practice.

Standard session: £75.00 (60 mins)
Couples sessions support communication, understanding, and emotional safety within relationships.
These sessions involved additional preparation and relational work between perspectives, which is reflected in the session fee.

For those who would like to commit to a short course of support, we offer a reduced block booking rate.
Individual counselling block (6 sessions) £300
Block sessions help support continuity and allow space to work more steadily together over time.
Block bookings are payable in advance via #myclienthub and used within an agreed timeframe.