Our Individual Standard Therapy Fee is £55.00 (60-mins)
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 or through funded provision wherever possible. These changes help us continue offering community support while maintaining safe, consistent therapeutic services.
We recognise that some people have previously accessed support through funded or voluntary provision. Wherever funding is available, we will continue to offer reduced or supported places. Introducing standard fees helps ensure the service can remain available to the community long into the future.
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.
We offer a transparent pricing structure so people know what to expect. As a Community Interest Company, we offer standard, reduced-cost and funded support wherever possible.
Some people are referred to A Positive Start CIC by NHS teams, GPs, Wellbeing services, Social work or other partner organisations. While we work collaboratively with these services, we are not an NHS-funded provider.
This means that referrals do not automatically include funded sessions.
Unless funding has been agreed in advance through a specific programme or partner service, standard session fees will apply. If funding is available for your support, we will always let you know.
If you are unsure, we are always happy to talk through options with you.
Individual Counselling
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.
Couples Counselling
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.
Block Booking Option
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.
What your session includes
A therapy session involves much more than the time spent together in the room.
Behind each session sits:
+ Professional training and qualifications
+ Ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
+ Clinical supervision to ensure safe practice
+ Safeguarding responsibilities
+ Professional memberships and insurance
+ Preparation before sessions
+ Reflective notes afterwards
+ Communication with other services where appropriate
+ Letters supporting care where needed
As a Community Interest Company practitioner working locally, the session fee also contributes to:
+ Room costs and utilities
+ Resources and materials
+ Postgraduate study and research
+ Outreach and partnership work
+ Administration and systems
+ Tax and National Insurance
Your session supports the continuation of the service as a whole
Concession Rates
We recognise that some people may need additional flexibility. A limited number of reduced-cost places are available:
£45.00 per session
£35.00 per session
These are intended for individuals who are currently experiencing financial difficulty.
Concession places are offered where available and reviewed periodically to ensure we can continue supporting as many people as possible.
Donation-Based Student Counselling
From time to time, we offer donation-based sessions with supervised student counsellors.
These sessions:
+ are supported by qualified practitioners
+ provide safe, structured therapeutic space
+ help increase access within the community
+ support the development of future counsellors
Availability varies depending on placement periods.
Supporting the wider community
A Positive Start CIC exists for community benefit.
Many people access support through:
+ Funded counselling places
+ Practicum student placement hours (donation-based)
+ Survivor support spaces
+ Free workshops and training
+ Volunteering opportunities
When someone pays for therapy, it helps make this wider support possible.
A commitment to fairness
For many years, a significant amount of our support has been offered free of charge wherever funding made this possible, and we remain committed to keeping services as accessible as we can.
At the same time, sustaining safe, consistent local support means working within a structure that allows the organisation to continue and grow.
Charging a fair professional rate helps us to:
+ maintain reliable counselling services in the community
+ continue developing our knowledge and training
+ meet professional standards and responsibilities
+ extend support to more people over time
If cost is a concern, we will always explore options where funding is available, including reduced-cost, donation-based, or funded places.
Please feel welcome to get in touch to discuss what may be possible.
We remain committed to:
✔ fairness
✔ accessibility
✔ transparency
✔ community support
✔ trauma-informed practice
Where funding exists, we will always try to reduce barriers to access.