Therapy at A Positive Start CIC
A therapy session involves more than the time spent together in the room. It offers a consistent, confidential space where you can feel heard, understood, and supported without judgement.
Sessions are guided by person-centred principles and trauma-informed practice and may support:
• emotional understanding
• nervous system awareness
• confidence in decision-making
• self-compassion
• relationship safety
• recovery from overwhelm or stress responses
• greater clarity and stability over time
Behind each session also sits:
• professional training and qualifications
• ongoing clinical supervision
• safeguarding responsibilities
• continuing professional development
• preparation and reflective notes
• communication with services where appropriate
• insurance and professional memberships
Individual Counselling
We offer a supported contribution structure depending on circumstances:
Standard Rate
£55 per session
£300 for a six-session starter block (paid in advance)
Supported Rate
£45 per session
£240 for a six-session block (paid in advance)
Access Rate
£35 per session
£180 for a six-session block (paid in advance)
If you are unsure which rate applies to you, we are happy to talk this through together.
Block sessions are payable in advance via #MyClientHub and normally used within an agreed timeframe so the work can develop at a steady and supportive pace.
Monthly Support Memberships
Some people prefer regular ongoing support rather than working in time-limited blocks.
Membership provides a consistent therapy space each month at a reduced session rate, while supporting continuity of care and the wider work of A Positive Start CIC within the community. Weekly and fortnightly memberships are offered with a minimum three-month commitment to support continuity of therapeutic work.
Weekly Therapy Membership
£160 per month
Includes weekly sessions (£40 per session) and flexible scheduling support
Fortnightly Membership
£80 per month
Includes two sessions each month (£40 per session) and priority booking
Monthly Continuity Membership
£50 per month
Includes one session each month and helps maintain a steady connection with your therapist over time
Place-Holding Option
Some clients prefer to pause regular sessions while keeping their connection with the service open.
A light place-holding contribution of £10–£20 per month helps retain priority access and makes it easier to return to regular sessions when the time feels right.
This option does not include sessions but helps keep your place within the service available during quieter periods.
Monthly continuity membership is flexible and can be reviewed as your needs change.
Couples Counselling
Couples counselling sessions support communication, understanding, and emotional safety within relationships.
Because relationship work benefits from consistency and time to explore patterns together, couples counselling is usually offered as a structured block of 8 or 12 sessions following an initial consultation.
Community Rate (within block sessions)
£40 per session
8-session block: £320
12-session block: £480
Full Rate (within block sessions)
£70 per session
8-session block: £560
12-session block: £840
Blocks are paid in advance and normally used within an agreed timeframe of three to five months, allowing the work to develop at a steady and supportive pace.
Where appropriate, a limited number of community-rate places are available.
12-Session Supported Student Counsellor Sessions
Some clients choose to begin counselling through our 12-session supported placement pathway with a supervised student counsellor.
These placements form part of professional training and are carefully structured to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic experience while increasing access to counselling within the community.
Sessions are offered on a supported-contribution basis at £10–£25 per session. Funded places are available at times when external funding permits.
Student counsellors:
are in the final stage of their professional training
receive regular internal supervision within A Positive Start CIC
receive external supervision through their training provider
work within professional and ethical practice standards
are supported throughout their placement by qualified practitioners
This structured 12-session pathway allows space to build trust, explore experiences steadily, and develop practical understanding over time.
Availability depends on placement capacity and suitability and can be discussed during your initial consultation.
Supporting Accessible and Fair Referrals
Many referrals are received without funding attached. Community-supported sessions help us continue to welcome these referrals while maintaining safe and sustainable support across the community.
Concession Rates
From time to time, additional funded counselling places become available through external grants. Where funding is available, we will always share updates.
Supporting the Wider Community
A Positive Start CIC exists for community benefit.
Income from counselling sessions helps sustain:
• River Room emotional wellbeing work for children
• My Body Is My Body body-safety education
• STAND – Parents as Protectors
• student counsellor placements
• community workshops and prevention programmes
Choosing to attend counselling here helps make support possible for others.
A Commitment to Fairness and Accessibility
We are committed to keeping counselling accessible while ensuring support remains consistent, safe, and locally available for the long term.
If cost is a concern, please feel welcome to get in touch. We are always happy to explore what options may be possible.
Referrals from Other Services
People are sometimes referred to A Positive Start CIC by:
GPs
NHS teams
Job Centre Plus
Social Work & Family Support
Schools, Colleges & Universities
Wellbeing services
Employers
Third-sector partners
Referrals from these services do not automatically include funded counselling sessions unless funding has been agreed in advance.
Where funded places are available at the time of referral, we will always let individuals know. When funding is not attached, referring organisations can support access to counselling through our Community Rate, which allows services to contribute towards sessions from their own budgets.
Organisations wishing to arrange counselling under the Community Rate are encouraged to visit our Partner Referrals page or contact us directly to discuss availability and arrangements.
Therapy Fees
Our standard therapy fee is £55 per session, which sits at the lower end of typical counselling fees across Scotland and helps us sustain safe, consistent therapeutic support within the community.
We recognise that financial circumstances can vary. For those on low or no income, we offer a limited number of community-supported therapy sessions with a reduced minimum contribution, where needed. These places are intended for people experiencing financial difficulty and help ensure that support remains accessible while protecting the sustainability of the service.
Many people are referred to us through services where no funding is attached to their referral. Community-supported sessions help us continue to welcome referrals while maintaining a safe and sustainable level of support for everyone who attends.
This shared approach allows therapy to remain available to those who need it, reflecting our belief that healing happens in connection, not isolation.
How Counselling Usually Begins
Consistency plays an important role in therapeutic progress, which is why counselling is usually offered in blocks or through monthly membership options rather than as single sessions.
Counselling at A Positive Start CIC usually begins with a six-session starter block or a monthly support membership following your introductory consultation. This allows space for the work to develop steadily and supports continuity of care.
We begin with a free 30-minute introductory consultation to explore what support may be helpful and which option feels right for you.