Testimonials

“Alison is a miracle worker…she helped me to get to some root causes of my mental health concerns and move forward with a more positive outlook… ” Fiona

“My experience with Alison’s coaching has truly been amazing. When I first came to see her, I was in a dark place where I struggled with crippling social anxiety and panic attacks. I was having a hard time making sense of why these feelings and situations kept arising and I felt like I didn’t fit into my current life (being a University student).

During our first meeting, Alison made me feel relaxed and I appreciated her listening skills and her massive skill set. I signed up for 6 sessions and throughout the sessions I was able to understand myself a lot better. I quickly noticed a reduction of anxiety (and panic attacks completely disappeared!), removed negative associations from certain memories that held me back and learned skills that were helpful during stressful situations. 

She made me aware of stories I told myself and beliefs I had that weren’t benefitting me. I didn’t realise how little self-compassion I had, but Alison was able to help me practice more kindness towards myself and openness towards others. Also, it was a blessing to have her coach me through the uncertain times of Covid-19. It has truly been a transformative experience and I wouldn’t have gotten through the tough times without her help.

Thank you so much!”
Anon

“I recently found myself in a career dead end, and a lengthy period of unsuccessful job hunting had left my professional self esteem in tatters. Alison has been an enormous help – she helped me more accurately see my worth, my career position and my options and gently guided me through to finding my way. I’ve just secured the new job I wanted and feel much more secure in my career. I’d thoroughly recommend Alison, it’s been a real eye opener!”
Anon

“I started a new job after an 18 month hiatus and really struggled. I felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore in a work context. I didn’t trust my own judgement, questioned every decision I made, had completely lost sight of my skillset and felt horribly insecure. I had six sessions with Alison and even after just two, she helped me to control the downward spiral of negative thinking and excessive self-criticism. As we worked through each session, I became more self-aware and able to manage my thoughts and feelings effectively. She taught me how to be kind to myself and the importance of that cannot be overstated. It can be challenging facing your demons but Alison instantly puts you at ease and creates an environment where you feel safe and able to open up. I really can’t recommend Alison highly enough. Go on, invest in yourself!”
Gary

“When I first came to see Alison I was working in a job that I hated, I was extremely confused and unable to make a decision about which career path to take. I thought I would never be able to decide and I didn’t trust myself to make the right decision. Alison helped me to understand the reasons behind my choices more deeply, to not feel ashamed of past choices and helped me to figure out what steps I needed to take in order to get my life going in a better direction. I cannot thank her enough and would highly recommend her to anyone who is feeling stuck in life and needs help with self esteem issues.”
Anon

“I thoroughly enjoyed our sessions. I found them enormously valuable, and it really helped fast track my career and my development. I’ve now got that promotion I was after so a happy ending!”
Steven

“I have recently completed 6 life coaching sessions with Alison which have been truly life changing. Friends and family recommended life coaching to me to help tackle a few issues I’d been having where I was really struggling to find  answers. I first met Alison for a consultation and she immediately put me at ease with her easy-going personality and professional manner. She asked about the issues I’d been having and then told me what to expect in the first few sessions. I can remember in my first session thinking what are we going to speak about for 90 mins and before I knew it, the session was over. They say time flies when you’re having fun! It was great to speak about things which I had shoved deep down thinking they would go away. Alison helped me make sense of decisions I had made in my life that I thought were bad but once I realised why I had made them, I felt so much better. I always felt great after each session, my life was making more sense, I felt happier and more positive. All the issues I originally went to Alison with 6 months ago are now solved. I would definitely recommend life coaching with Alison. She is very easy to get on with, professional, passionate about her work and cares for her clients. Big thank you!
Keith

“I would like to recommend Alison both as a life coach and a business coach. I came to her as a broke, lost and unhealthy guy and she transformed my thinking even on the first day. She helped me focus on what’s important to me and what issues I have to tackle first. Since working with her I have dramatically improved my finances and the quality of my life has changed drastically for the better. I’m able to focus more now and make better decisions both in life and in business. I cannot express how much value this coaching gave me. I learned how to balance my work and my spare time, which allows me now to work whilst traveling the world. Thank you very much for everything Alison. All the best for you in the future! ”
Alan

“I wasn’t sure how Life Coaching could help me but even one session made a huge difference. Alison helped me to see things more clearly and make a start at addressing the issues…… I now wake up every day without the knot of dread in the pit of my stomach that I’ve had for the last 7 years. Thank you.” 
Neil

“Alison, you are worth every penny. Coaching has improved my self-respect and confidence and improved communications with my family. You are gifted at what you do and I have and will continue to recommend you.”
Mel

“You are fantastic at what you do…..the best part for me was confronting and closing the door to a burden of self-doubt and feeling of abandonment that has haunted me for years.“
Anon

“I feel I must put pen to paper and let everyone know what a great Life Coach resides on our very own doorstep, in Marchmont. Alison is a treasure. She is so intuitive and a natural people person, born to listen and support people. Life Coaching – for me – is exactly that!  It has incorporated every aspect of my life and as each area has been explored, the conversation has been very natural and I have talked over and tackled the areas that I need to address. Alison’s grasp on my situation, and non-judgemental listening has been a great support for me and has helped me to re-build my confidence and self-esteem. If you feel you have a yearning to achieve something, move forward, or be the person you were born to be I want to recommend Alison as the person to support you in this.  Once you meet her, you will instantly know what I mean.
Margaret

Alison is simply a superb coach. She achieves the perfect balance between being professional, focused and clear yet creates and holds an amazing space where the light bulbs pop on and real insight is achieved.

In the very first session I instantly knew I was in very safe and capable hands and after just 60 minutes, felt very differently about the path I was on and the direction it would take. By the end of session 3, I had made a very difficult life changing decision and was so comfortable with the outcome that I actually found myself laughing at how simple it was.

Right now I know I am in a place that I simply wouldn’t have got to without her support. Would I recommend her? In an instant. Will I go back for more if the needs arises? You bet! Am I grateful – absolutely! Thank you Alison for making such a difference to my life and helping me start a new very exciting chapter with real confidence and hope.”
Nic

“Coaching has helped me focus on what I actually wanting to achieve and helped me prioritise what is important. The biggest benefit has been taking time out of an “always too busy” schedule to actually think about what I want – some “me” time. Writing down my goals has also given me a clearer focus. I would definitely have no hesitation in recommending Alison and her coaching to anyone”.
RB

“Coaching helps you to look at things from a new angle and find manageable ways to make sometimes significant changes. The sessions I have had have helped me to be much more self aware and self confident. I have learned to recognise my strengths and overcome some of the obstacles to trying new things that I had a tendency to put in my way. I am better able to manage my workload and am less stressed under pressure. Alison is obviously passionate about what she does and has a great deal of experience. She is very easy to work with and makes coaching a very positive experience. I would have no hesitation in recommending her.”
Margaret

“I started working with Alison not long after I started my business – I was overwhelmed and looking for someone to help me figure out what my next steps should be. Years later coaching is still one of the most valuable investments I’ve made. Alison is brilliant; she challenges my assumptions and helps me be strategic about solving problems. Her support and encouragement has helped me turn my ideas into reality and in the time we’ve worked together the business has achieved more than I thought possible.” 

Rachel

“Working with Alison has been both enjoyable and really useful. After a damaging period at work, I needed guidance on unpicking and understanding the experience, adopting new tools to help calm me at times of stress and most of all, to be able to face the future with confidence, positivity and better defined goals. I’m much better for having had the sessions and have no hesitation in recommending Bright Thinking to anyone considering getting some coaching”.
Sean

“As a University academic with his own coaching business I was facing tough choices around time, career and other life commitments. By working with Alison over six sessions her powerful questions enabled me to gain insight and clarity on my goals and identify positive next steps. It’s no understatement to say that the impact has been transformational in my professional and personal life.”
George

“To put it simply, coaching with Alison has changed my life! In a short few months, I have regained my confidence in my abilities and I am a happier person.

Nine months ago, I experienced a very challenging and negative situation at work. I struggled to make sense of it and my confidence had been destroyed by the experience. I knew I needed to get some executive coaching support but I worried about the expense of coaching and also, how I could begin to be open and share my experience with another person as I am a very private individual. I searched for local Edinburgh coaches and I chose Alison at Bright Thinking Ltd because of the positive reviews on her website. I was not disappointed and I knew within the first session that Alison was the coach for me.

Alison is an incredible listener, and allowed me the space to be honest about my experience. She gently guided me through the process of looking for a new professional role and she has great patience when I struggled to understand and explain my previous experience. At each session, Alison helped me to reflect on the past, but also, to consider my skills and attributes so I could understand what I wanted for my future professional career. It was through these sessions that I realised my professional worth, and I started to regain my confidence.

I am now in a new role, with a company I believe in and colleagues who respect others. The change in me has been so positive and I am so happy in my professional career.

Thanks Alison – I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
Laura

“My name is Sean and I’m a 43 year old divorcee who had arrived at a stage in life where I knew I had some underlying limiting beliefs or energies which were holding me back and was determined to face them head on. I contacted Alison regarding EFT tapping as I’d previously heard of the practice and together we worked through a series of personal situations which I found really helpful. I found Alison very easy to work with, she was able to see past any personal obstacles I might have and I would definitely recommend her services.”
Sean

“I contacted Alison after having a few issues in my life & have recently just completed 4 life coaching sessions.  I had been struggling with depression, anxiety & relationship problems and hoped that Alison could help me find my way back in life. From the first meeting, I felt completely at ease and almost as if i was having a cup of tea & catch up with an old friend. Alison has helped me make sense of decisions (and mistakes) I have made in the past and why I was scared of moving forward. After only 4 sessions, I feel like a different person, everything in my head seems to make sense now and I have a clear life path mapped out. My relationship with my husband had changed massively for the better and my depression & anxiety have almost gone completely. I feel HAPPY again!! I can’t recommend Alison highly enough! Thank you so much!! J x”
Jan

“I really enjoyed my life coaching sessions with Alison. I felt a bit apprehensive when I arrived at my first session as I didn’t know what to expect but there was no need to worry as Alison was welcoming and friendly. Over the past 9 months Alison has helped me work through issues, mostly related to my job, that had been dragging me down. I feel much happier now and have clear goals for my future, personally and professionally. Thank you Alison. You’re fantastic!”
Chantel

“Alison’s warm and open approach to coaching allowed me to feel comfortable talking to her straight away and I gained something from every session. I went to Alison looking for direction regarding my career. After just a couple of sessions I’d applied for a new job, was successful and had moved into the area of work I was passionate about. Because Alison takes a very holistic approach to her coaching, I also looked at other areas of my life and how to get the most out of them. I’m writing this from Melbourne, Australia where I’m now living for a year. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to take this leap without the excellent coaching from Alison.”
Amy

“Before meeting with Alison I was lacking direction and motivation. I am now motivated, have clear goals and am so much happier!”
Darren

“My experience of working with Alison has been transformative. She has helped in a number of ways but most importantly, with decision making. She has helped me to assess my options in a logical and objective way, enabling me to weigh up my choices against my overall goals and what is important. She has an unerring belief in achieving the ‘win win’ in a situation and a light discouragement of too much compromise. She has helped me believe in myself and the important of getting what I want from life. She is great at looking at the bigger picture and suggesting ways which achieve balance. I would definitely recommend Alison if you feel you have reached a crossroads in your life, no matter how big or small and need someone to help see the wood for the trees. Both times I have been to see Alison, things in my life have really slotted into place afterwards. Coincidence? I think not!”
Sophie

I was amazed how well and how quickly the EFT and follow up coaching worked – transforming my self-image in four painless sessions. Not only can I now see my own value, but I can appreciate the qualities of everyone around me much more readily. One session of EFT cut loose the obstructive emotional baggage I had been carrying around unwittingly for years, and the follow up coaching sessions helped me form a new, up to date and positive view of myself. If I had one word to describe the process I would choose liberating, and I wish to thank Alison for giving me my wings back! I would highly recommend suspending disbelief that you can feel differently and just giving this a try.
Amy

“Thank you for all your help and for helping me feel much better about myself. You are a star”.
Anon

“I just wanted to say a HUGE thanks for all the coaching that you have given me this year, and for your continual support and encouragement. As I said earlier, I would not be where I am now if it was not for you. Through coaching I have become a happier, healthier  and more confident person – incomparable to the person that I was a year ago. I now have clear aims and goals for the future, and the self-belief to attract the things that I want in to my life. You are wonderful!”
JS

“Coaching has been a great help to me. It has improved my self-confidence, given me different ways of looking at things, helped me get a better balance between work and home and assess what is really important. It has also given me time away from the hectic day to day activities of work to think about things and has helped my thinking through the process of structured and controlled questioning. It has also given me some interesting and useful “tapping” techniques for ridding my inner demons and keeping me in control during stressful situations. I think the fact that we get on well helps the whole coaching process.”
NM

“The biggest benefit of coaching for me has been having someone I can talk to, from outside my peer group. I would have no hesitation in recommending Alison as a coach. Alison lets you steer each of the sessions, she is a good listener and she can quickly identify the area of concern and help you decide on the actions you need to take to resolve that issue”.
GJ

“Our coaching sessions have helped me immensely. They have allowed me to move in the direction that I want and feel in control of the choices that I make. EFT – invaluable. The biggest benefit has been providing the space and environment to explore options and make my own decisions about what’s best for me. You have a great ability to understand people and situations and very subtly move the conversation around so that the client will have the best outcome. The EFT session allowed me to overcome my fear of heights and then go on to complete an aerial assault course 100ft up in the air – speaks for itself really. I have already recommended you to family and friends and will continue to do so in the future”.
Lesley