Hello!

I look forward to working with you. Please read through this entire document and let me know if you have questions. 

THE CO-CREATIVE RELATIONSHIP

The relationship between a coach and client is co-creative, meaning that we are equals. I am not a therapist, counselor, or consultant. I am a coach using honed communication skills to support you as a thinking partner. Together we create more power for you to effect meaningful change and take dynamic action toward your goals.

YOUR ROLE     

Take time to fill out the Client Agenda Form to clarify what you’d like to take away from our session. Treat our coaching as the valuable investment that it is. Protect your investment by showing up to every session on time and setting an intention to be focused, engaged, open-minded, and invested in the pursuit of meaningful takeaways. Be ready to lean-in to any discomfort surrounding the process and willing to try new approaches as you seek growth.

MY ROLE

I will listen with intention, respond to what I hear, and ask questions. If I hear something in your voice or language that sparks an intuitive thought, I’m likely to ask you about it. Often, it is the small moments that bring about big shifts. If I’m not on target, just tell me. I’m not attached to being right.

My job is to assist, endorse, support, and empower you in your journey as you seek to uncover and/or revise goals, perspectives, strategies, and awareness.

At the end of the session, if you do not set specific actions you are ready to take, I may request that you do some writing, thinking/processing, meditating, and/or stretching yourself in a way that resonates with you in order to deepen the work done in the session. You are always free to negotiate, accept, or decline.

Everything we discuss is confidential, with the exception of the following: illegal activity, a legal mandate (court order or subpoena), or imminent or likely risk of danger to yourself or another.

EXTRA TIME

Between sessions, if you have questions, a brief update, or want to bounce some ideas around, please contact me by email. If discussion seems necessary, I may suggest a brief phone call or, if the discussion is more intricate, advise you to add your ideas as an agenda item for our next session. 

SESSION PROCEDURES    

Call me at our appointment time. If I don’t hear from you within 15 minutes of our scheduled start time, the session will be lost and not reimbursed.

SCHEDULE CHANGES/VACATION/BUSINESS TRIPS 

We will set a mutually agreed upon time for our sessions. Please give our call high priority and arrange your schedule to honor our agreed upon time.

I require a minimum of 24 hours notice to reschedule a call. In any case, if you must miss a call, text me as soon as you are able. If something must change temporarily or permanently, I’ll offer other times, if available. If you forget a session or do not pick up the call, that session will be counted as a completed session under our agreement and will not be rescheduled. However, I will consider emergency situations on a case-by-case basis.    

If you have planned vacations or business trips that will conflict with our sessions, please notify me of these as soon as you have an itinerary and we will discuss when to reschedule. I will do the same with you when I plan trips.

FIRST CALL PREPARATION      

Prior to our first call, please read and send back the requested documents.

I am looking forward to starting our coaching relationship!

 

 

AGREEMENT:

I understand that confidentiality is the hallmark of coaching and that the information disclosed in the coaching relationship stays within the coaching relationship unless I state otherwise to my coach, or except in the following instances: I share information which indicates I will do direct harm to myself or others, or I share information which my coach is ethically or legally obliged to disclose.

As a client, I understand and agree that I am fully responsible for my own growth and development and directly responsible for any outcomes achieved or not achieved. I further understand that I am responsible for my own physical, mental, and emotional well-being, including my choices and decisions. I understand that my coach cannot do my work for me and I will not hold my coach liable for my failure to achieve specific outcomes. I understand that my coach does not and cannot make any guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, as to results to be achieved, or as to the consequences of any actions I take or do not take, and that my coach has no liability with respect to such results or consequences.

I am aware that enhanced self-awareness and accelerated growth and development require that I be willing to stretch myself, take actions that reach beyond my normal comfort zone, and remain open to new perspectives and alternative ways of viewing the world.  

I agree that I will show up for my coaching sessions in a resourceful state of mind and prepared with an agenda and desired outcome for every session.  

I confirm that I can and will be honest with myself and my coach. If I feel something is not quite right in our coaching, I will let my coach know immediately.

I understand that the coaching process takes place between actual coaching sessions in addition to during regular coaching sessions. I acknowledge that coaching is a personally-driven, ongoing process that occurs as a result of thoughtful personal reflection, reading, learning, awareness, and action. I therefore agree that I will follow through on action items, exercises, reading and/or journaling, and any other items that my coach and I agree upon for the time between coaching sessions so as to maximize the coaching process and my investment in myself and my future.  

I understand that coaching is a Professional-Client relationship I have with my coach that is designed to facilitate the creation/development of business, professional and/or personal goals, and to develop and carry out a strategy/plan for achieving those goals. I agree to work in a partnership relationship with my coach to develop a strategy/action plan for my growth and development and to work on that plan throughout our coaching engagement.  

I understand that coaching is a comprehensive process that may occasionally involve other areas of my life including work, career, financial well-being, health, relationships, education, and recreation. I acknowledge that deciding how to handle these issues, incorporating coaching into those areas, and implementing my choices is exclusively my responsibility.

I understand that coaching is not to be used as a substitute for professional advice by legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual, or other qualified professionals. I will seek independent professional guidance for legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual, or other matters. I understand that all decisions in these areas are exclusively mine, and I acknowledge that my decisions and my actions regarding them are my sole responsibility. I fully understand that my coach’s services are consultative in nature and that decisions made and action taken, based on my coach’s input or advice, are completely my responsibility. 

I understand that coaching does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders as defined by the American Psychological Association or the American Psychiatric Association. I understand that coaching is not a substitute for, nor is coaching the same as, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, or substance abuse treatment, and I will not use it in place of any form of diagnosis, treatment, or therapy. I further understand that professional referrals may be provided to me if needed. I acknowledge that the coaching relationship is in no way to be construed as psychological counseling or any type of therapy. I understand that if I feel the need for professional, psychological counseling or therapy, it is my responsibility to arrange for these services.  

I promise that if I am currently in therapy or otherwise under the care of a mental health professional, that I have consulted with the mental health care provider regarding the advisability of working with a coach and that this person is aware of my decision to proceed with the coaching relationship.

EXPECTATIONS: COACH’S ROLE

As your coach, you can expect me to:

• Respect the confidentiality of the content of our coaching conversations and the agreements we make.
• Provide a safe, supportive, encouraging environment in which you can relax, explore, and think through multiple options and opportunities available to you in your life and career.
• Listen carefully and deeply to what you say (and perhaps don’t say), and ask questions that increase awareness.
• Challenge your thinking and your perspectives, request new behavior and actions, encourage you to “stretch” to accelerate your growth and development.
• Provide you with honest yet supportive, straight-forward, and encouraging feedback.
• Operate as your sounding board and strategic thinking partner as you determine your goals and your action steps to achieve them.
• Expand your view of what is possible and promote discovery of new knowledge.
• Be an on-going resource for you in identifying your goals and accomplishing your intentions.  
• Provide you with educational and learning resources, support, and encouragement while you do the work and reap the benefits of your efforts.
• Be a partner in identifying your strengths as well as development opportunities, bringing out the best in you.
• Be focused on you and your best interests, not just your goals.

EXPECTATIONS: CLIENT’S ROLE

As the client, you are expected to:

• Cultivate an attitude of openness, curiosity, and interest in exploring new ideas and perspectives.  
• Be willing to explore, challenge and change your thoughts, feelings, and actions that may be ineffective or self-defeating.  
• Cultivate a growth mindset as far as possible when it comes to learning.
  Inform me immediately when things aren’t working for you.
• Commit yourself to identifying and energetically pursuing intentions, goals, and actions that are truly significant and meaningful to you in your life and your career.
• Show up for each coaching session ready to work and open to receiving feedback.
• Participate fully in the coaching experience.  
• Plan ahead for our coaching sessions, do the work, and take ownership for your learning, growth and progress, as well as your accomplishments.
• Be willing to give coaching a try.  
• Be open to new ways of learning, seeing, and doing things. 
• Be willing to stretch yourself in new and different ways.   
• Be honest with yourself and your Coach.