This Coaching and Consulting Informed Consent Agreement (the "Agreement") outlines the nature of the coaching and consulting services provided by Rachel Haack ("I," "me," or "coach/consultant").
It is important that you understand what these services involve, how they differ from therapy or counseling, what you can expect from me, and what is expected of you.
Please read this Agreement carefully before signing. Your signature confirms that you understand and agree to the terms outlined below.
1. Nature of Coaching and Consulting
Coaching and consulting are collaborative relationships focused on personal and professional growth, goal setting, and practical strategies for improving your relationships, well-being, and everyday life.
Our work may touch on past experiences, but only when those experiences are directly relevant to your present goals. Matters unrelated to those goals are best explored with your own therapist or mental health professional.
Coaching and consulting are not therapy or counseling. These services do not involve diagnosing or treating mental health conditions and are not intended to replace psychotherapy, medical care, or other professional mental health services.
While I will provide guidance, insight, and practical strategies, I cannot guarantee any particular outcome. Your results will depend on multiple factors, including your own participation, effort, decisions, and circumstances.
2. My Role and Licensure
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Nevada. My license authorizes me to provide therapy only within Nevada and only to individuals and in settings permitted under Nevada law.
When providing coaching and consulting services, I am acting solely as a coach and consultant, not as your therapist or mental health professional.
Participation in these services does not establish a therapist-client relationship with me, regardless of where you live, including if you reside in Nevada.
I provide coaching and consulting services to clients in multiple locations. These services are separate from my clinical therapy practice, and my professional license does not make coaching or consulting a form of therapy.
As your coach and consultant, I will:
- Support you in identifying and working toward your personal and professional goals.
- Provide tools, resources, guidance, and practical strategies to support your progress.
- Maintain the confidentiality of your information within the limitations described in Section 7.
Approach our work with integrity, professionalism, and honest feedback that I believe is relevant to your circumstances.
3. My Approach: Direct Feedback and Productive Challenge
My approach to coaching and consulting is grounded in structure, guidance, honest reflection, and direct feedback.
I will tell you what I see, including patterns I notice in how you show up in your relationships, even when those observations may not be what you were hoping to hear.
Family conflict and relational pain are difficult, and working through them is rarely comfortable.
You should expect that this process may bring up challenging thoughts and emotions, including frustration, defensiveness, sadness, or disappointment.
Some of my feedback may challenge the way you understand yourself, your relationships, or the people around you. At times, it may sting. You may not always agree with my observations, and you may occasionally feel frustrated with me.
Disagreement and discomfort are not necessarily signs that the work is going wrong.
I welcome open and respectful conversations about those experiences. In my experience, when trust is present, honest dialogue, including moments of tension, can create meaningful opportunities for growth.
My feedback comes from a genuine effort to help you recognize patterns, consider new perspectives, and make thoughtful changes in your relationships.
However, my observations and recommendations reflect my professional judgment and perspective. They are not guarantees of any specific outcome.
You always have the right to question, consider, decline, or set aside my feedback.
If something about our work does not feel helpful or appropriate, I encourage you to tell me so we can discuss it openly.
By signing this Agreement, you acknowledge that challenge and discomfort may be part of the coaching and consulting process, and that frustration with me or my feedback may arise.
I remain committed to treating you with respect and maintaining high standards of integrity, ethics, and professional conduct throughout our work together.
4. Client Responsibilities
By signing this Agreement, you acknowledge and agree that:
- You are at least 18 years of age.
- Coaching and consulting are collaborative processes, and you remain responsible for your decisions, actions, and outcomes.
- You will communicate openly and honestly to support the effectiveness of our work.
- You will actively participate in self-reflection, challenging conversations, and agreed-upon action steps.
- You will seek support from a licensed mental health professional if you require therapy or mental health treatment.
- You will bring concerns unrelated to your current coaching or consulting goals to your own therapist or appropriate mental health professional.
- You understand that you are free to question, decline, or disregard any guidance, recommendations, or feedback I provide.
5. Coaching and Consulting Compared with Therapy
Although coaching, consulting, and therapy may involve conversations about personal experiences, relationships, and emotional well-being, they serve different purposes.
Therapy
Therapy focuses on mental health, emotional healing, and the treatment of psychological concerns, including past trauma. It may involve diagnosing and treating mental health conditions and is provided by licensed mental health professionals under applicable state laws and regulations.
Therapy also carries specific legal protections, including therapist-client confidentiality and privilege, as provided by applicable law.
Coaching and Consulting
Coaching and consulting focus on personal and professional growth, identifying goals, understanding relationship patterns, developing practical strategies, and making meaningful changes in your life.
Unlike therapy, coaching and consulting do not involve diagnosing or treating mental health conditions. These services are not licensed or regulated as mental health treatment and do not carry the same legal confidentiality and privilege protections as psychotherapy.
Important Distinction
Coaching and consulting are not substitutes for psychotherapy, counseling, or mental health treatment.
Participation in coaching or consulting services with Rachel Haack does not establish a therapist-client relationship, regardless of your location.
By signing this Agreement, you acknowledge that you understand the differences between coaching, consulting, and therapy and agree to participate in these services with Rachel Haack solely in her capacity as a coach and consultant.
6. Limitations, Boundaries, and Emergencies
If, during our work together, it becomes apparent that therapy or other mental health services would be more appropriate for your needs, I will refer you to an appropriate licensed professional or resource.
I may also recommend pausing or ending our coaching or consulting relationship while you obtain that support.
Crisis and Emergency Support
Coaching and consulting services do not include crisis intervention or emergency mental health support.
If you are experiencing a crisis or considering harming yourself or someone else, please seek immediate assistance.
Within the United States, you may call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
If you are outside the United States, contact your local emergency services.
Session Recordings and Documentation
Sessions may not be filmed, recorded, or transcribed by either party without the explicit consent of both parties.
I may maintain my own notes and records related to our coaching and consulting work.
7. Confidentiality
I respect your privacy and am committed to maintaining the confidentiality of the information you share during our work together.
Information shared in coaching and consulting will be kept confidential, except under the following circumstances:
Legal obligations or permitted disclosures: When disclosure is required or permitted by law, including circumstances involving suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult, or a serious threat of harm to you or another person.
Written authorization: When you provide written consent authorizing me to share specific information with a third party.
Please understand that coaching and consulting do not receive the same legal confidentiality and privilege protections that apply to psychotherapy.
Confidentiality in Group Programs
If you participate in a group coaching or consulting program, all participants will be asked to respect the privacy of others and keep information shared within the group confidential.
However, I cannot guarantee that other participants will maintain confidentiality, nor can I control how they use or share information disclosed during group sessions.
You acknowledge and accept these limitations when participating in a group program.
8. Fees, Cancellation, and Termination
Fees and Refunds
Fees for coaching and consulting services are outlined in the applicable program or service description.
All fees are non-refundable.
Session Cancellation Policy
Cancellations require at least 24 hours' advance notice.
Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours' notice, as well as missed appointments, will be charged in full.
Termination of Services
Either you or I may choose to end the coaching or consulting relationship at any time by notifying the other party.
Termination of services does not entitle you to a refund of fees already paid.
9. Acknowledgment and Agreement
By signing this Agreement, you confirm that:
- You have carefully read and understand the information presented in this Agreement.
- You have had an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification before agreeing to its terms.
- You understand that coaching and consulting are not therapy, counseling, or mental health treatment.
- You understand that your participation does not establish a therapist-client relationship with Rachel Haack.
- You understand the nature of the services, including the possibility of direct feedback, productive challenge, and emotional discomfort.
- You understand and accept the limitations of confidentiality described in this Agreement.
- You understand and agree to the fees, cancellation, refund, and termination policies.
- You voluntarily agree to participate in coaching or consulting services with Rachel Haack in her capacity as a coach and consultant.
Client Consent & Electronic Signature
By signing below and entering my full legal name, I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and voluntarily agree to the terms of this Coaching and Consulting Informed Consent Agreement.
I further acknowledge that typing my full legal name constitutes my electronic signature and that I intend it to have the same legal effect as my handwritten signature, to the extent permitted by applicable law.