Before you skim over, agree and proceed with registration, we ask that you take the time to read ALL of these terms BEFORE you agree to them. These are important things to consider that will have a direct impact on our work together.

As a potential business owner, it is your responsibility to understand and establish agreements and terms for your own business and we recommend that you start by reviewing our terms now. We have made every effort to make our policies mutually considerate, clear, fair and in accordance with our values while still considering compliance. 

It is your responsibility to ensure you understand these terms prior to signing up. If you have any questions, contact us and we are happy to explain or elaborate on anything contained in this document so you have clarity and peace of mind.

Global Alignment Group Inc. (the “Company”) provides a service known as the “Private Practice Business Program” (the “Service”) to promote overall awareness and competencies in starting and effectively running a private practice business.

Though these programs include both personal and professional development components, these services aren't intended as professional career training and aren't a continuation of any educational training institute’s program. The Private Practice Business Program doesn't grant any educational credentials or diplomas, however – certificates of completion are awarded for both the Private Practice Business Program AND the Private Practice Marketing Program.

GLOBAL ALIGNMENT AGREES TO PROVIDE YOU WITH:

A Private Practice Business Program consisting of two steps.

Step One: Completion of this program can be carried out via any of these three methods:

• Individual One-to-One Coaching Sessions (Includes only individual coaching sessions and participants have no access to the online business training program),
• Online, Self-Paced Business Training Program, (includes the video module business training, assignments and 1.5 hours of individual business training time per module, taken at your own pace, (no group), or
• Online, Group Business Training Program (includes taking the module business training on a set schedule, assignments, 1.5 hours of individual business training time per module, 1.5 hours of group business training time per module and discounts not available via other program methods) 

Each method follows the same “Roadmap” of Business Training and offers similar take-away assignments which are designed to assist with the building of a successful private practice business.

Step Two: As you progress through the module and roadmap business training, participants are introduced to our team of Expert GURU Consultants.  Introductions are initiated as you complete the pre-requisite training that prepares you for working with each specific Guru. (i.e. you may not jump ahead to work with a Guru when you have not completed the training module that coincides with working with them).

Working with our Guru Team is optional, but for the many who do, our GURUs offer professional products and services that are very important to your business. (i.e. creating websites, graphic design, copywriting, finances, administration and social media.)

Each project is completed on a "pay as you go" basis and includes a free online consultation to provide you with an estimated cost for your project, and an outline of that Guru’s methodology so you can decide the best course of action for your own business needs.  Our aim is to demonstrate what conscious-minded, affordable, ethical business looks like, and what best practices are. That way, when you hire consultants in the future you will know what to expect and also be able to identify red flags should you ever encounter them.

The “Private Practice Marketing Program” commences after a participant:

1. Has completed the five foundational modules of the Private Practice Business Program or
2. Has completed the equivalent foundational business training in our one-to-one business program or 
3. Has provided a detailed overview of their business foundation which has been approved by Global Alignment as being ready to proceed with the marketing program.

BUSINESS TRAINING & YOUR INSTRUCTOR'S ROLE:

• Professional Business Training focuses primarily on identifying a goal and creating an action plan to get there. Its focus lies more in the specific business training material and issues related to the present and the future. Business training moves more rapidly than counselling, and is measurable.  The Instructor assumes a much more collaborative role with the participant and more theory is taught. At times, by way of example, your Instructor may offer a higher level of personal disclosure and input (as appropriate), while still assisting individuals to determine their own needs, steps and answers. 
• Business training is not Counselling in that it does not emphasize deep emotional excavation or emotional processing. It does not require an intake assessment or family history at the beginning of our work. Business Training is largely based on personal or business goals, proceeding through a curriculum in a specific order, learning new skills and new perspectives, overcoming barriers and measuring progress via a plan. Business Training often involves takeaway assignments designed to improve participant outcomes.
• In accordance with our policies, business training sessions are recorded (which may not be shared with others) but participants do not have access to their personal file and may not request that it be forwarded to another professional. Business Training is not covered by insurers, but may be paid for by employers, qualify as an allowable tax deduction or be eligible for government grant(s) in certain circumstances.
• Our approach is considered highly collaborative, hands-on and experiential, all aimed at helping you reach your goals and to grow as an individual. You may be presented with the option to change your habits and perceptions, which can often result in emotional ups and downs, anxiety or things feeling more difficult before they feel better. If you have any concerns regarding an exercise or assignment, either during or after, (or feel there are areas of concern emotionally, intellectually or spiritually) please discuss them with your Instructor at your first opportunity. The choice to participate in any exercise is always yours. If it is determined counselling would be beneficial, that would mean signing up for a separate service to address these specific needs. 
• We maintain casual but professional relationships with business training participants and adhere to our professional boundaries during our work together. That means that our complete focus and attention is on you and your goals, which isn't the same as a friendship where both peoples' needs are considered. Our experience shows that, when boundaries blur, the hard-won benefits gained from the professional relationship erode. So, although we are collaborative and may share our experiences with you, the focus of our efforts remains on you, which is different than the mutually-considerate nature of a friendship.
• In the unlikely event that your Business Instructor has an illness, accident or absence that prevents them from working for an extended period of time, or in the case of death, a Global Alignment team member will notify all participants. All remaining Modules and assignments will be free for those who have started the program within the last year, in order for you to complete your business training and to compensate for any business training time you will not be provided.  All files will be sealed and destroyed, in accordance with our terms. 
• From time to time your Instructor will provide advance notice of times they will be out of the office for vacation or training. You as the participant understand that these events will occur throughout the year and will be asked to book your sessions accordingly around those times.
• Your Instructor will be the one to initiate all business training calls to you to start a session.
• Your Instructor is out of the office on weekends and most holidays, and is unable to book sessions or answer emails during those times.
• It would not be uncommon for your Instructor to be fully booked 10 days-2 weeks out. Please plan accordingly and be proactive when booking your individual business training sessions.

ABOUT OUR GURUS:

• GURU services are offered exclusively through Global Alignment to those enrolled in our online program. They won't agree to be hired independently outside of this program.
• Each GURU will communicate their individual availability with you. Being they are often working with multiple participants at one time, there may be a short waiting period before commencing projects.
• We offer our clients the optional service of a GURU team to help build many of the tools needed to start a business. Because this is an optional service to support our program, it is important that you as the participant understand that we can not guarantee we will always have a full guru team available to our clients at all times.
• If you would like to consider the services of our GURUs, an Instructor’s email introduction is sent to both you and the relevant GURU at the appropriate time in the program.
• It is then up to the Participant to proceed to a free GURU consultation to review fees and how each project methodology works. Once this is done, a project quote is provided, which must be approved in writing via email.
• Once you decide you would like to proceed with a project, you are agreeing to the methodology terms and fees. (A deposit is required for some GURU projects). Should the project scope change, you understand that costs will be discussed again and changed accordingly with your approval.
• You understand that projects must be completed in a timely way and that no GURU Project may take more than six (6) weeks to complete, at which point you will be invoiced for the project.
• You will receive a project feedback survey to complete. All GURU invoices are payable, via PayPal, within 5-days of completion of any agreed upon project. Because we are an online company who sees participants around the globe, all fees must be processed via PayPal. Fees not processed in this time frame may be subject to a late fee of $20, which will be applied to your invoice weekly over the period of a month, or equivalent time reduced from your next scheduled session. Unpaid fees exceeding 30 days may be referred to collections.
• Once both payment and the survey have been completed, your project will be released to you. Late payments may incur late fees. The above process then repeats with the next GURU project, should you choose to proceed with it.
• Our billing/invoicing team never works on holidays or weekends so if you would like a project to close quickly and billing is part of that process, provide at least 2 working days for billing and surveys to be sent out and processed.
• Our GURU team members set their own hours and takes holidays to maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you have a project that requires a short turnaround time, it is in your best interest to reserve their time in advance and allow ample time for our billing staff to close invoice and survey for a project. (allow an average of 2 – 3 working days)

YOU, THE PARTICIPANT, AGREE TO:

• Read and adhere to the Company's “ Privacy Policy & Terms ”, which can be found on the bottom right-hand corner of our website. This page outlines the conduct, interaction and participation guidelines for our Company.
• Be accountable for your decisions and goals based on your own jurisdictional laws, regulatory/governing body requirements and code of ethics and/or standards of practice (as applicable). This applies not just to the time you take this program, but that you remain accountable for ongoing changes that may occur in your industry and review any laws, requirements or liability insurance terms that may have changed each year or as your products and services change as you run your own business.
• Obtain rulings from the appropriate authorities where applicable. This program is not a substitute for legal, accounting or insurance advice, and does not replace your licensing body or any government body’s advice or ruling.  As such, do not consider this business training as a replacement for these professionals. We encourage you to ensure you have the correct information around compliance for your own business versus simply following what you see others do with their business.
• Answer all emails from your Instructor, our administration or any GURU team member within 3 working days (with the exception of being on holiday).  In essence, if you feel stuck, in resistance or other, the worst thing you can do is use avoidance as a problem-solving method. Please email us and work through any decision or issue you may be experiencing so you do not derail your progress or default to unhealthy avoidance tactics.
• Limit emails to your Instructor to topics of administration (such as booking or rescheduling sessions) or asking for clarity regarding your assignments, unless otherwise indicated by your Instructor. All other questions, assignments, personal check in's or interactions should be brought to your business training sessions. Questions related to business topics not yet taught in other modules or in the marketing program, will be discussed at the time you participate on those.
• Be on time. Now's the time to practice being a professional. As such, all sessions will start and end at the scheduled time, regardless of your punctuality or the absence of appropriate 24-hour phone cancellation notice.
• Proactively schedule your sessions, as there is often a 10 day-2 week book out time for sessions. Waiting too close to expiration to schedule sessions may mean there are no appointment times available prior to your expiration date.
• Complete and email your assignments to your Instructor in advance of sessions so that they can be added to your file and be reviewed with you. This allows your Instructor to follow along and make notes as your assignments are discussed, using your business training time in the most efficient way.  Your Instructor may glance or skim over your assignments during a personal check in but a detailed review can only be conducted during scheduled sessions.
• Understand that if you opt to purchase additional pre-paid 1-to-1 business training sessions, they expire twelve (12) months from the date of purchase.  Note: Additional sessions are not required, but are available for those looking for extra support.
• Ensure you have tested your internet signal strength, close all non-essential applications, suspend all notifications and minimize all other distractions. It is your responsibility as a participant to ensure your system has been tested and is working prior to each individual or group session.  This prevents valuable session time being lost as you try to resolve technology issues. We are unfortunately not able to provide technical support or troubleshooting assistance.  Global Alignment Instructors will also ensure our systems have been tested and are ready prior to the start of sessions as well.
• Understand that technology is fallible, and will not hold Global Alignment or its team liable for human or technical issues that can occur through the use of online technology (such as audio/video quality, internet server or power outages etc.) which are out of the Company’s control. 
• Ensure there is mutual confidentiality/privacy during sessions. You should be alone in the room and away from others to ensure the session cannot be overheard. We also suggest using a headset and microphone as it blocks out background noise (especially important during group events).  “Mutual confidentiality” means that recordings of sessions, session content or emails MAY NOT be shared with or forwarded to or discussed with any other person or organization for any reason.
• Prepare for your individual sessions by taking notes to ensure you retain the information and feedback you need. The Company will provide a supplemental FREE & CONFIDENTIAL recording, which will be emailed directly to you within 3-days of your session. Under no circumstances, may this recording be shared, either in part or whole.
• Understand that you must download any recording provided by the Company within 5 days, or the file link will expire. Requests to resend audio files may incur additional administration fees. It is also understood that audio files are deleted from our library 30 days after your session.
• Be aware that “compliance” is constantly evolving. As laws, rules and guidelines change in various associations and government agencies, you as the participant understand that it is your responsibility to seek your own advice with respect to compliance from the proper authorities as you set up your business and operate your business.  We recommend you make it a habit to recheck each area of compliance annually, to ensure you remain compliant.
• Ensure that your contact information is up to date at all times. As a Private Practice Business Program participant, you can do this by updating your profile information. When logged into the website click on your name in the top right corner of the screen, and select “edit my profile.  

PROGRAM FEES, SCHEDULING & ADMINISTRATION:

• The Private Practice Business Program consists of 5 foundational modules at a cost of $335 (plus applicable tax) per Module , due by credit card payment at the time of registration. Receipts are issued automatically to the email address provided. Each module in the program includes a one-to-one business training session. 
• Completing a Module means three things: 1) reviewing all of the module video content, 2) completing all pertinent assignments and 3) having those assignments reviewed by your Instructor during your 1.5 hours of one-to-one business training session(s). All of these elements must take place within 8 weeks from the date of registration and any elements not completed means that you have not fully completed the module.
• For those in the self-paced program, should you need additional time to complete a module the option to extend access for an additional 4 weeks is available.  A module extension means you have an additional 4 weeks to complete 1) the viewing of the module, 2) the assignments and 3) the review of your assignments with your Instructor in the 1.5 hours of business training time provided per module.
• If additional one-to-one business training is required beyond what is included in each module, it is available for $105/hour (plus applicable taxes).  Training sessions are 1.5 hours in duration and can either be conducted as one comprehensive session or broken into 2 or 3 shorter sessions (minimum of 30 minutes/session).
• Module extensions activated within 4 weeks of expiry will be charged $75 (plus tax).   Module extensions activated between 4 - 8 weeks after the initial module expiration will be charged $150 (plus tax). Module extensions activated beyond 8 weeks of initial module expiration will be charged $225 (plus tax) for the extra four weeks of access, even if requested multiple times.
• Because we are also an international company with participants in different time zones (sometimes a full day ahead), and our billing staff work part-time, payment for additional individual sessions is required two (2) working days in advance of a scheduled session.  Late payments will incur fees of $20 per week and result in the possible cancellation of sessions. Any accounts not paid after a month will be referred to collections.
• Please keep rescheduling, cancelling or deferring of sessions to a minimum. We are a busy practice so if you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please call your Instructor (604-765-2001) at least 24-hours prior to your scheduled session start. That way your appointment time can be offered to someone else. Texting, emailing or sending Facebook or Skype messages will not be accepted as notice of cancellation, and failure to cancel or reschedule within the required 24-hours' notice will mean session fees are still incurred.
• We do understand that on rare occasion, there may be an emergency that would prevent you or your Instructor from giving the required 24-hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a session.  The standard we use to determine "emergency" is specific to any acute illness or injury, accident or situation that occurred within that 24-hour period that would be characterized as unforeseeable, unavoidable, and would prevent the ability to follow through on the scheduled session. (i.e. Power failure, car accident. This does not include matters of negligence, overbooking, disorganization or any situation that could have been reasonably anticipated. (i.e. double booked or ongoing sickness that has been present for more than 24 hours.)
• All fees are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
• Should you Register and Prepay for the ENTIRE Business Training Program at a discount (purchasing all 5-modules at once) and decide you'd like to withdraw prior to program completion, a refund may be awarded only if all of the following terms are met:
  • The module has not yet started
  • You understand you'll incur a $100 administration fee
  • You notify us by email at info@gobalalignmentcoaching.com
  • The refund is activated, via PayPal, within 10-days from the date the withdrawal request was received. PayPal may retain some transaction fees that will be passed on to you, the participant.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF OUR PROGRAM TRAINING, MATERIAL & ASSIGNMENTS:

• A big part of our program’s philosophy concerns ethical business practices, having healthy business boundaries and learning about business laws, proprietary information and/or copy written materials, (music, photos, video etc.)  As such, you as the participant agree that you will NOT copy, share or re-teach our material or assignments as it is an infringement of our proprietary information. This means that you may not share any of our program teachings, theory, assignments etc., (in part or whole) including (but not limited to) our module teachings, roadmap, methodologies, theory, recordings, assignments or ideas/knowledge from your Instructor with any other party such as peers, mastermind groups or online forums etc. 
• You as the participant understand you may not allow others to attend, view or observe any portion of this program or sessions (including recordings) if that person is not a registered Participant or otherwise agreed-upon participant by Global Alignment (i.e. in the case of a business partnership). This applies both to the period that you are involved in any of our Programs onward. It is understood that a breach of these terms may result in immediate disqualification from our programs and/or legal action.
• When participating in other forums or groups that involve collaboration in building a private practice, instead of sharing the content of our program, we simply ask that you refer your colleagues to us so that they may learn the “how to” of building a private practice. That way they glean the experiential benefits of participating in the complete program first hand, honouring our efforts to keep our confidential programs intact.
• NON-COMPETE: If it is your vision to work within our very specific and specialized niche (teaching business skills to Mental Health or Wellness Professionals), this non-compete clause excludes you from participating in our Private Practice Business Program. If you are unsure if this applies to you, you are required to speak with your Instructor prior to registering.
• REFERRALS- As a thank you for paying it forward, any referral that results in a participant signing up for any of our programs, we’d be thrilled to offer you a free, 45-minute business training session credit.  
• REFERRALS - If you introduce the Company to a group/organization that asks that we host a one-time event for its mental health & wellness professional membership, we will award you a 2 ¼ hour (2 hrs 15 mins) complimentary business training credit as a thank you. (i.e. a webinar or speaking engagement.  Applies only if becoming a member of the organization is not a requirement.)

PARTICIPANT CONFIDENTIALITY:

• If you as a participant would like to review your business training files for your own reasons, you may do so by scheduling a session time to review the file together. Participant files are property of Global Alignment and may not be copied or transferred to another business Instructor, counsellor or supervisor, due to the proprietary information within a file.
• We understand the nature of the work with your Instructor is often personal and confidential. Please know that the personal details discussed are not shared with other Global Alignment team members. Those personal life details are kept confidential and are locked away in your file. However, other team members will have access to your contact information for the purposes of their function within our business alone.
• For example, our billing coordinator will have access to your email and contact information so they may send you invoices or call you as needed. Our Guru team may need to know you are away on holiday or are working through an issue or decision with me, before you can proceed with pending projects. Our accountant may see which programs you have signed up for and which dates. All shared information is specific to the nature of how a business functions and unrelated to what is confidentially sealed in your personal file.
• Beyond our ability to function as a team within this business, we only release personal information about our work together with your written permission, or in the unlikely event that we are required to do so by a court order. There are some situations in which we may be legally obligated to breach your confidentiality in order to protect others from harm.  These include: 
  
  • Information indicating a child/elderly/disabled person’s (including your Instructor or GA team members) life or health is at risk, the appropriate agency must be informed;
  • If a participant is an imminent risk to him/herself or makes threats of violence against another person, we are required to take protective actions.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS FOR ASSOCIATIONS:

More and more mental health and wellness licensing bodies/associations approve Global Alignment’s Business Programs as a means for their members to fulfill their annual requirements of: 

1. Counselling Practice hours and /or;
2. Continued Education hours  

CONTINUED EDUCATION HOURS – Many associations verify that business training is a legitimate means of accumulating continued education hours. Each has their own protocol about how these hours can be accumulated, recorded and submitted. Some ask their members to keep track of and submit a summary of their continued education hours for the year, with no proof required from the provider (Global Alignment). Other associations require proof of hours earned along with specific dates incurred. 

If letters of verification are required, we ask that you track and submit your own hours and dates you incurred those hours and we will put that information on our letterhead and sign off as an official document that you can submit. We will require 1) your association's name, your full name, your association number and your summary of hours and dates all sent to us in an email request, in order to complete this request. Please allow 3 working days.  

 

OTHER IMPORTANT TERMS:

• You as the participant are responsible for individually evaluating all information provided to you and making your own appropriate decisions independently. The maximum aggregate liability of any of the Company and/or Consultants (which includes Instructors and Expert Guru Consultants) howsoever arising, including but not limited to: default, breach, negligence and indemnity obligations – shall be limited to an amount equal to the registration fees you paid.
• You as the Participant understand that we DO NOT work with individuals who have pending custody or lawsuits, accident/injury insurance claims (such as ICBC, Worksafe). If while already working with us, an event occurs that results in a legal, work, accident or insurance claim of any nature, we should be informed immediately and discussed prior to your next session. 
• Being a Global company, we conduct business around the world. If you are in another country or jurisdiction and a dispute should arise between the participant and Global Alignment, it should be understood that it is solely the laws of the municipality, province and country where Global Alignment Group Inc. is registered that will be utilized to resolve any and all disputes, claims or legal issues.  It is agreed that the laws of other regions, jurisdictions or countries will not apply. 
• The qualifications of all of our team members are specific to the country of Canada and the province of BC. You as the participant understand that we do not make any representations about what our qualifications or designations mean in your particular jurisdiction.
• If at any time, you as a participant wish to express a concern or complaint regarding our business processes or policies, social media presence or the conduct or ethics of our consulting team, or Instructors, please email Global Alignment's Owner, Cindi Williams at info@globalalignmentcoaching.com.  We will do our utmost to ensure an immediate inquiry and resolution of any issue.
• From time to time, there may be occasional policy or rate changes within our Programs. In such cases, one month's notice is given to existing participants, proactively outlining any changes.

 

For your convenience, this terms document will be emailed to you upon acceptance and submission of this form.  Please keep it for your records.