Coaching Agreement
Introduction
This document is intended to provide important information to you regarding your treatment. Please read the entire document carefully, then complete the form.
Note: If you are a couple, by entering both names in the form you are consenting to this agreement.
Description of Coaching
Coaching is partnership (defined as an alliance, not a legal business partnership) between the Coach and the Client in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires the client to maximize personal and professional potential. It is designed to facilitate the creation/development of personal, professional or business goals and to develop and carry out a strategy/plan for achieving those goals.
Client and Coach
Client is solely responsible for creating and implementing his/her own physical, mental and emotional well-being, decisions, choices, actions and results arising out of or resulting from the coaching relationship and his/her coaching calls and interactions with the Coach. As such, the Client agrees that the Coach is not and will not be liable or responsible for any actions or inaction, or for any direct or indirect result of any services provided by the Coach. The client understands coaching is not therapy and does not substitute for therapy if needed, and does not prevent, cure, or treat any mental disorder or medical disease.
Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the International Coach Federation “(CLCI)” (Coachfederation.org/ethics). It is recommended that the Client review the CLCI Code of Ethics and the applicable standards of behavior.
Client is solely responsible for creating and implementing his/her own physical, mental and emotional well-being, decisions, choices, actions and results arising out of or resulting from the coaching relationship and his/her coaching calls and interactions with the Coach. As such, the Client agrees that the Coach is not and will not be liable or responsible for any actions or inaction, or for any direct or indirect result of any services provided by the Coach. Client understands coaching is not therapy and does not substitute for therapy if needed, and does not prevent, cure, or treat any mental disorder or medical disease.
Client further acknowledges that he/she may terminate or discontinue the coaching relationship at any time.
Client acknowledges that coaching is a comprehensive process that may involve different areas of his or her life, including work, finances, health, relationships, etc.
Fees
The fee for service is $150 per 50-55 minute individual coaching session. The standard fee for service is $175 per 50-55 minute conjoint (marital /pre marital/family) coaching session. The fee for service is $2200 for the 3 month creative coaching service. Phone sessions and emergency contacts over 10 minutes are billed at the same rate.
Client’s will be invoiced via Paypal/Venmo, may call and make a payment over the phone at (619) 672-9714 or via our website payment www.jovannapenney.com.
Fee Increases
Fees are reviewed each year, and may increase periodically. Every consideration to a client’s current finances will be made. The increase will be discussed with the client, and a 30-day notice will be given prior to the increase. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this fee agreement. Please understand that you have the right to terminate coaching sessions at any point. If you have any questions regarding the fee policy, please do not sign until discussing with me.
Sessions
Individual Sessions and conjoint (marital/family) sessions are approximately 50 minutes in length. However, at certain points you and I may determine that longer sessions are necessary in advance or a crisis may arise that necessitates a longer session. Fees are payable at the time that services are rendered.
Reduced Sessions
As we move toward the final stages of coaching, we may discuss moving your sessions to every other week versus once a week in order to taper off towards termination of services.
Client Cancellation Procedures and Fees Appointments/Cancellations
If you are trying to reach me on the same day of your session, please contact me via the phone number you have been given rather than an email or text. Please note that cell phones cannot be guaranteed as confidential. I make every effort to return calls, texts, and emails within 24 hours on weekdays. I understand that occasionally circumstances beyond your control may arise which would prevent you from keeping your appointment. If I am unable to attend your coaching session (outside of scheduled vacations) due to an unexpected emergency or illness, every attempt will be made to contact you 24 hours in advance on the phone numbers and/or email you have provided.
Short-Notice Cancellation: Appointment cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment will be charged the full agreed upon fee for the session. The only exceptions to the 24 hour cancellation are reserved for true emergencies or sudden illness of a client or client’s child that could not have been predicted prior to 24 hour notice.
No-Show: If you do not show up for a scheduled appointment (that you have not called to cancel) you will be charged the full fee for the session. Multiple month coaching sessions do not receive refunds for termination or if unable to complete the series of sessions, but are able to delay sessions.
Confidentiality Agreement
Confidentiality
Your confidentiality is very important to the coaching process and is taken very seriously. There may be occasions where I may consult with colleagues (other coaches or therapists) in order to discuss aspects of your sessions to best support your process. When doing so, please understand that your name will not be used and I will change significant identifying details in order to protect your confidentiality. Should you request that I speak with another or person (i.e. doctors, therapists, teachers, family, friends or anyone else outside the therapy room), you must first provide your signed written consent in order to do so and only after I determine if this is in the best interest of supporting your therapeutic process and progress.
All communications between you and I will be held in strict confidence unless you provide written permission to release information about your treatment. If you participate in marital or family therapy, I will not disclose confidential information about your treatment unless all person(s) who participated in the treatment with you provide their written authorization to release.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
Your information is confidential, with the exception of information relating to child abuse, or suspected child abuse, child pornography, elder abuse, dependent adult abuse, or intent to harm self or others, or unless mandated by a court of law. Life Coaches are mandated reporters of abuse or intent to harm self or other.
If you are suicidal or homicidal, I will take all reasonable steps to prevent harm to you or another. If you are homicidal and make a serious threat to hurt another person(s), I will contact 911 and make every attempt to warn the intended victim or victims. Additionally, if a court issues an order to release records (for example a divorce hearing or custody hearing), I must abide by the court order and may be compelled by court order to testify under oath and thus must answer all questions honestly.
I am mandated under California law to report to the appropriate authorities any instance where a client discloses that they have accessed, streamed, or downloaded material through any electronic or digital media depictions where a child is engaged in an obscene sexual act. A minor is defined as any person who is legally under the age of 18.
In addition, a federal law known as The Patriot Act of 2001 requires coaches (and others) in certain circumstances, to provide FBI agents with books, records, papers and documents and other items and prohibits the coach from disclosing to the patient that the FBI sought or obtained the items under the Act.
If you participate in marital or family therapy, I will not disclose confidential information about your treatment unless all person(s) who participated in the treatment with you provide their written authorization to release such information.
No Secrets Policy
It is important that you know that I utilize a “no-secrets” policy when conducting family or marital/couples therapy. This means that if you participate in family, and/or marital/couples therapy, I am permitted to use information obtained in an individual session that you may have had with me, when working with other members of your family. This means that confidentiality does not apply between the couple or among family members when one member of the treatment unit requests an individual session or contacts their therapist outside of the therapy session to share a secret.
On occasion an individual session may be scheduled to assist in the overall coaching process to the treatment unit (e.g. the couple) and will be scheduled only when mutually agreed upon. Please understand that any information given in the individual sessions will not be held in confidence or secret in couples and/or family sessions.
I will encourage the person holding the secret to share the secret in the following session and will support the client in doing so. I also reserve the right to share or disclose information revealed by one partner or family member in an individual session to the other partner or family members as deemed appropriate or necessary to support the treatment units overall treatment progress and goals.
Litigation Limitation
I do not do court work (such as, but not limited to, testifying in divorce and custody disputes, injuries, lawsuits, etc...). If you need these services, I will give you referrals to forensic psychologists who specialize in these cases. My desire is to protect your coaching sessions from the intrusiveness of legal proceedings.
To be in coaching sessions with me, you must agree that neither you, nor your attorney, nor anyone else acting on your behalf will call on your coach to testify in court or at any other proceeding, nor will a disclosure of coaching records be requested for legal proceedings.
Treatment Information
Record Keeping
Your records are maintained in a lock and key paper file system. As with any record keeping method, every foreseeable precaution has been taken to protect privacy, but there are no guarantees.
Availability/Emergencies
Telephone consultations between office visits are welcome. However, I will attempt to keep those contacts brief due to my belief that important issues are better addressed within regularly scheduled sessions.
You may leave a message for me at any time on my confidential voicemail. If you wish for me to return your call, please be sure to leave your name and phone number(s), along with a brief message concerning the nature of your call. Non-urgent phone calls are returned during normal workdays (Monday through Friday) within 48 hours. I am not available to return calls on Saturdays or Sundays or after 8 pm. In the event of a medical emergency or an emergency involving a threat to your safety or the safety of others, please call 911 to request emergency assistance.
You should also be aware of the following resources that are available in the local community to assist individuals who are in crisis:
Crisis Hotline: (888) 724-7240
Domestic Violence Help: 1 (800) 799-7233
About the Coaching Process
It is my intention to provide services that will assist you in reaching your goals. Based upon the information that you provide to me and the specifics of your situation, I will provide recommendations to you regarding your goals. I believe that coaches and clients are partners in the coaching process. You have the right to agree or disagree with my recommendations. I will also periodically exchange feedback regarding your progress. Please also note that it is not my obligation to provide advice or specific direction but rather to support you in making choices for yourself (and your relationship) that best support you (and your relationships).
Due to the individuality of each client, I am unable to predict the length of your therapy or to guarantee a specific outcome or result.
Coaching Services – Risks and Benefits
The role of a Certified life Coach is to assist clients with issues regarding emotional stability, relationships, and other challenges that impact you emotionally. Counseling often involves discussing difficult aspects of your life. During our work together you may experience uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, guilt, shame, anger, or frustration. As a result of what comes out of your coaching work and the decisions you make, important relationships may be impacted or may end. Your journey in coaching may also lead to healthier relationships. Coaching support often helps an individual find solutions to problems with family and friends, life, as well as a reduction in feelings of distress, anxiety and feeling lost. If you ever have any concerns about your process, you are encouraged to discuss this with me during your sessions so that we can collaborate together as you move forward.
Termination of Coaching
The length of your treatment and the timing of the eventual termination of your treatment depend on the specifics of your treatment plan and the progress you achieve. It is a good idea to plan for your termination, in collaboration with me. I will discuss a plan for termination with you as you approach the completion of your treatment goals. Occasionally clients return to therapy to process new challenges. If you decide to return in the future, please know that I have an open door policy and welcome the possibility of working together again.
You may discontinue coaching at any time. If you and I determine that you are not benefiting from treatment, either of us may elect to initiate a discussion of your treatment alternatives. Treatment alternatives may include, among other possibilities, referral, changing your treatment plan, or terminating your coaching sessions. Multiple month coaching sessions do not receive refunds for termination or if unable to complete, but are able to delay sessions.
Social Media & Public Setting Policy
The basis for this policy is to truly protect our relationship and your confidentiality in session. You are the person that can decide what you want to keep confidential.
I must keep my relationship with you completely confidential except in cases of where you might harm yourself or others (see confidentiality agreement for details). Thus, if you post on my page, you are opening up the possibility of people inferring about our relationship or asking you about your connection to me. You get to decide what you tell people. You have a choice as to what you reveal about yourself online, however I will not reveal my connection to you, unless given permission.
Use of Search Engines
You may have a Facebook page, Instagram account or Twitter account. I do not “google” my clients or look up information on them for any reason. I think it is important that I know you as you are in my office
Business Review Pages
Some sites, such as Yelp or other review pages, include forums in which users rate their providers and add reviews. Many of these sites comb search engines for business listings and automatically add listings regardless of whether the business has added itself to the site. If you should find my listing on any of these sites, please know that my listing is NOT a request for a testimonial, rating, or endorsement from you as my client.
Of course, you have a right to express yourself on any site you wish. If you do post a review, I cannot respond on any of these sites whether it is positive or negative. I urge you to take your own privacy as seriously as I take my commitment of confidentiality to you.
I prefer using email only to arrange or modify appointments. Please do not email me content related to your coaching sessions, as email is not completely secure or confidential. If you choose to communicate with me by email, be aware that all emails are retained in the logs of your and my Internet service providers. While it is unlikely that someone will be looking at these logs, they are, in theory, available to be read by the system administrator(s) of the Internet service provider.
Text
Sometimes clients text me to request an appointment time or to let me know if they are running late to an appointment. However, if you are canceling a session, I only take cancellations via phone message or email. Please note that text is not always secure.
In the Community | Public Setting Contact
Please note that I am flattered by all invitations that you may give me to attend a wedding, celebration, or other social event. While I am most definitely touched by your invitation, under most circumstances I will most likely decline the offer to prevent a dual-relationship and to protect your confidentiality. If we are to run into each other in a public place you are more then welcome to approach me and say hello. To protect you from having to explain our relationship to others that may be with you, I will refrain from initiating a hello unless you make first contact.
If you have questions or concerns about any of these policies and procedures or regarding our potential interactions on the Internet, do bring them to my attention so that we can discuss them.
By agreeing to work with Jovanna Penney Coaching, you agree to the above terms.