1:1 Coaching Agreement for new clients
Please read and acknowledge at the end by submitting the reply form. If there is anything you don’t understand then just mail me please.
1. Coach role
My role as your coach is to offer you ‘support and challenge’ to help you move forward with your coaching intentions. I will use coaching psychology, facilitation techniques and additional modalities such as art, journaling and somatic ideas that might support your goals, coaching process and your wellbeing. In the process of the sessions I will talk about and offer up concepts, ideas, and different perspectives that you can choose to use and adopt or not during the coaching we do together.
In coaching, we focus on your present situation and your personal/professional intentions for yourself. At times we will need to understand the past to inform our work together however this will always be in the interest of you moving forward. I work with you ‘as you are’ in relation to your coaching intentions, however at no point is the coaching a replacement for treatment, diagnosis, or additional supports. At times we might need to discuss other supports and options, especially if something requires specialist support or further assessment. I respect you as the best decision-maker in your life and work with you in the belief that you are responsible for your choices, actions and outcomes.
2. Your Role in Coaching
You determine the direction of your process in the coaching work and the context we will work with at each session. I will help you with this. We will agree and ‘contract’ on what you want to focus on in the sessions during the first session. We will also agree the initial number of sessions you would like to do.
You agree to take responsibility for how you engage in the work, in and out of the coaching sessions. You acknowledge that although I may share my own opinions, observations and feedback in the coaching process you are responsible for discerning what is appropriate for you, your life and your work. You agree to talk about any barriers or challenges arising throughout the sessions and to be open to finding solutions with me when possible.
3. Coaching Processes & Boundaries
Times/dates
Our sessions are once a month - planned a month in advance. The first session is 2 hours and the follow on sessions are 1.5 hours long - all online. Please be prompt to sessions and let me know if you are going to be late. If you need to change the timing/date of the session then please give me 5 working days notice so I can replan your session. If you cancel later than this or don’t attend then the fee is payable. If totally unforeseen issues arise then this will be dealt with discretion, however the general rule is that the space you have booked is for you and therefore must be paid for if you cancel last minute/don’t attend.
Reflective Practice and work in between sessions
It is recommended you allocate time to the coaching work in between sessions. Try to take time to plan for your coaching sessions and to reflect on each session after it has finished and make notes of learnings/ideas/strategies/actions and anything else that arises. In this way the coaching offers a supportive and learning structure for your personal and professional development. During the time we work together you can email/what’s app me in between sessions with issues related to the coaching contract and process. I will get back to you within 3 days (working week hours) but most likely quicker - depending on my diary. I will advise you of any work breaks I take. I may send you relevant research and information to your coaching goals, my written ‘thought pieces’ which might offer you help and ideas, social media posts and coaching prompts that you can work with in your own time. It’s entirely at your own discretion if you choose to use any of these interventions.
Expectations
You will set your own intentions for the coaching at the start of our work together. However it is important to acknowledge that this work, and change in general takes time, and you will have your own pace. It is not possible to know what will happen as we venture into the coaching and what will arise when you start to uncover and action new ideas and issues. We will engage in reviewing your progress as we go along; to guage and discuss your expectations. As I say to all clients ‘let’s head for the stars and know that the journey can take time and doesn’t always go the way we expect!’
Communications
As above we will communicate via whats app and email. If for any reason you decide to stop the coaching unexpectedly/without discussion then I will make approaches to check-in and talk about this with you. I will try to get in touch with you on two occasions. Should you decline to reply after these two approaches then I will assume that you have decided to leave and do not want to discuss the matter. I am however always open to feedback so please keep this in mind and use my personal whats app / email to get in contact with me.
Conflict of interest
If at any stage I become aware of a conflict of interest working together, I will notify you and we can find a solution to the situation.
Notes
I recommend you bring your own notebook and collect your own notes, during and after sessions.
Accessibility and Inclusion
If at any time you require reasonable accommodations to engage in the coaching more effectively, then please have that discussion directly with me. I am happy to make reasonable accommodations where possible and treat those requests with respect.
Confidentiality
Whilst I offer a confidential service, I cannot guarantee 100% confidentiality in all situations to all clients. Areas where I cannot give 100% confidentiality, include:
1. If I am concerned about your safety or the safety of someone else, I will act to the best of my ability in the interest of reducing risk. If this occurs in relation to someone else I will encourage you to act by reaching out to appropriate professionals. If it is in relation to you, we will discuss how to increase your safety and what supports you wish to engage. I may contact your ‘close contact person’ (see below) if I believe your safety is at risk. All of this will be discussed with you first.
2. Involvement in serious criminal activity or unreported criminal offences or by court order
3. I attend regular professional supervision to support me in my work. Occasionally this requires me to discuss your needs and the group work process anonymously with my supervisor to ensure I am supporting you to the best of my ability and within the code of ethics set out by the Coaching Association.
4. The room or device used by either of us is compromised.
Payment
All payment rates for the contracted sessions are agreed with you before we begin the work. By signing this you agree to your full and final payment for the sessions you book.
Data Protection
Note Taking - I practice a minimal note-taking approach and hold only limited information relating to you, and only information that has been generated during our sessions or by you in email correspondence for up to 7 years. Notes are kept in a secure private space.
Copyright, Intellectual Property and Ownership
All preparation materials and written pieces, including all electronic files used to support our work remain the property of Kelly Drake unless specifically stated otherwise in the deliverables.
This agreement is an evolving document and I may add to it should anything else arise.