Task 1 - Participant Agreement

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 challenge and support you in moving forward using coaching psychology, facilitation techniques and additional modalities such as art and somatic bodywork etc that support the coaching process and your wellbeing. As course leader I will bring up concepts, ideas, and different perspectives that you can choose to use and adopt or not during the coaching programme. 

In coaching, we focus on your present situation and your personal/professional intentions for the programme.  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 programme a replacement for treatment, diagnosis, or additional supports. At times, we may 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 programme and the context we will work with throughout the programme and at each session.
You agree to take responsibility for how you engage in the programme, in and out of the coaching sessions.

You agree to supporting the group and valuing each participant.
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 collaborate about any barriers or challenges arising throughout the programme and to be open to finding solutions with me when possible.

3.         Coaching Processes & Boundaries

Times/dates

Our sessions are planned as either 1.5 or 2 hours long. We will meet like this as a group once or twice a month during November 2024 - July 2025. Please be prompt to sessions and if you are going to be late/not able to attend please tell me in advance so that we can still start on time. The dates of the sessions are set - please make sure you have diarised these for the programme.  In the very unlikely occurrence that I must change/cancel any sessions, then we will make sure that the time is made up as soon as possible.  

Reflective Practice and work in between sessions

It is recommended you give time to the work in between sessions.  Try to take time to reflect on each session after it has finished and make notes of learnings/ideas/and anything else that arises.  In this way the programme offers a supportive and learning structure for the 9 months. During the programme you will receive regular written ‘thought pieces’ which will offer you help, ideas and coaching prompts that you can work with in your own time. It’s entirely at your own discretion if you choose to use these interventions.

Expectations

The programme is an opportunity to carry out supported and self-directed research development and action into your second act – your next chapter. You will set your own intentions for the time at the start of the programme.  Nine months offers you time for designing plans, exploring options, trying out new ideas and allowing opportunities to arise.  However it is important to acknowledge that this work and change in general takes time and everyone on the course will be working at their own pace.  It is not possible to know what will happen as we venture into a new programme and what will arise when you start to uncover new ideas and issues.  We will do work on this as we go along; to guage your expectations, and, 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
There will be a what’s app group for the programme.  Please use this as a way to check in with your fellow group members and me; to cheer each other on and ask for ideas and support.  I will check the group and answer queries every few days. Please be respectful of each other whilst using this method of communication.

If for any reason you stop attending the course I will make approaches to check-in and talk about this issue. 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 number of 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 group work 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.

Ground rules for our group sessions

I will offer the group my standard list of ground rules at the first session – please do think about what you would like to include to make sure our groupwork processes are safe and effective for you.

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 next of kin (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 Plans

All payment plans are agreed with you before we begin the course and cannot be ended prematurely if you decide to stop attending the programme.  By signing this you agree to your full and final payment for the course.

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.