Coaching Agreement

1. Welcome

Welcome! I am delighted to be your coach and I look forward to coaching you toward creating the positive outcomes you're hoping for. Here are my coaching policies and procedures that I want you to be familiar with. If you have any questions about them, we can discuss them further.

2. Commitment

We're working together because you want to make some positive changes in one or more areas of your life. We'll design and devise your individualized coaching plan together. Sometimes these changes you're seeking will happen quickly, and sometimes these changes might take more time. Whether we are working together for a short time, or the long haul, I ask that you make a commitment to our collaboration. This allows the coaching relationship to develop and be powerful. When the going gets tough, we stay in collaboration and work through to the other side. As your coach, you have my word that I am 100% committed to you feeling empowered and successful, and I'm here to help you achieve the fulfillment that you're looking for.

If, during our agreed-upon time frame, there is any reason to change our agreement, my request is that we take time to examine any issue(s) and create a mutually-beneficial resolution that honors you as the client, me as your coach, and the coaching relationship. After the initial coaching time frame is over, we will discuss your next steps: either renewing your current package, choosing a new package, or pausing/ending the coaching relationship. When it is time to end the coaching relationship, please provide me with at least one session's notice, which will give us time to wrap things up and close our coaching relationship with a plan that includes your next steps.

3. Coaching

In our collaboration, my services all fall under the category of coaching. Coaching—which is not therapy or counseling—may address personal interactions, friendships, colleagueships, relationships, business goals, personal projects, life balance,  or general conditions in your life. I received my coaching certification from the Life Purpose Institute, which is an ICF-accredited institution. 

The services to be provided are coaching, which is defined by the International Coach Federation (ICF) as: “Professional Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses, or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life."

Please understand that I am not a licensed California State mental health professional, and I do not provide psychotherapy, counseling, or any other mental health service. Please further understand that I do not claim to be providing such services, nor have I received training in providing such services. I am here to provide coaching, consulting, and educational services only, which are not intended to serve as a substitute for the types of treatment or therapies that are within the expertise of licensed physicians, therapists, or other healthcare providers.

By entering this collaboration, you express your understanding and agreement that as your coach, I am only responsible for providing coaching, consulting, and education services — and that, as the client, you remain fully responsible for your own participation in receiving such services as well as for your own physical, emotional, and mental health. If you have any doubts or questions about your ability to receive coaching, please consult with your healthcare provider about those questions before proceeding with coaching.

Please also understand that for safety reasons, I can only offer Limited Confidentiality. This means that I will make a good faith effort to keep all information communicated during coaching sessions anonymous and confidential, except when the law requires otherwise, or if I determine in my sole and unreviewable discretion that confidentiality might endanger your safety or the safety of another person.

We will work together throughout the coaching relationship to refine our coaching alliance, so that it can best meet your needs. I am here to support you. If, for whatever reason, you feel that the coaching experience is not working out as you would want it to, you are responsible for communicating that to me and we'll work together to either fix any issues or to mutually agree to part ways.

Please understand that the information shared in coaching is confidential. The exercises and printed materials that you receive are copyrighted and are only for use in our private sessions. These digital and printed materials, videos, and/or audio files you receive may not be copied or distributed to any third party, in any form. Notwithstanding these limitations, you are encouraged to freely share your personal experience about what coaching was like; you can share your experience both online and in-person with the people in your life. In fact, many of my previous clients have chosen to create testimonials for my website about the positive benefit of receiving coaching from me. While that is never required, it is a lovely way to share your story and encourage more people to receive the benefit of coaching.

3. Fees and Payment

Depending on the package you've signed up for, you will either be paying for a single session, or monthly, or on another interval such as a package or bundle. If you have not already completed the payment and booking step, you will be provided links to provide payment and your booking request prior to our first official coaching appointment. Your card will only be billed according to the interval or package you've signed up for. 

If you are a business owner and coaching benefits your business, coaching fees are commonly tax-deductible as either a consulting or education expense on your Schedule C if applicable, but this is not legal advice—please consult with your tax advisor.

If you are an employee, many companies reimburse employees for coaching as either a personal development benefit, or a professional development benefit; I encourage you to find out if your company provides such benefits. If you need to contact me to provide invoices to your employer confirming your payments, or if you ever or questions, you can reach me via email at kat@weshouldgettogether.com

4. Readiness and Scheduling

Please be sure you are able to be fully present on our calls by eliminating possible distractions (computer, co-workers, driving while on the phone). This will allow you to get the full benefit of our time together. I recommend having a journal to capture notes during the session and to use in between sessions.

Plan to arrive on time. If you have not arrived within 15 minutes of our scheduled start time, the session will be counted as missed. If you show up late to the session, the session will still end at the designated time.

If you purchased a package or bundle of sessions, all sessions must be used within six calendar months from the date of payment.

Cancellation and rescheduling policy:  
Please provide at least 24-hours advance notice if you need to reschedule or cancel your session.

5. Working together

I'm here to make this a successful and positive experience for you. My coaching style is very flexible and can adapt to the needs of various clients. For example, some people like a lot of structure and to be pushed hard to get outside their comfort zone (you can think of this style like the personal trainer who makes you lift kettlebells and do burpees), whereas other folks prefer a looser, more gentle approach (you can think of this like a meditation teacher who helps you feel grounded and who offers perspectives to mull over and work through in your own way). You have the right at any time — even mid-session — to request a style adjustment that would better suit your needs and preferences.

If I ever say or do something that upsets you or doesn’t feel right, please tell me as soon as possible; we can schedule extra time to discuss it if need be. In order for us to work together, it is really important that you feel welcome to share anything that may prevent us from working effectively together. I'm here to help you succeed, and the quality of our communication is key to our success.

6. Mediation and Arbitration

If any dispute arises concerning the interpretation or application of this coaching agreement, or the rights and liabilities of the parties arising hereunder, and we're unable to resolve the dispute voluntarily between ourselves, the resolution of the dispute(s) will be sought through voluntary mediation in the San Francisco Bay Area, California facilitated by a neutral third party chosen by the coach prior to recourse by either party to any other remedy at law. Costs of such mediation shall be divided equally between the parties, unless the mediator, in his or her sole discretion, determines that, in the circumstances of the particular dispute, fairness requires a different division of costs.

If mediation is not successful in resolving the dispute(s), the parties shall submit to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, waiving all other procedural remedies at law other than for injunctive relief or for any claim subject to a criminal complaint under the laws of the State of California or the United States. Client understands and agrees that all provisions of this agreement are subject to the parties’ mutual negotiation and that Client has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel or another representative of the client’s choosing before negotiating and signing this Agreement. This agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the State of California.

By signing this agreement, I am releasing Kat Vellos of any personal liability. I have read, understood, comprehended, and agreed to the above terms, conditions, and commitments, and take 100% responsibility for such.

BY PROCEEDING WITH SCHEDULING ANY COACHING OR STRATEGY CALLS, YOU AFFIRM THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE EXPLANATIONS IN THIS DOCUMENT, AND I WILLINGLY STEP FORWARD WITH THIS COACHING AGREEMENT.