Coaching Agreement
COACHING AGREEMENT
PARTIES: This agreement is between you (hereafter referred to as ‘Client’) and Cherlyn Decker (hereinafter referred to as “Coach”), Cherlyn Decker Coaching LLC, whereby we agree to meet on a regular basis for a minimum of three months, beginning ASAP. We further agree:
1. I understand a variety of coaching package options are available (12 month, 6 month, 3 month and monthly maintenance packages). Each package provides up to a certain number of sessions per month and it is my responsibility as the client to schedule those sessions each month. Unused sessions DO NOT roll over month-to-month unless otherwise agreed, in writing by Coach and Client. Each session is 45 minutes in duration, but not to exceed 1 hour. Multi-month packages can be renewed for another term. All options include unlimited access by email between sessions.
2. I understand and agree that I am fully responsible for my physical, mental, and emotional well-being during my coaching calls, including my choices and decisions.
3. I understand that “coaching” is a Professional-Client relationship designed: 1) to facilitate the creation/development of personal, professional, ministry, and/or business goals, and 2) to create and carry out a strategy/plan for achieving those goals.
4. I understand that coaching is a comprehensive process that may involve all areas of my life, including work, finances, health, relationships, education, and recreation. I acknowledge that deciding how to handle these issues, incorporate coaching into those areas, and implement my choices is exclusively my responsibility.
5. I understand that coaching does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association. I understand that coaching is not a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, or substance abuse treatment, and I will not use it in place of any form of diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.
6. I promise that if I am currently in therapy or otherwise under the care of a mental health professional, that I have consulted with the mental health care provider regarding the advisability of working with a coach and that this person is aware of my decision to proceed with the coaching relationship.
7. I agree to communicate honestly, be open to feedback and assistance, and create time and energy to participate fully in the program.
8. I understand that my information will be held as confidential unless I state otherwise, in writing, except as required by law.
9. I understand that certain topics may be anonymously and hypothetically shared with other coaching professionals for training OR consultation purposes.
10. I understand that coaching is not to be used as a substitute for professional advice by legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual or other qualified professionals. I will seek independent professional guidance for legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual or other matters. I understand that all decisions in these areas are exclusively mine, and I acknowledge that my decisions and my actions regarding them are my sole responsibility.
11. I understand the Coach is responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern my contact with her. I agree to abide by the boundaries set by my coach.
12. I understand my Coach may refer me to another coach, resource, or mental health professional when she deems it necessary or appropriate.
13. I agree to notify my Coach 24 hours in advanced of cancellations to scheduled calls or meetings. Coach reserves the right to bill Client for missed appointment. Coach will also attempt in good faith to reschedule the missed meeting.
14. I understand my Coach agrees to honor the International Coach Federation Code of Ethics regarding professional conduct, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest.
15. I give my Coach permission to 1) keep a confidential record of my name, contact info, and documentation of my coaching hours and 2) record our coaching sessions for the express purpose of meeting the ongoing requirements for coach credentialing by the International Coach Federation (ICF) (www.coachfederation.org), in accordance with the ICF Code of Ethics or other credentialing organizations.
16. I understand payment is made in advance and the Coach accepts payment by Credit Card and PayPal. Credit cards are run monthly.
17. I am aware that my Coach or I can choose to discontinue coaching at any time with one month written notice.
I confirm that I have read the Coaching Policies attached hereto as Addendum A and agree to abide by them. As a coaching client, I understand and agree that I am fully responsible for my well-being during my time of coaching, including my choices and decisions. No guarantees have been made to me as the expected outcome of my coaching. I am aware that either my coach or I can choose to discontinue coaching with a 30-day notice in writing. I recognize that coaching is not psychotherapy and that my coach may make professional referrals if she feels they would be helpful.
Addendum A: Coaching Policies
COACH QUALIFICATIONS: Cherlyn Decker is a Professional Christian Life Coach who received her Certified Professional Life Coach (CPLC) certification through the Professional Christian Coaching Institute; she is also an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and currently working on her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation, as well as her certifications with Christian Coaches Network International. She has been formally coaching since 2015. Prior to that, Cherlyn worked in leadership positions for a media and internet company. She found that building into each employee brought her the greatest joy, which lead her down this path towards coaching. Cherlyn earned a B.A./B.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law. She seeks to maintain the highest standards of coaching excellence in her practice. Cherlyn Decker Coaching LLC is a registered Colorado limited liability company.
NATURE OF THE COACHING RELATIONSHIP: The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as follows, “Coaching is a 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 clients to maximize their personal and professional potential. In no way is the coach the authority in the client’s life. The client sets the agenda for each call by filling out a Prep Form, which will be sent to the coach at least 24 hours before scheduled appointment. The client is responsible for ALL decisions made and actions taken because of the coaching calls. The focus of the coaching could include any of the following: life skills, communication skills, life and business goals, financial management, time management, life purpose work, transitions, limiting belief systems, and relationship skills and business consulting.
THE NATURE OF THE COACHING RELATIONSHIP IS STRICTLY NOT PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, THERAPY OR PSYCHO THERAPY: If those types of issues become evident, the coach will either work in conjunction with a therapist or discontinue with the client until therapy is completed. Furthermore, the coach is not a business manager, financial advisor, headhunter, or accountant.
PROCEDURE: This process is for your benefit so you get to choose your desired agenda for each coaching session. Any area of life is fair game. Please email a completed Prep Form prior to each call/session. This allows us both to be as prepared as possible to make the best use of our time. Scheduled sessions need to begin on time. The Take-Away & Commitments Form is for you to complete as soon as possible after a coaching session to help keep the momentum going. Your choice to fully participate in this structure makes a big difference. That said, there is still plenty of freedom to move within the structure. You are always free to say yes, no, or renegotiate.
COACHING SESSIONS: Our agreement includes a set number of scheduled calls/sessions. We will schedule these at mutually agreeable times and you will call or Skype me at the appointed time, as arranged in advance. We will both do our best to accommodate different time zones as needed.
ONE-ON-ONE COACHING: All sessions are one-on-one between Client and Coach only unless otherwise agreed. Group Coaching is available as described below.
GROUP COACHING: What is group coaching? Essentially it is a group of people looking to learn from each other and grow in a group environment. Each week one person will coach with me as the rest of the group observes. It allows each individual to identify where we are and do the work to move forward while the group learns and grows from each others discovery. If you wanna go deep, I’ll go deep. If you are more reserved that’s fine too. Group coaching rates vary by size group and frequency of sessions. Group Coaching Sessions will meet either in person, on the phone, or in a virtual and private online meeting room as discussed and agreed in advance.
EXTRA TIME: You may contact me between scheduled calls by email if you have questions, struggles, thoughts, praise reports, etc. Occasionally, brief “spot check” phone calls may be needed. These contacts are included as a value-added service at no additional charge. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of this “extra.”
PAYMENT TERMS: Advance payment is due prior to your first coaching session and is payable monthly, in advance. Monthly packages are charged monthly for the duration of the agreed term and multi-month packages are paid up front in their entirety. Coach accepts credit or debit cards through Stripe or PayPal. Credit card information is NOT held by the coach. Receipts are issued on request.
COACHING SERVICE FEES: Coaching services are sold in monthly packages (12 month, 6 month, 3 month, or month-to-month) and include a specific number of sessions each month. Once a package is selected those fees are locked in for the duration of the term. Package fees are subject to change. Coach will give 60 days’ notice prior to any change of package rates.
MISSED OR RESCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS: If you need to cancel an appointment, please give 24-hour notice. The coach will make best efforts to reschedule the appointment. However, unused sessions DO NOT roll over each month unless otherwise agreed.
IF COACH NEEDS TO CHANGE THE APPOINTMENT, it will always be rescheduled.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS NOTICE, the coach will do his or her best to reschedule that appointment within the month.
IF YOU MISS AN APPOINTMENT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, it is not rescheduled and is considered an unused coaching session.
CONFIDENTIALITY: It is very important that you communicate the truth to me to receive the maximum benefit from your coaching experience. It is my goal to make coaching a valuable experience for you. All conversations, projects, or documents shared between coach and client are strictly confidential and will not be shared with any third party without the consent of the client. The only exception to this is a subpoena.
CODE OF ETHICS: I acknowledge and agree to honor the International Coach Federation Code of Ethics (www.coachfederation.org) re: professional conduct, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. What is discussed in a coaching relationship is confidential, between you and your coach. You are giving permission for your coach to submit confidential documentation of your coaching hours for credentialing purposes to International Coach federation (ICF) and Christian Coaches Network International (CCNI). No content about the actual coaching is to be revealed to these organizations or to your sponsoring organization, YWAM. We take confidentiality seriously.
CLIENT PROTECTION: I will do my best to maintain open communication and create a safe and trustworthy environment for the client. I will speak truth graciously and with your best interests at heart. In no way, will I take advantage of you and overstep the bounds of the coaching relationship in any of the following ways: sexually, socially, personally, or financially.
CLIENT SATISFACTION AND COMMUNICATION: Our relationship needs to be based on absolute honesty with each other. If at any time you are dissatisfied with something, please bring it up. We will discuss ideas, alternatives, possibilities and options. I may offer a possible solution or a different perspective, but ALL decisions are yours! If you feel I am pushing you too hard, or even not hard enough, let me know. If I say something that doesn’t feel right, let me know that too. If, for any reason, I upset you in any way, please bring this up immediately. I will work with you to resolve any difficulties. By the same token, if you are satisfied, please do let me know that, too, and pass it on! There is an item on the Take-aways & Commitments form for you to give feedback to your coach after each session. This is part of your commitment to give feedback and help shape the coaching relationship.
ASSIGNMENTS: In each session, you will have the opportunity to decide how you will move forward. With any assignments given, you have the right to accept, reject or counter offer an assignment. My goal is that you have an effective and satisfying coaching experience.
FOLLOW-THROUGH: It is very important that you apply yourself if coaching is to be successful. Setting the agenda is always up to you. Our work may sometimes be very purposeful, goal directed, and dependent on you doing whatever work you commit to do. Other times it will be very broad in scope, requiring time in prayer and journaling, seeking God for your vision and direction, meditation on His Word, etc. Your real growth will come from your follow through, giving you a sense of progress and growth. I do not have all the answers but I will help you with powerful questions, listening deeply, and honest direct communication that support you as you seek answers from the One who does.
REFERRALS: If at any time, I observe stagnation in the coaching relationship, I will address this with you and together we will decide whether to continue our relationship. If we decide to discontinue, I will suggest some trustworthy referrals.
TERMINATION: The client may cancel this contract at any time with one month’s notice. Notice of cancellation must be in writing. Payment made for the current month shall be considered payment-in-full for the coaching agreement unless there is an unpaid balance. In the event of fees owed at the time of cancellation, full payment is due and payable.
Limited Liability: Except as expressly provided in this agreement, the Coach makes no guarantees or warranties, express or implied. In no event will the Coach be liable to the Client for consequential or special damages. Notwithstanding any damages that the Client may incur, the Coach’s entire liability under this agreement, and the Client’s exclusive remedy, will be limited to the amount paid by the Client to the Coach under this agreement for all services rendered up until the termination date.
