What to Expect!
What Coaching Is & Is Not
Coaching is a forward-focussed, solutions-based approach. It is not advice-giving, therapy, counseling, Mental health care, or treatment for substance abuse. The coach is not functioning as a licensed mental health professional and coaching is not intended as a replacement for counseling, psychiatric interventions, treatment for mental illness, recovery from past abuse, professional medical advice, financial assistance, legal counsel, or other professional services. Coaching is forward thinking client directed conversation that aids to move one from where they are to where they want to be.
While you may reference things that have gone on in the past, coaching takes the learnings to help you move forward in an empowered and healthy way.
Coaching works on creating a goal and a vision for something that you want for your life, and helps you make a plan to get there.
Coaching helps you to find the answers and solutions, because only you know your life and what is the best approach for you. Coaching uses effective listening and reflective questions to help you get to those answers.
Coaching does not tell you what you should do. If you are working with someone who has a specific set of skills and experience in your field of work, who you are hoping to learn from, then this is more mentoring than coaching. Both are great in their context.
Coaching is based on a specific outcome set by the client.
A coaching relationship between client and coach is based on openness, honesty and trust. Everything within that relationship and the sessions is strictly confidential, and held in a supportive, safe, non-judgmental space. At no time would any of what is shared in the sessions - whether in a current working relationship, or completed working relationship - ever ever be shared, or threatened to be shared. Outside of any legal requirements.
Coaching is client-led and the focus is around working together on what you want to accomplish.
Coaching is based on mutual trust and respect for the coaching relationship. It is the clients responsibility to do that work and the responsibility of the Coach to aid in this pursuit.
Coaching Agreement
Coaching is an ongoing relationship between a coach and a person who desires coaching.
We agree that:
The services provided by me to you are coaching whether it be in person, by phone or video conferencing.
The agenda of our coaching is up to you. Coaching, which is not advice, therapy, or counseling may address any area of your life including work, finances, health, relationships, education, and recreation.
I promise you that all information provided to me as your coach will be kept strictly confidential. If you do share something that I have a legal responsibility to share with appropriate authorities, I will make you aware of that information.
Throughout the working relationship, we will engage in direct and personal conversations.
You can count on me as your coach to be honest and straightforward in asking questions and making requests. I will ask clarifying questions and make requests of you around the agenda you raise.
The power of our coaching relationship can only be granted by you – and you agree to do just that: have the coaching relationship be powerful.
This covenant agreement will begin __________ for a total of _____ months with ____ session(s) each month
We will evaluate our sessions together on an on-going basis. If at any time we need to address an issue in our coaching relationship, we commit to be straightforward in our concerns.
Each session will last no more than 50 to 60 minutes.
An appointment must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance by either you or me
For coach credentialing purposes only, you name and contact information may be given to International Coach Federation.
Our signatures on this agreement indicate full understanding of/and agreement with the information outlined above.
The coaching relationship may be terminated at any time upon two weeks’ notice by the client or coach.