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Coaching contract

This is the working agreement for coaching with me. It sets out what coaching is (and isn’t), how we work together, confidentiality, scheduling, money, and how we end the coaching.

We’ll walk through this in the first session. If something here doesn’t fit, say so. We’ll write down what we’ve actually agreed, and we can always revisit it (“recontract”) later.

1. Duration and structure

Sessions are normally 50 minutes. We usually meet online using a calendar invite with a Google Meet link that I'll provide. In person is also a delight when it makes sense.

How often we meet, and for how many sessions, is something we agree at the start and can revisit. A useful default is a regular cadence (often fortnightly) for long enough that the work has a chance to take root — typically a handful of sessions, then a check on whether to continue.

2. Nature of coaching

Coaching is a partnership. We think alongside each other in the direction of goals that matter to you and challenge you: we consider clarity, better decisions, relationships, leadership, and action you want to take.

Coaching tends to involve:

Coaching is not therapy, counselling, or mental health treatment. I don't diagnose or treat mental health conditions, process past trauma with you, or give medical, legal, or psychological advice. I am responsible for holding the coaching frame and boundaries – if it becomes clear that another kind of support would serve you better, I will say so and help you think about next steps.

Coaching is also not a promise of a particular outcome, promotion, or state of mind. You remain responsible for your decisions and actions.

To the extent the law allows, I am not liable for indirect or consequential loss arising from the coaching. Nothing here limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud.

3. How we show up

I treat these sessions as professional work: prepared, present, and boundaried.

Please join from somewhere you can speak freely and won't be distracted — a closed room, with phone face down. I'll do the same at my end (if I'm looking down, it's because I'm taking notes!).

I ask that you come willing to be curious, a bit courageous, and open-minded. The useful work often sits in the places that feel uncomfortable. Swearing is fine (let me know if not for you), emotions are fine. Whatever words and feelings show up are more than welcome.

How hard to push. Early on we'll agree how much challenge you want — a lot, a bit, or go gentle unless you ask. We can change that later.

Between sessions. A message on SMS/WhatsApp/Signal (or email otherwise) is the best way to send a thought or reschedule. I'll usually reply within a couple of working days. This is not an emergency or on-call coaching service. If you are in crisis or at risk of harm, contact local emergency services or a crisis line. Don't wait for our next session!

Anything we call an experiment, reflection, or homework is yours to do — or to say you didn't. Bring what happened, or didn't, to the next session.

4. Feedback

Feedback helps the work. If something isn't landing, I'd rather hear it.

If we make space for feedback, useful questions include:

A fuller review at the end of a block of sessions is often worthwhile.

5. Scheduling and attendance

We'll aim for a consistent meeting time. Please give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to move a session. If I need to move a session, I'll give you the same courtesy.

If you're running late, we'll still finish at the original end time.

Genuine emergencies are a different story. We'll be human about those, including the fee.

Repeated no-shows are a signal we should pause or end the work, rather than leave a ghosted calendar.

6. Fees and payment

Fees, what's included, and how payment works will be agreed in writing before we start (usually in the email that confirms the work). That note is part of this agreement.

Unless we agree otherwise:

I don't list a public rate here because the shape of the work varies. If an organisation is paying, see section 13.

7. Confidentiality, notes, and supervision

What you bring to coaching is confidential as far as I'm concerned. You may do what you wish with what we talk about.

I don't share identifying details outside the work. I do take professional supervision, where I may talk about themes and my own practice. Those conversations are themselves confidential.

Notes live in a notebook, with your initials only, and are destroyed when that notebook is finished.

If your organisation is sponsoring, I may need to share your name and attendance with them - see Section 13.

I will not use your name as a testimonial or reference without your express written permission.

Limits to confidentiality. I may need to share information if:

If I can, I will talk with you first about what I propose to do in such cases.

Recording a session needs explicit consent from everyone on the call. If a credentialing, supervision or training process requires a recording, we'll agree who hears it, when it is to be destroyed, and it stays confidential unless we both agree otherwise.

8. Boundaries

This is a professional working relationship. I won't enter a dual relationship that would tangle the coaching (for example a business partnership or romantic involvement arising from the work).

If we already have some other connection, we'll name it and decide whether coaching is still a clean enough frame.

9. Ethics

I work to the Global Code of Ethics for coaches, mentors and supervisors. I'm happy to talk through what that means in practice.

10. How we fix it when things go wrong

If tension or disagreement shows up, we try to deal with it directly:

  1. Name the specific issue
  2. Make a little time to talk about it (not mid-stream in a different topic)
  3. Ask and listen to each other's view
  4. Sketch options
  5. Agree a next step
  6. Check back that it's actually working

If that isn't enough, either of us can pause or end the work (section 11).

11. Ending the work

You can end coaching at any time. I ask for two weeks' written notice where that's practical, so we can close cleanly. A last session to look back at the work is a good way to finish, and I'll offer one.

I may end the work with the same notice if I believe I can no longer coach you well — including if sessions keep not happening, or if the work has moved outside a coaching frame.

On ending:

If I become unable to continue (illness, and so on), I will tell you as soon as I can and, where it would help, suggest other practitioners. I don't "hand you over" with your story attached unless you ask me to.

12. Records, privacy, and intellectual property

I handle personal information for the purpose of providing coaching, scheduling, and (where relevant) invoicing, in line with the Australian Privacy Principles.

You own the insights and material you create. I own my processes, exercises, and materials; you're welcome to use them for your own development, not to resell them as a coaching product.

13. If someone else is paying (sponsors)

Sometimes an employer or other sponsor funds the coaching. You are still the client in the room.

Before we start, the three of us (you, me, sponsor) should be clear on:

14. Governing law

This agreement is governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.

Starting

This is a living agreement. We'll review it together at the start, and either of us can ask to update it.

Booking and attending sessions means we're both choosing to work on these terms, together with any fee and logistics note we've already exchanged.

Questions, tweaks, or a gut-feel about something? get in touch.