Coaching Terms of Service

Introduction

Coaching is an alliance in which the Coach and the Client enter into a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires the client to maximise personal and professional potential.

All coaching services and communication, as well as information on this website are meant to help you identify the areas in your life and in your thinking that may be preventing you from moving forward with your goals. Coaching helps you discover the right way to progress, and by asking questions, helps you to find the right answers and take actions. Coaching is supportive and non-judgmental. You enter into coaching with the understanding that you are responsible for creating your own results. Coaching is not a substitute for professional mental health care or medical care.

The term ‘coaching’ as here used covers life coaching, personal coaching, executive coaching and business coaching for clients.

Acceptance of these Terms of Service

Where any client is unhappy with any of the Terms of Service they can contact Yvette to discuss their concerns and see if they can be resolved before the first coaching session. Participation by any individual in the first coaching session constitutes acceptance of these Terms of Service and agreement of each statement in the Coaching Disclaimer.

Coaching Schedule

The coaching schedule, including number and frequency of coaching sessions will be agreed at the start of coaching between Yvette and the client, and confirmed by email. Yvette will recommend the frequency of coaching sessions based on a professional assessment of the client’s requirements. This recommendation, or plan, is not binding and may be altered and adjusted throughout the coaching journey by mutual agreement, in accordance with the terms set out in this agreement. Where no specific number of sessions is agreed, sessions will be provided on a month by month basis, where one month constitutes any calendar month.

In return for the fees payable by the client (or by a third party on their behalf), Yvette agrees to provide the service as described below and in accordance with the Terms set out below. The client agrees to pay fees for the service on the Terms set out below (in situations where a third party pays the fees, the third party counts as an agent acting on behalf of the client).

The date that the first coaching session takes place shall be deemed to be the start date for the service.

Format of Sessions

Sessions may take place face-to-face (location by mutual agreement), via Zoom (Yvette will supply a meeting ID/password) or by telephone (client calls Yvette). Unless otherwise agreed, for Zoom and telephone sessions the client is responsible for telephoning Yvette at the agreed time. Yvette is responsible for ensuring that she is available for consultation at agreed times. The length of each session will be as agreed between Yvette and the client before coaching sessions commence.

If you wish to record your coaching sessions please inform Yvette who will enable this feature for you in Zoom. Please note that any recordings you make should be for your own personal use only.

Fees

Fees will be in accordance with Yvette’s current fees for a programme of sessions, or any other such fee as shall be agreed and notified to the client. Yvette will confirm the fees and payment schedule in writing, usually by email. The number of sessions for which payment is required in advance will be agreed before coaching sessions commence.

Additional Sessions

Yvette may agree to provide additional coaching sessions after completion of the initial agreed session(s). These terms and conditions will apply to any additional sessions so provided and the monthly fee will remain the same as originally agreed except where Yvette notifies the client in writing by e-mail of a change to the fee or to any other Term in accordance with the section in these Terms of Service headed “Variation of Terms of Service”.

Dates and Times of Sessions

The date and time of the first session and any subsequent session can be booked via the online scheduling page at www.yvettecoldicott.com/book. Alternatively, session dates and times can be agreed between Yvette and the client by phone or email and confirmed by Yvette by email. Sessions can be rearranged in accordance with the section in these Terms headed “Rearranging Sessions”.

Payment Terms

Fees can be paid by bank transfer or using PayPal. Where receipts are requested by the client, they will be sent by e-mail unless otherwise requested. Fees are payable in advance of each month, unless otherwise agreed (Business Coaching may allow for payment on receipt of invoice). Where payment has not been received by Yvette in advance of a coaching session, Yvette is not obliged to provide the session. Where payment is required on receipt of invoice rather than in advance, a charge may be levied for late payment.

Between Sessions

Yvette may suggest tasks or exercises for the client to complete between coaching sessions. There is no obligation on the client to complete these, but not doing so may slow the client’s progress in achieving their desired business or personal outcomes. 

The client may contact Yvette by phone, WhatsApp voice message or e-mail between sessions to seek clarification regarding anything arising from a coaching session or for administrative purposes (e.g. where a client needs to rearrange a coaching session or make a payment). Additional coaching can also be provided between sessions but there will be an additional charge for this. Yvette will always advise a client in advance if the nature of a client’s contact is likely to incur an additional charge and no such charges will be imposed without the client’s agreement.

Rearranging Sessions

If a client needs to rearrange a coaching session, a minimum 48 hours’ notice is requested. Yvette reserves the right to charge for unused sessions if less than 48 hours’ notice is given. In exceptional circumstances Yvette may need to rearrange a coaching session. In those instances, she will also give the client at least 48 hours’ notice wherever possible.

Lateness and Non-Attendance

In the event that the client is late for a session, Yvette will wait for 15 minutes before ending the session. Missed sessions are payable in full. 

Confidentiality

I recognise that you may share personal and business information during coaching sessions. I will treat all such information as highly confidential, unless I feel compromised by you discussing anything illegal or if I feel you may do harm to yourself or others, which is part of the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics (see www.coachfederation.org). As a coach who is working to become credentialled with the International Coach Federation, I may be required to submit a log of my coaching hours by client. This shows the client’s name, email and/or phone number and total hours coached over a set period. It contains no reference to the specific nature of the coaching work. 

Supervision

Yvette is committed to her own professional development and as part of this she is supervised, from time to time, by a qualified supervisor. Yvette may seek supervision support on issues which arise from her coaching. If she does this, your identity will remain strictly confidential.

Early Termination

In exceptional circumstances, such as illness or unavailability due to bereavement or other commitments, inappropriate behaviour by the client, actual or potential conflict of interest, or other reasons, Yvette can decide to terminate the service to the client early or refuse or be unable to provide further coaching sessions to the client. If such a situation occurs, Yvette will give the client reasonable notice of termination where practicable and will refund any advance payments made for coaching sessions not yet provided.

Responsibilities

Coaching can lead to remarkable results where clients follow a clear plan in a committed way. Yvette will seek to support the client to achieve their desired results in whichever way is agreed appropriate. However, the client has sole responsibility for taking important decisions in their life or business. Yvette has no liability for any loss incurred by any client, whether financial or otherwise, following commencement of coaching sessions, or for any perceived failure by the client, whether justified or otherwise, to achieve a material improvement in quality of life or business or to achieve their desired outcomes or goals.

Variation of Terms of Service

Where an initial number of sessions is agreed, any changes to these terms and conditions intended to take effect prior to the conclusion of those sessions will only have effect if agreed by both Yvette and the client and confirmed by Yvette in writing by email. In other cases, Yvette may change any of these Terms of Service including the Monthly Fee by giving the client one week’s notice in writing by e-mail of the change(s). If following receipt of such notification of change, the client no longer wishes to proceed with further coaching sessions, they may withdraw from the service immediately by giving notice in writing by email or letter and they will then be entitled to a full refund of any fees paid in advance for coaching sessions not yet provided. Such notice will be effective on receipt by Yvette.

Governing Law

This contract is governed by the law of England whose courts have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any dispute, disagreement, proceedings or legal claim of any nature relating to the service provided or the contract.

Feedback

Feedback about the service is welcomed and can be given during a coaching session or by emailing yvette@yvettecoldicott.com.  

These Terms of Service were last updated on 07th January 2021