Client Agreement
Hello and Welcome to OpenMind Integrative Health Coaching. Integrative Health Clients are interested in their personal health and well-being. They feel ready to take this first step in identifying where they are now and where it is that they’d like to be. Integrative Health Coaches are healthcare professionals, partnering with their clients along their health behavior change. Integrative Health Coaching is a new field in healthcare. Developed in the 1990’s, it has grown to a nationally recognized field of importance by the American Medical Board. Credentialed under a national board of standards procedures, and scope of practice, Integrative Health Coaching continues to demonstrate positive impact on the healthcare of our populations by effectively coaching Health Behavior Change. Trained at Duke Integrative Medicine, I coach an evidence-based process model in a lifestyle approach to health and wellness. My coaching is personalized to the needs and concerns of each client. Through inquiry, reflective exploration and discovery, I coach my clients in their ability to positively impact their health.
I offer 25-minute coaching sessions by Zoom. This is time to gather a focus of interest, evaluate possibilities for change, and establish concrete steps toward new health behavior. Coaching health behavior change is an active relationship process between Coach and Client. This Coach-Client Agreement serves to reduce assumptions, manage expectations, and clarify procedures. My practice is enriched by the willing dedication of my clients. Thank you for choosing me to be your Integrative Health Coach.
Communication
The key to an effective coaching relationship is communication. You can expect me to be straightforward, constructive and confidential. Please be honest with yourself and me during your coaching session. You can feel free to speak your mind, referencing both the positive and the negative; this includes letting me know if at any point, you feel uncomfortable or if you don’t want to respond to a topic, comment, or question. This also includes letting me know if at any point that you have topics or concerns that we have not addressed.
As your coach, I am a resource for you to use to your best advantage. With your permission, I will share information and insights. I will ask re-orienting questions that are intended to increase your success in attaining your health goals. I will not diagnose, prescribe, interpret beliefs or behaviors, instruct, or give unsolicited advice. I may make a direct request, like: “Will you accomplish by the end of the month?” You always have the option of accepting this request, declining the request, or counter-offering something that feels more comfortable. I may use a communication skill to Interrupt – Reflect – and Re-direct the conversation. I have found this skill to be useful as we maximize our time together. Please communicate with me, how this skill can best be used to your individual learning style.
Preparation
I commit to bringing my best forward and being ready, willing, and able to coach you in our sessions. I expect you to bring your best forward and be ready, willing, and able to be in the coaching process. I commit to being prompt and prepared for our sessions and expect you to be on-time and prepared as well. I ask that you come to the coaching session prepared with an idea of what you want to achieve.
Integrative Health Clients use honest appraisals to set realistic health goals as they identify where they are and where they’d like to be. To support this process, I offer a Personal Health Inventory that may generate a more global perspective of your whole-person health. It may provide useful as you identify concerns, establish focus areas, and evaluate levels of priority. Feel free to read through the document and reflect or record details that may be useful during our coaching session.
[Personal Health Inventory]
Cancellation
Time is important, and unexpected things can come up. Please give me 24-hours notice by email if you need to reschedule your session. If I need to re-schedule, I will do my best to give you at least 48-hours notice by email.
Confidentiality
I recognize that in the course of our work, you may give me the following: future plans, health information, financial information, job information, goals, personal information, and other proprietary information. I will not at any time, either directly or indirectly, use any information for my own personal benefit, disclose, or communicate in any manner any information to any third party. I will not divulge that you and I are in a coaching relationship without your permission. I will hold everything that we say and do confidential unless you present a physical danger to yourself or others – in that case, I will inform legal authorities so that protective measures can be taken. In addition, you should know that unlike a physician or a lawyer our confidentiality agreement is not protected by law. Should it ever happen, I cannot claim in court to be unable to divulge the contents of our conversations.
Nature of the relationship
You are aware that the coaching relationship is in no way to be construed as psychological counseling or psychotherapy. In the event that you feel the need for professional counseling or therapy, it is your responsibility to seek a licensed professional. Coaching results are not guaranteed. You enter into coaching with the understanding that you are responsible for creating your own results.
*I reserve the right to structure all coaching arrangements according to the best interests of my practice.
Client Waiver
Simply stated, you understand that I am an Integrative Health Coach. I cannot be held liable for resources or education that I provide during our work together. [ ]
The Integrative Health Client has read and agrees to the parameters of the coaching practice which have been outlined above [ ]
Integrative Health Coaches do not diagnose, prescribe, instruct, interpret beliefs or behaviors, or give unsolicited advice. We serve our clients by accompanying them through their personal and unique Health Behavior Change.
I agree and consent [ ]
Integrative Health Coaching is an important contribution to the health of our society. It demonstrates positive impact on the healthcare of our population. Therefore, I structure my Coaching Practice on a Pay-it-Forward business model. When you sign up for your coaching session, your session has been fully pre-paid for you. Upon completion of our session, reflect upon the value you received and the price that you could afford – and Pay-it-Forward to sponsor the next person wanting to optimize their health with a coaching session(s).
I agree and consent [ ]
I look forward to meeting you and supporting your best efforts toward achieving your optimal health and wellness.