Cecily May Coaching, LLC

Coaching Agreement, Policies and Procedures

Welcome to my coaching practice, I am honored to be of support to you and look forward to developing an engaging, collaborative, safe and healing relationship together. I want to take this time to outline my process, disclosures, expectations, and policies.

Therapy versus Coaching

There is a difference between therapy and coaching. Depending on where you are in your own journey, you may find healing benefits from working with either kind of health professional.

With therapy there is a power differential between therapist and client. Whereas coaching allows for both client and coach to be equals and peers, which is proven to be beneficial in healing relational trauma.

Trauma Recovery Coaching is differentiated from other types of coaches and therapy within this mental health field as we recognize the unique, complex, and specific needs of those affected by developmental trauma, relational trauma, and complex PTSD. Trauma Recovery Coaching is specifically designed to address trauma. We are educated about trauma first, and then taught a coaching model. Other mental health professions and coaching training programs are taught counseling, coaching or therapy skills first and then they shape those methods to fit around trauma.

My Coaching Process

In addition to Trauma Recovery Coaching, I am educated in and have experience practicing with the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. Both modalities complement one another as they are client-led which allows for me to take a gentle and non-pathologizing approach to compassionately support a client wherever they are currently at in their journey towards healing, self-acceptance, and growth.

I will not label, diagnose, or judge you for lived experiences, feelings, opinions, beliefs, or any behaviors you may wish to deconstruct, better understand, become more mindful of, or work towards healing from. I understand that much of how we operate, react, and communicate as adults is subconsciously influenced by our childhoods. It often takes unlearning and relearning relational skills and tools, and I am empathetic and patient with each individual’s unique and rewarding journey. As your coach, it is my role to be a source of knowledge, encouragement, and support, while offering resources when needed, as well as holding space for you when you feel overwhelmed. Coaching from an IFS-informed lens allows me to compassionately witness, connect with and accept all the parts that make you, you.

All parts are welcome!

Discovery Calls are 15-minutes long, are free of charge, and are available only to potential clients to ensure we will be a comfortable fit.

An IFS-informed Coaching Session is 50-minutes long. This modality will allow us to dig deeper into the parts of yourself that you may struggle to accept or the parts that are often triggered/activated with higher amounts of stress in various aspects of your life.

Parenting with Self-Leadership is a 50-minute IFS hybrid session. This unique model focuses on exploring and healing trigger-points or areas you may feel discouraged in, and understanding why certain behaviors of your child(ren) may be especially overwhelming for you. When we compassionately hold space for what parts of ours are present when our Allowing us to Open to any adults who interact with children (ie teachers, educators, pediatric nurses, daycare providers, nannies, grandparents, etc).

 A Clarity Call is a 50-minute non-IFS session offering you the opportunity to vent, brainstorm, problem-solve, or feel validated about a specific situation, etc.

Disclosures and Confidentiality

All sessions will take place via Zoom, which is not HIPPA compliant therefore I cannot guarantee that information shared through that platform will be safe from a data breach.

Additionally, my email is not encrypted and unless given written permission by you, I will not ask you to submit sensitive or overly personal information in that manner.

I file all client records securely so that no one other than myself has access to them. Anything that you say to me, my written notes or any paperwork provided by you or your physician, mental health professional or legal representative (current or past) will be kept confidential. The only time I will break that confidentiality is if I feel you are in danger of harming yourself or another person; if you report abuse of someone, or if I receive a legal subpoena to release your records.

As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™, I act as a Mandatory Reporter, as outlined by The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching. This means that if I become aware that a minor, a disabled person, or an elderly person is currently being abused I am mandated to report the abuse to the appropriate governing agency.

As a coach, I have limitations on the things we can work through with my clients. There are some situations I do not have the expertise to help you with. If you are in a place where there are risks to your own safety – you are suicidal, significantly self-harming, in the midst of an active addiction – the Association mandates that I help you find someone who is competent to deal with that particular issue. You do not have to stop seeing me, but we must bring in another professional who has the expertise with whatever safety issue is at hand to support you through those challenges. This is called our Escalated Care Protocol. I can provide you with additional details if you have questions about this process.

Privacy

For your privacy, no 1-on-1 coaching sessions will be recorded.

I request that you do not record our sessions either.

Courses, workshops, or webinars I offer will be recorded for teaching purposes.

In addition to coaching, I am an educator, public speaker, and a writer. Though I find inspiration from my own lived experiences, I also find it in my day-to-day interactions with others. However, unless mutually agreed upon, I will not share your specific, detailed story or your personal information.

Policies and Procedures

Payment, in full, is due at time of booking the appointment.

There are no refunds for sessions paid.

Sessions can be rescheduled if absolutely needed.

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance in order to reschedule them; otherwise, you forfeit that session.

Single sessions purchased (Initial Intake Session, Clarity Calls & IFS-informed) must be used within 30 days of purchase.

4-session IFS packages must be used within 6 weeks of purchase.

6-session IFS packages must be used within 8 weeks of purchase.

If you fail to show to our appointment without any prior notice, or do not cancel by the allotted window, you will forfeit your opportunity to reschedule that appointment missed.

Additionally, if you are more than 15 minutes late to a scheduled session, that session will be canceled without the opportunity to reschedule. If you repeatedly fail to timely show for or cancel our sessions this may result in my terminating our coaching relationship.

I realize that on rare occasions emergencies do happen. Should this be the case, please contact me at your earliest opportunity and I will work with you to reschedule on a mutually agreed upon day.

If for some reason I need to cancel our appointment, I will also do my best to give you sufficient notice and an opportunity to reschedule at your/my earliest convenience.

Prices susceptible to increase. Any sessions, packages, or courses purchased prior to increase will not be affected.

Alcohol & Drugs: Please do not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during our coaching sessions. It is difficult, if not impossible, to have a session worth the devotion of either of our time when you are under the influence. If you are struggling with any substance overuse, I welcome you to let me know so we can talk about it and work to get you any support that you might need.

Please do not bring anyone to a 1-on-1 coaching session (spouse, parent, friend, child) without first discussing it with me. We need to address your confidentiality, goals and consider which coaching modality is being used during sessions before a third party is brought in.

Communication Outside of Sessions: Please know that I am here to support you and offer encouragement in between our sessions via email. I will do my best to reply to you within 24-48 hours during the weekdays. This is for questions, concerns, or celebrations that can be expressed relatively quickly. If I feel that these forms of communication are not efficient for your concerns or needs, I will suggest a Clarity Call.

Crisis response: If anytime outside of our sessions, you find yourself in crisis due to safety issues such as suicide ideation, significant self-harming, or violence within a relationship, please reach out to your physician; or dial 911 (USA); dial or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; or dial 800-799-7233 to reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline: dial 1-800-662-HELP(4357) to reach the helpline for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.

Expectations

What you can expect from me:

o   To treat you with respect

o   To be prepared and on time for our scheduled sessions

o   To provide you with a calm and healing presence

o   To respect your confidentiality

o   To be fully present and focused on you during our time together

My expectations of you:

o   To be prepared and on time for scheduled sessions

o   To be free of phone and other technological distractions during our allotted time

o   To come to sessions with a willingness to do the work

o   To be open and honest with me about what may not be working for you during sessions

Grievance Procedure

I am required to let you know that I am a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™ credentialed by The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching.

As part of my certification, I am bound to uphold the Association’s Code of Ethics.

If at any time you feel I have failed to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics or wronged you in another way you are welcome to contact Dr. Judith “Jai” Belton, CTRC-C at Grievance@iaotrc.com who is the Chairperson of the Association’s Professional Standard’s Committee. She can send you a grievance form to complete and submit, as well as let you know the process that will take place after she receives your grievance. All reports and grievance actions are held confidential by the Professional Standard’s Committee.