These terms & conditions go hand-in-hand and form part of your Coaching Contract. Please make sure that you read them thoroughly and understand fully the nature and scope of our coaching relationship.

1) Coach-Client Relationship

1. The relationship between Coach and Client is that of principal and independent contractor. The Coaching Contract does not make either party a joint venture, partner, employee or agent of the other.

2. The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and best practice standards of the generally accepted industry practice and standards.

3. The Client is solely responsible for creating and implementing his/her own physical, mental and emotional well-being, decisions, choices, actions and results arising out of or resulting from the coaching relationship and his/her coaching calls and interactions with the Coach. As such, the Client agrees that the Coach is not and will not be liable or responsible for any actions or inaction, or for any direct or indirect result of any services provided by the Coach. The Client understands coaching is not therapy and does not substitute for therapy if needed, and does not prevent, cure, or treat any mental disorder or medical disease.

4. Client further acknowledges that he/she may terminate or discontinue the coaching relationship at any time.

5. Client acknowledges that coaching is a comprehensive process that may involve different areas of his or her life, including work, finances, health, relationships, education and recreation. The Client agrees that deciding how to handle these issues, incorporate coaching principles into those areas and implementing choices is exclusively the Client’s

6. Client acknowledges that coaching does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders and that coaching is not to be used as a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, or other professional advice by legal, medical or other qualified professionals and that it is the Client’s exclusive responsibility to seek such independent professional guidance as needed. If the Client is currently under the care of a mental health professional, it is recommended that the Client promptly inform the mental health care provider of the nature and extent of the coaching relationship agreed upon by the Client and the Coach.

7. The Client understands that in order to enhance the coaching relationship, the Client agrees to communicate honestly, be open to feedback and assistance and to create the time and energy to participate fully in the program. Where possible, the Client should ensure that there is as little background noise/distraction, so that they can get the most from each coaching call and be heard easily by the Coach.

8. Results of the services vary from person to person. For this reason, performance, progress and success are reliant on the Client meeting their own commitments. The Coach cannot and does not guarantee any particular or any results and the Client is solely responsible for their progress. If at any time during the services the Client feels their progress is not as expected, it is the responsibility of the Client to advise the Coach immediately of any concerns in order to give the Coach an opportunity to address and assist. The Coach will use any and all reasonable efforts to solve these concerns. Nonetheless, the Coach does not guarantee or warrant any increase or altered progress or performance.

2) Services

The parties agree to engage in the Coaching Program agreed upon in the Coaching Contract. Calls will typically be over Zoom unless otherwise specified.

The Coach will be available to Client by e-mail, contact@samlifecoach.com and Facebook Messenger. 

3) Payment and Fees

The Coaching Contract is valid as of the Effective Date stated in the Coaching Contract. The fees are payable in advance and before scheduling appointments. The calls will be via Zoom, unless otherwise organized, for the length of time agreed upon.

REFUND POLICY: I do not offer refunds on coaching services. Sessions may be postponed for a reasonable time period.

Should I, the Coach, have a family emergency; the Client will have the option of either:

1. Rescheduling of the remaining coaching sessions; or

2. Pro-rated refund of the fees based on the number of coaching sessions that the Client has received to date.

4) Zoom calls, scheduling and appointments

Rescheduling: change, as available on my schedule, will be allowed 48-hours before any appointment. Please use the appointment rescheduling tools on the website for making these changes. However, changes less than 48-hours and more than 24-hours before any appointment should be confirmed with me by email or Facebook Messenger. If you cancel with less than 24-hours’ notice or are a no-show for the session, your coaching session is forfeited.

Zoom calls: A zoom link will be provided and sent to you by email.

Late arrival: any delay or late attendance to any scheduled sessions by the Client will finish at the nominated and agreed original time. Sessions will finish on time at the originally scheduled time unless otherwise agreed by the Client and Coach.

5) Confidentiality

This coaching relationship, as well as all information (documented or verbal) that the Client shares with the Coach as part of this relationship, is bound by the principles of confidentiality and laws applicable to the Coach and Client. However, please be aware that the Coach-Client relationship is not considered a legally privileged relationship (unlike the legal profession or medical profession) and thus communications are not subject to the protection of any legally recognized privilege. The Coach agrees not to disclose any information pertaining to the Client without the Client’s written consent. The Coach will not disclose the Client’s name as a reference without the Client’s consent.

Client acknowledges and accepts that according to the ethics of our profession, topics may be anonymously and hypothetically shared with other coaching professionals for training, supervision, mentoring, evaluation, and for coach professional development and/or consultation purposes, with no reference being made to the personal description, name or identifying details of the Client.

If a dispute arises, both parties agree that confidentiality is paramount to the reputation of both Client and Coach. At no time will any communications or discussions be made public. This includes, but is not limited to social media, websites or another party. Any public discussion or comments about either party are considered defamatory, negative or otherwise damaging and will be subject to compensation in any mediation or litigation claim.

6) Record Retention

The Client acknowledges that the Coach may make written notes during the coaching session. These are notes to remind the Coach of the session topics and are not for distribution to the client.  The Coach may or may not delete or retain these messages in electronic format, as well as keeping the notes in the Client file until the relationship has terminated.

The Client furthermore understands that the financial transaction records will be kept in accordance with the tax and income reporting rules applicable to the Coach, for the purpose of accounting purposes. Such records will be maintained by the Coach in a format of the Coach’s choice (print or digital/electronic) for the time period deemed appropriate by the Coach’s accountant or tax advisers.

7) Termination

Note that the Coaching Contract will automatically terminate upon completion, notwithstanding that the Confidentiality and duty of Non-Disclosure mentioned in these Terms & Conditions shall survive and continue in force and effect for the period of time allowed by applicable law.

Client agrees, in the event of termination of the Coaching Contract, that the Coaching Fees are non-refundable as already set forth in these Terms & Conditions and as mentioned in the Coaching Contract.

In the event of termination without cause by the Coach, the Coach shall refund to the Client the pro-rated basis of fees, according to the coaching sessions remaining under the Coaching Contract.

However, the Coaching Contract may be terminated with cause by the Coach, at their sole discretion, should the Client become disruptive to Coach, fail to follow the guidelines provided by the Coach, be difficult to work with, consistently fail to complete the agreed-upon work between coaching sessions, or the Coach believe that the working relationship has broken down, including a loss of confidence and trust, which has the effect of compromising the Coach’s ability to perform the services under the Coaching Contract.

8) Limited Liability & Indemnification

Except as expressly provided in these Terms & Conditions, the Coach makes no guarantees, representations or warranties of any kind or nature, express or implied with respect to the coaching services negotiated, agreed upon and rendered. In no event shall the Coach be liable to the Client for any indirect, consequential or special damages. Notwithstanding any damages that the Client may incur, the Coach’s entire liability under these Terms & Conditions and the Coaching Contract, and the Client’s exclusive remedy shall be limited to the amount actually paid by the Client to the Coach under the respective Coaching Contract for all coaching services rendered through and including the termination date.

The Coach is not an employee, agent, manager, therapist, public relations or business manager, registered dietician, financial analyst or adviser, psychotherapist, or accountant. While the Coach has a medical degree, she is no longer in the practice of medicine and will not in any way offer any medical advice or services to the Client.

Furthermore, some of the services covered in the coaching may involve health or other personal management discussions. These services and the information provided should not replace discussions with a qualified healthcare or other relevant professionals and should not be used to diagnose or replace any professional treatment and/or management of any condition. Any decision about the Client’s treatment and management of any condition should be made with the relevant healthcare professional, and the Client agrees and acknowledges that any reliance on any information, discussion or recommendation is done at their own risk.

The Client is at all times responsible for their own physical health and emotional well-being.

By engaging the Coach, the Client agrees that they alone are responsible for all outcomes and achievements by participating in the Services and the Coach cannot guarantee nor be responsible for any results, no matter how incurred.

9) Terms & Conditions and Coaching Contract – form a single document

These Terms & Conditions shall be construed as forming an integral part of the Coaching Contract between the Coach and the Client, reflecting the complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter. The Coaching Contract, read together with these Terms & Conditions, supersedes all prior written and oral representations. The Coaching Contract may not be amended, altered or supplemented except in writing signed by both the Coach and the Client.

10) Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises out of the Coaching Contract that cannot be resolved by mutual consent, the Client and Coach agree to attempt to mediate in good faith for up to 30 days after the notice is given. If the dispute is not so resolved, and in the event of legal action, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover attorney’s fees and court costs from the other party.

11) Severability

If any provision of the Coaching Contract and these Terms & Conditions shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable. If the Court finds that any provision of the Coaching Contract and these Terms & Conditions is invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting such provision it would become valid and enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be written, construed, and enforced as so limited.

12) Waiver

The failure of either party to enforce any provision of the Coaching Contract and these Terms & Conditions shall not be construed as a waiver or limitation of that party’s right to subsequently enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision of the Coaching Contract and these Terms & Conditions.

13) Applicable Law

The Coaching Contract and these Terms & Conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any Conflicts of Laws provisions.

14) Binding Effect

The Coaching Contract and these Terms & Conditions shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permissible assigns.