PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT

This Coaching Services Agreement & Informed Consent ("Agreement") describes the nature, scope, expectations, and limitations of coaching services provided by Isabelle R. Carter, LLC ("Coach," "I," "me," or "my") to the individual receiving services ("Client," "you," or "your").

By signing this Agreement, you acknowledge that you understand the nature of coaching services, the distinction between coaching and psychotherapy or other clinical services, the responsibilities of both the Coach and Client, and the limitations of coaching.

Coaching is a collaborative, strengths-based, practical, and goal-oriented process designed to support personal growth, authentic self-expression, intentional decision-making, and meaningful behavioral change. Coaching supports clients in identifying and removing internal and external barriers that get in the way of authentic, values-aligned living.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF COACHING

Coaching is a non-clinical service focused primarily on present and future-oriented goals, personal development, skill-building, accountability, and behavioral change.

Coaching may include support related to:

• Personal growth and life transitions

• Wellness and lifestyle

• Executive functioning and organization

• ADHD coaching and ADHD-informed strategies

• Goal-setting and accountability

• Communication and interpersonal skills

• Boundaries

• Recovery-supportive lifestyle development

• Stress management and coping strategies

• Values clarification and self-awareness

• Authentic expression and values-aligned living

The specific focus of coaching will be determined collaboratively based on the Client's goals, needs, and circumstances.

Coaching is not intended to provide a predetermined outcome, and no specific result can be guaranteed.

COACHING IS NOT PSYCHOTHERAPY

Coaching is not psychotherapy, counseling, mental-health treatment, or a substitute for professional clinical care.

Coaching does not include the diagnosis or treatment of mental-health disorders, substance-use disorders, trauma-related disorders, or other clinical conditions. Coaching is not intended to replace psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medical care, substance-use treatment, or other professional services.

Participation in coaching does not establish a therapist-client, counselor-client, or other clinical treatment relationship.

Although coaching may incorporate general concepts related to psychology, behavior change, wellness, relationships, or personal development, these concepts are used for educational and coaching purposes and do not constitute diagnosis or treatment.

SEPARATION OF COACHING AND CLINICAL SERVICES

Coaching provided through Isabelle R. Carter, LLC is a separate, non-clinical service.

The Coach does not provide coaching services to individuals who are currently receiving psychotherapy from the Coach.

A former psychotherapy client may, when clinically and professionally appropriate, seek coaching after the therapeutic relationship has ended. In such circumstances, coaching remains a separate service with a separate purpose, scope, agreement, and documentation.

The transition from psychotherapy to coaching does not mean that coaching is a continuation of psychotherapy or clinical treatment.

If the Coach also provides clinical services in another professional capacity, those services are separate from coaching and are subject to their own informed consent, documentation, professional, ethical, and legal requirements.

The Coach will not represent coaching services as psychotherapy or as treatment for a diagnosed or suspected mental-health condition.

PROFESSIONAL SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

The Coach will work within the scope of coaching and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Coaching does not include:

• Diagnosing mental-health or substance-use disorders

• Treating mental-health or substance-use disorders

• Providing psychotherapy or clinical counseling

• Providing psychiatric services

• Prescribing, changing, or recommending prescription medications

• Providing medical diagnosis or treatment

• Providing emergency or crisis intervention

• Providing legal, financial, or other specialized professional advice outside the Coach's qualifications

The Coach may provide general educational information and practical strategies related to areas such as behavior change, executive functioning, wellness, relationships, stress management, and personal development.

Such information should not be interpreted as medical, psychiatric, psychological, legal, financial, or other specialized professional advice unless expressly identified as such and provided within the Coach's appropriate qualifications.

ADHD AND EXECUTIVE-FUNCTIONING COACHING

ADHD coaching and ADHD-informed coaching may focus on practical skills and strategies related to executive functioning, organization, planning, time management, task initiation, prioritization, routines, accountability, and related areas of daily functioning.

Coaching does not include diagnosing ADHD, determining whether an individual meets diagnostic criteria for ADHD, treating ADHD, or managing ADHD medication.

Clients who have questions regarding diagnosis, medication, or clinical treatment of ADHD should consult an appropriately qualified healthcare or mental-health professional.

RECOVERY-SUPPORTIVE COACHING

Recovery-supportive coaching may be available to individuals who are established in recovery and are seeking non-clinical support with areas such as:

• Daily structure and routines

• Accountability

• Healthy lifestyle development

• Relationships and communication

• Boundaries

• Values and personal development

• Goal-setting

• Maintaining a recovery-supportive lifestyle

Recovery-supportive coaching is not substance-use disorder treatment and does not provide detoxification, withdrawal management, relapse treatment, clinical assessment, diagnosis, or psychotherapy.

If a Client's substance use, withdrawal, cravings, or other concerns indicate a need for clinical or medical services, the Coach may recommend appropriate professional treatment and may pause or terminate coaching when necessary.

CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY

Coaching is a collaborative process. The Client remains responsible for their own decisions, choices, actions, relationships, health, safety, and use of information discussed during coaching.

The Client is responsible for:

• Identifying and communicating their goals

• Providing accurate and relevant information

• Actively participating in the coaching process

• Deciding whether and how to implement strategies discussed during coaching

• Evaluating whether a particular strategy is appropriate for their circumstances

• Seeking appropriate professional care when needed

• Informing the Coach when coaching is no longer meeting their needs

The Coach does not make decisions on behalf of the Client and does not guarantee that coaching will result in a particular personal, professional, relational, behavioral, or wellness outcome.

COEXISTING CLINICAL CONCERNS

A Client may experience mental-health or other clinical concerns while participating in coaching.

The presence of a mental-health concern does not automatically mean that coaching must end. When appropriate, the Coach may continue working with the Client on clearly defined, non-clinical coaching goals while recommending that the Client obtain concurrent clinical or other professional care.

The Coach will not provide diagnosis or treatment of the clinical concern through coaching.

If the Client's needs substantially exceed the scope of coaching, the Coach may pause or terminate coaching and recommend appropriate professional services.

SAFETY CONCERNS AND REFERRAL

Coaching is not intended to provide clinical risk assessment, crisis intervention, or emergency services.

If a significant safety concern arises during the coaching relationship, the Coach may pause coaching and recommend immediate evaluation or support from an appropriately qualified professional or emergency/crisis service.

Depending on the circumstances, recommendations may include psychotherapy, psychiatric services, medical care, substance-use treatment, emergency services, or other appropriate professional support.

The Coach may take reasonable steps consistent with applicable law and professional obligations when responding to an immediate safety concern.

The Client understands that the Coach may determine that coaching is not appropriate when significant safety concerns require clinical assessment or intervention.

CRISIS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Coaching is not an emergency or crisis service.

The Coach does not provide 24-hour monitoring or emergency response through coaching sessions, email, text messages, or telephone calls.

If you are experiencing an emergency, are in immediate danger, or believe that you may harm yourself or another person, do not wait for a response from the Coach. Contact 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or contact an appropriate crisis service.

In the United States, you may also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Email, text, and telephone communications with the Coach should not be used to report an emergency or urgent safety concern.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY

The Coach will make reasonable efforts to protect the privacy of information shared during coaching.

Because coaching is a non-clinical service, confidentiality and privacy protections may differ from those applicable to psychotherapy or other regulated clinical services.

Information may be disclosed when required or permitted by applicable law, when necessary to address an immediate safety concern, or when otherwise authorized by the Client.

The Coach may also be required to disclose information in response to certain legal processes or obligations.

Clients are encouraged to ask questions about privacy and confidentiality before beginning coaching.

COACHING RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION

The Coach may maintain limited records necessary to administer and provide coaching services.

Coaching records may include:

• This signed Agreement

• Intake and background information relevant to coaching

• Coaching goals or plans

• Brief, non-clinical session notes

• Attendance and scheduling information

• Payment records

• Relevant communications regarding coaching services

Coaching documentation is intended to support continuity, organization, administrative requirements, and the coaching relationship. Coaching records are not psychotherapy records and are not intended to function as clinical treatment records.

The Coach will not routinely use clinical documentation formats, such as psychotherapy DAP notes, for coaching services.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

The Coach may communicate with Clients by email, text message, and telephone.

These methods may be used for scheduling, logistical matters, brief coaching-related communication, and other appropriate communication between sessions.

The Coach intends to respond to routine communications within approximately 24 hours, excluding weekends, holidays, and periods when the Coach is unavailable.

Response times are not guaranteed.

Email, text messages, and telephone communications are not monitored continuously and are not appropriate for emergencies or crisis situations.

Because electronic communication may involve privacy and security risks, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for information transmitted electronically.

Clients are encouraged to use discretion when sending sensitive information through email or text.

VIRTUAL COACHING

Virtual coaching may be conducted through Zoom.

The Client is responsible for participating from an environment that is reasonably private and free from unnecessary interruptions.

The Client is responsible for maintaining the security of their own devices, internet connection, accounts, and physical environment.

Technology disruptions may occasionally interfere with virtual sessions. If a connection is interrupted, the Coach and Client will make reasonable efforts to reconnect or determine an alternative method of completing the session.

Coaching sessions will not be recorded by the Coach unless the Client is informed in advance and provides appropriate consent.

IN-PERSON COACHING

In-person coaching services are available in Maine by appointment.

The specific location and logistics of in-person sessions will be communicated separately.

Coaching does not provide medical or emergency services, and the Coach is not responsible for circumstances outside the reasonable scope of the coaching relationship.

FEES AND PAYMENT

Coaching services are provided on a private-pay basis and are not billed to health insurance.

Individual coaching sessions are offered on a sliding scale of $85–$125 per 60-minute session.

The applicable session fee will be established with the Client before services begin.

Payment is due at the time of service.

Coaching fees are non-refundable once services have been provided.

The Coach reserves the right to update fees with reasonable notice.

CANCELLATION AND MISSED APPOINTMENTS

The Client is asked to provide at least 24 hours' notice when canceling or rescheduling an appointment.

A first missed appointment or late cancellation may be treated as a one-time warning.

After the initial warning, a late cancellation or missed appointment may result in a charge of $85.

Exceptions may be considered at the Coach's discretion for circumstances that reasonably prevented timely notice.

Repeated missed appointments or late cancellations may result in termination of coaching services.

TERMINATION OF COACHING

Either the Client or Coach may end the coaching relationship at any time.

The Coach may pause or terminate coaching when:

• The Client's needs exceed the scope of coaching

• Clinical or specialized services appear more appropriate

• A significant safety concern arises

• Continued coaching may not be beneficial or appropriate

• Professional boundaries cannot be maintained

• The Client repeatedly fails to follow agreed-upon policies

• There are unresolved payment concerns

• The coaching relationship is otherwise no longer appropriate

When reasonably possible, the Coach may provide referrals or recommendations for alternative services when coaching is terminated because the Client requires support outside the scope of coaching.

Termination of coaching does not prevent the Client from seeking other appropriate professional services.

PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

The coaching relationship is a professional relationship.

The Coach and Client agree to maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Coaching does not include romantic, sexual, or otherwise exploitative relationships between the Coach and Client.

Communication outside scheduled sessions should remain consistent with the professional nature and purpose of coaching.

The Coach may decline requests, interactions, or arrangements that could create a conflict of interest or compromise appropriate professional boundaries.

COACHING MATERIALS

The Coach may provide original exercises, educational resources, written materials, frameworks, or other materials as part of coaching.

Unless otherwise stated, these materials are provided for the Client's personal use and may not be reproduced, distributed, sold, published, or commercially used without written permission from the Coach.

Clients may use coaching materials for their own personal growth and development.

TESTIMONIALS AND REVIEWS

The Coach may invite Clients to provide voluntary feedback, testimonials, or reviews regarding their experience.

Providing a testimonial or review is entirely voluntary and is not a condition of receiving coaching services.

The Client may decline to provide a testimonial without affecting their relationship with the Coach or access to services.

The Coach will not identify a Client publicly without appropriate permission.

NO GUARANTEE OF RESULTS

The Coach makes no guarantees regarding the outcome of coaching.

Results may vary depending on the Client's circumstances, goals, participation, resources, environment, and many other factors.

The purpose of coaching is to provide structured support, reflection, education, accountability, and skill development—not to guarantee a particular result.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND INFORMED CONSENT

By signing below, I acknowledge that:

• I understand that coaching is a non-clinical service.

• I understand that coaching is not psychotherapy, counseling, or mental-health treatment.

• I understand that coaching is not a substitute for psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medical care, substance-use treatment, or other professional services.

• I understand that the Coach does not diagnose or treat mental-health or substance-use disorders through coaching.

• I understand that ADHD coaching does not include diagnosis or treatment of ADHD.

• I understand that recovery-supportive coaching does not constitute substance-use disorder treatment.

• I understand that coaching does not provide emergency or crisis services.

• I understand how to seek emergency or crisis assistance when needed.

• I understand that email, text, and telephone communication are not continuously monitored and should not be used for emergencies.

• I understand the fees, cancellation policy, and payment expectations.

• I understand that coaching does not guarantee a particular outcome.

• I understand that I remain responsible for my own decisions and actions.

• I understand that the Coach may recommend concurrent clinical care when appropriate.

• I understand that the Coach may pause or terminate coaching when my needs fall outside the scope of coaching or when continued coaching is not appropriate.

• I understand that coaching services are separate from psychotherapy and that I will not receive psychotherapy through my coaching relationship.

• I have had an opportunity to ask questions about this Agreement and the nature of coaching.

• I voluntarily consent to participate in coaching services.

By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Coaching Services Agreement & Informed Consent.