Life in Focus
COACHING AGREEMENT & INFORMED CONSENT
Life in Focus, LLC is a coaching practice founded and run by Dr. Alessandra Wall. This agreement is
between you, the client, and Dr. Wall, the coach, and is effective upon signature of this document.
Please take the time to read this document carefully, although it might seem long, all the
information is pertinent to our work together and you should come into this relationship aware of
your and my responsibilities. Please feel free to bring up any questions you may have prior to our
starting work together.
Services:
The service provided by Dr. Alessandra Wall through Life in Focus LLC, is coaching delivered face
to face, via phone, video conferencing or email.
 Coaching will cover topics and areas jointly agreed upon by both parties and may address a
variety of issues including: specific personal goals, projects or issues with life balance,
nutrition and fitness or general personal or professional conditions.
 The goal of coaching is to facilitate the development of personal goals and to help identify
and carry out strategies for achieving said goals.
 The following may be used as part of the coaching process to achieve the client’s goals:
identification and clarification of values and goals, brainstorming, action plans, behavioral
interventions and reframing.
 The client understands:
o That coaching is a comprehensive process that may involve all areas of life:
relationships, personal values, work, finances or health;
o That the client decides how to handle these issues, how to incorporate coaching in
those areas of life and how to implement their choices;
o That the client is ultimately responsible for their growth and accountable for the
progress they make through coaching.
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Coaching vs. Psychotherapy:
Although Alessandra Wall, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California,
psychotherapy and counseling are not part of her coaching services.
 Although both coaching and psychotherapy utilize knowledge of human behavior,
motivation, behavioral change, and interactive counseling techniques, there are major
differences in the goals, focus, and level of professional responsibility.
 The relationship between Alessandra Wall and her clients is not a patient- doctor
relationship and is not covered under the same ethical/professional principles as a patientdoctor relationship.
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Coaching does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental illness, and cannot be
considered a substitute for psychotherapy.
Should the coach determine that a client would benefit from psychotherapy, she will make
appropriate referrals, which the client may or may not choose to follow upon.
If the client is currently seeing a therapist or is under the care of a mental health
professional it is expected that they share their decision to see a coach with the
aforementioned professional.
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What is coaching?
Coaching is a professional partnership between you, the client, and Dr. Wall, the coach. It assumes
that the client is a healthy, functioning, resourceful and self-empowered individual. The client is
the expert in his/her life, and as such is fully responsible for selecting goals, determining action
plans and taking the necessary steps to effect their desired change. Dr. Wall as the coach
understands that results in coaching are a matter of the client’s intentions, choices and actions. The
coach’s role is to:
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“Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
Encourage client self-discovery
Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
Hold the client responsible and accountable”1
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Confidentiality:
Dr. Wall will make every effort to maintain all information shared with her private and confidential
except as required by law. To maintain privacy all written records will be destroyed at the
conclusion of our work together, unless the client makes a specific request to have the records
handed over to them.
It is impossible to guarantee the confidentiality of client information that may be transmitted
electronically (i.e., electronic mail and other information stored on computers connected to the
internet, by cordless or mobile telephones and similar telecommunication and computer
equipment). Therefore, it is agreed between the client and the coach that unless the client utilizes
encryption and other forms of security protection, they waive any action legal or otherwise against
Dr. Wall and hold the coach harmless for any interception of information resulting from the use of
the above-mentioned equipment.
1
Quoted from the International Coach Federation’s (ICF) definition of coaching
Although in her capacity as a clinical psychologist Alessandra Wall is a mandated reporter, those
requirements are not legally part of the coach/client relationship. However, if it becomes clear in
our work together that you or someone else is at risk of harm or death I expect that appropriate
steps will be taken to address the risk these steps may include:
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Contacting Child or Adult Protective Services
Securing the support of an emergency contact
Contacting the appropriate emergency services to prevent harm befalling you or someone
else.
No action will be taken without prior communication and deliberation with the client about the
best approach to maintain safety.
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Session:
Coaching sessions will be held at a mutually agreed upon time. It is the client’s responsibility to
make sure they are available and present (in person or via phone/video) at the agreed-upon
time. If the session is to be held by phone or videoconference, the client is responsible for
contacting the coach at the session time at an agreed upon number.
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If the client cannot make a scheduled session time, they must contact Dr. Wall at least 48 hours
in advance. Late cancellations and no shows will be charged in full. Because the time domain of
most coaching sessions is brief, tardiness is not an option and a session will be considered a no
show if the client does not contact the coach or show up for a session within 10 minutes of their
scheduled time.
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Either party can terminate the coaching relationship at any time and for any reason by providing
two week’s notice in writing by mail, fax or email.
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Coaching fees are clearly outlined in the Services section of Life In Focus’s website and will be
discussed prior to signing this agreement. Payment is due in advance of services, and may be
made by check, cash or credit card. The coach will keep a credit card on file in order to process
agreed upon payments as well as no-show and late cancelation fees.
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By signing this document I, the client __________________, certify that I have read, understand
and agree with the information outlines above. If I have any questions or concerns I have
addressed them in a satisfactory manner with my coach, Dr. Alessandra Wall.
Client Signature: _______________________________
Date of first session:___________________
Date : __________________