If you’re a life coach 👨🏫 (or are interested in working with one), your contract 📃🖋 is one of the most important documents 🗂 you’ll need to get the job done. To protect both coach and client, a life coaching contract has to contain some basic points that establish some ground rules ⚠️.
These ground rules ⚠️ form the basis of the relationship between the coach and client, and the right one will foster an effective 💯, professional, and productive partnership 🤝. Let’s highlight the main aspects that every comprehensive life coaching contract needs.
Crucial Components of Every Life Coaching Contract
When setting up or reading 📃 a life coaching contract, always make sure it covers the following points.
General
- Basic contact details of the coach and the client (email, contact number, physical address, etc.) 💻📱🏡
- How the life coaching process works. Cover the timeframe sessions will take, how coaching takes place, how client interaction 🗣 takes place, etc.
- Clear terms for session reschedule and contract termination ✅
- Data protection and client confidentiality terms ⛔️ to protect 💪🏼 both coach and client if private information is shared
- A clear disclaimer that life coaching is not ❌ an alternative to therapy
- Terms for when and how the coaching program should end between client and coach
Program Efficacy
- A specific goal that the coaching program is aiming to reach 📈
- What a client can and can’t expect from a coach and their program, including information on the methods used. Clients need to be informed 🗣👤 of the coach’s capabilities so that misunderstandings between coach and client must be avoided
- A clause that holds the coach 👨🏫 accountable for implementing the program and ensuring the client is reaching their goals
- A disclaimer for success explaining that the client is ultimately responsible for adhering to the coach’s advice and guidance to achieve the desired outcome
Financial Details
- How the payment process 💰 works and when to expect it (payment plans, hourly rates, payment options, etc.)
- A clear refund policy 💰✅
Additions to the Life Coaching Contract
Apart from the formal components of the agreement 📃, you may want to add ➕ an extra set of criteria 📊 to your contract that highlights the coaching process on its own. These could include:
- Clear expectations of the coach’s abilities and what can be expected from the client during the program
- The precise schedule or structure of the coaching program
- How reachable, measurable, and significant goals will be set
- Levels of support 💪🏼
- The client’s responsibility to self-reflect, adapt, change, and commit to agreement 🤝
- The life coach’s approach to coaching 👨🏫
- The limits of the coaching techniques
What Errors Can a Life Coaching Agreement Contain?
There are many elements that can be overlooked or poorly detailed in a life coaching agreement 👨🏫🤝. This can, unfortunately, lead to misunderstandings between the life coach and the client. Here are some of the most common issues. 🚫
Session Modality
Technology 💻 has changed the way we work. These days, life coaching 👨🏫doesn’t necessarily have to be in person. It has expanded to various mediums such as emails💻, phone calls 📱, video chats🤳🏻, and direct messages.
That is why a life coaching agreement should contain the exact medium and location of the coaching program. If it is in-person at the coach’s home, for instance, then those details need to be listed in the contract.
Confidentiality Clause
Another topic that gets overlooked is the confidentiality clause. A life coaching contract, unlike a contract with a therapist, is not protected ❌ by legal confidentiality. This means that the life coach may be instructed to disclose private information 🤫 to the authorities in certain cases. This absolutely must be outlined in your life coaching contract.
Dispute Resolution
Dispute resolution is another element that is often excluded. It sets the terms for both parties to negotiate before taking legal action. This part of the agreement 📃 can also request that parties make use of mediation before taking legal action. This can save a life coach 👨🏫 a lot of hassle and legal fees 💰 if a client becomes upset.
Unsigned Agreements
This seems so obvious, but there are plenty of life coaches who forget to sign ✒️ their own agreement 📃 or have the client sign the agreement. This can lead to not only misunderstandings but legal and financial disputes between the parties. Make sure everyone signs the contract
This seems so obvious, but there are plenty of life coaches who forget to sign ✒️ their own agreement 📃 or have the client sign the agreement. This can lead to not only misunderstandings but legal and financial disputes between the parties. Make sure everyone signs the contract
This seems so obvious, but there are plenty of life coaches who forget to sign ✒️ their own agreement 📃 or have the client sign the agreement. This can lead to not only misunderstandings but legal and financial disputes between the parties. Make sure everyone signs ✒️ the contract 📃 and everyone has a copy of the signed contract to avoid ⚠️ future problems.
Life Coaching Contract Assistance
A good life coaching contract can function as a hybrid agreement 📃🤝. It can outline the expectations of the relationship between the client and coach 👥, detail how and when the coaching sessions will take place and help to mitigate the situation if a problem should arise 📈.
There are quite a few points ⚠️ to consider when designing (or before signing) a life coaching contract. Always be aware of errors ❌ or overlooked clauses in the contract, since these can make all the difference for both life coaches and clients. If you have a life coaching contract that may not cover all the details outlined above, it may be time for a good contract.
Speaking of legality 🧑🏼⚖️, to make sure you are adequately protected by your life coaching contract, you may want to speak to an attorney👨🏼⚖️. A social media lawyer experienced with life coaching contracts can review your contract for eligibility or potential grievances. This could save you tons of money 💰 down the line! Contact us today 📞 for a free quote.