Agreement
Welcome to Integrating Mind, Body & Spirit. This document constitutes an
understanding and a contract between us (the “Agreement”). Please read it carefully and raise any questions or concerns that you might have before you sign it.
Description of Services
The services provided by Integrating Mind, Body & Spirit include behavioral health consulting, life coaching, psychotherapy, care coordination, and mental health training for clients and families. Our services are designed collaboratively with you (the “Client”) in mind. A 90-minute initial assessment will involve a mutual gathering of information to provide relevant background and to establish initial goals which will guide our ongoing relationship. We will determine the required service limitations and assess existing strengths. Together, we will establish initial guidelines for working and adjust the
process as necessary. The assessment will be personalized, as one size doesn’t fit all. Your individualized plan will be designed to thoroughly understand you and to generate possibilities that will set you on the path to wellness and your aspirations.
Distinction between Psychotherapy and Coaching
Integrating Mind, Body & Spirit offer both life coaching and psychotherapy, and each serve a different purpose. It is crucial to understand these distinctions. While there are some similarities between the two, we must reiterate that neither is a substitute for the other. Psychotherapy is conducted by trained and experienced therapists who diagnose and treat behavioral and emotional problems. It focuses on healing past traumas and addressing mental health issues through structured therapeutic methods. In contrast,
coaching, provided by our life coaches, concentrates on helping clients move from their present circumstances toward their future aspirations. Our coaches work with individuals to develop strategies and self-improvement skills,
enabling them to overcome obstacles that hinder their progress toward achieving their goals. Despite both fields utilizing knowledge of human behavior, motivation, and behavioral change, the primary differences lie in their focus, objectives, and the level of professional responsibility involved. Psychotherapy often deals with deeper emotional concerns, while coaching is generally more goal-oriented and proactive in nature.
Focus & Goals
The primary focus of psychotherapy are identification, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and nervous disorders. The goals of psychotherapy include alleviating symptoms; understanding the underlying dynamics which create symptoms; changing dysfunctional behaviors which are the result of these disorders; and developing new strategies for successfully coping with the psychological challenges which we all face. The foci of coaching are development and implementation of strategies to reach Client‐ identified goals which will enhance performance and personal satisfaction. Coaching
may address specific personal projects, life balance, relational satisfaction, or general conditions in the client’s life, business, or profession. Coaching utilizes personal strategic planning, values clarification, brainstorming, motivational interviewing and other techniques. Deciding how to handle these issues and incorporate coaching into those areas is exclusively your responsibility.
The Therapist/Patient Relationship
Research shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship closely correlates with progress. Psychotherapy patients are often emotionally vulnerable, as they are expected to share intimate, sensitive information. Their life experiences may also make trust difficult to establish.
Since the relationship between the therapist and patient appears so crucial to treatment success, experts have defined a good therapeutic relationship as consisting of three essential qualities: an emotional bond of trust, caring, and respect; agreement on the goals of therapy; and collaboration on the “work” or tasks of the treatment. These factors place significant responsibility on psychotherapists to protect their clients and, above all, “do no harm.”
The Coach/Client Relationship
The coach-client relationship is structured to avoid the power imbalances present in psychotherapy. Clients set the agenda, and the success of coaching depends on their willingness to take risks and try new approaches. The relationship is designed to be more direct and challenging. You can expect your coach to be honest and straightforward, asking powerful questions and using challenging techniques to help you move forward. You are responsible for evaluating progress and must immediately inform
me if coaching is not working as expected, so we can therefore make any adjustments. While the coaching relationship may feel personal, it is a professional relationship that cannot extend beyond professional boundaries. When boundaries blur, the benefits of the coaching relationship are put at risk.
Fees – Self pay
The fee for an initial assessment is $250, and once a plan is agreed upon, each session will be charged at the rate of $150 per hour. These sessions can be divided into 15 minutes increment, as needed. Professional time spent outside of sessions, including phone calls, email/ or text exchanges (outside of scheduling), reviewing tapes, report writing and reading of documents, will be on prorated, round to the nearest quarter hour. We will physically meet you where you are, conducting most of our sessions in the comfort of your home, or within the space that works for you. With no additional charge for travel within Broward County. However, for services outside Broward County, there
will be an additional charge to cover the time during travel and/or travel expenses. Payment may be made by cash, in person or via other payments as arranged, e.g. Zelle, Venmo, Pay Cash, etc. Integrating Mind, Body & Spirit require a current credit card be kept on file for billing. If requested, a monthly statement detailing charges will be provided.
Cancellations
Cancellation notice must be provided by text, phone, or email at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment. In emergencies, a 2-hour notification is acceptable if you need to cancel or reschedule. Otherwise, you will be charged for the full session. We will make every effort to offer alternative appointment times; however, scheduling may not always allow for an additional session, and we may need to wait until the next scheduled session.
Waiver
You acknowledge and agree that in the course of the therapeutic/coaching services, we may ask questions that are personal, challenging, or disturbing. You also acknowledge and agree that you are fully responsible for your physical, mental and emotional well‐being, and for any actions, choices and decisions made because of the therapeutic services you receive. You waive and release any claims arising or resulting from questions, suggestions and advice (or lack thereof) and from actions, choices and decisions you may make.
Confidentiality
We will protect the confidentiality of our communications and records. We will not release any information about our work to others unless you give written permission. As a psychotherapist, I am legally obligated to breach this confidentiality if we have information that indicates that a child or elderly or disabled person is being abused, we must report that to the appropriate State agency. If a client is an imminent risk to him/herself or makes threats of imminent violence against another, we are required to take protective actions. These situations are quite rare in coaching practices. If such a situation occurs in our relationship, we will make every effort to discuss it with you
before taking any action. We must also respond to any court order and be able to secure legal advice about our compliance with this Agreement.
As you are no doubt aware, some means of communication, such as cell phones and e‐mail may be not secure from eavesdropping. It is impossible to guarantee the protection of confidential information in certain circumstances involving computers. This is particularly true of email and information stored on computers that are connected to the internet. In our practice, we take measures to prevent unauthorized access to information by utilizing encryption and other forms of security protection. You acknowledge that we cannot be held responsible for instances of loss of confidentiality through phone or computer hacking.
Termination of Agreement
If either party wishes to end this service arrangement /Agreement, he or she will notify the other party either by phone, text, or email. You agree to participate in a final session to discuss and assess issues such as commitment and follow‐through, progress toward goals and goal accomplishment, the therapy/coaching process, etc. If you wish, a six‐month
or one‐year follow‐up assessment can be discussed.
Dispute Resolution
This Agreement shall, in all respects, be governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Any controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to this Agreement, or the breach of this Agreement, shall be settled by binding arbitration, which will occur via telephone or zoom by an arbitrator that we mutually agreed upon. The costs of the arbitration shall be shared equally between the parties.
Limitation of Damages
You understand that we make no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, about any results to be achieved. If we are found liable for any loss or damage under this Agreement (except for fraud), liability shall be limited to the lesser of the total payments made under this contract or
the last six months payments. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the Client and Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit, and no amendment, change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid, unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto.