Coaching

Coaching Services Agreement

Effective date: 2026-05-23. This page is the working draft of the agreement clients review and sign before their first paid coaching session. Sign-and-return is handled outside this page.

Read carefully before your first paid session. This agreement makes clear what coaching is, what it is not, and what we each agree to. If anything is unclear, ask before you sign.

1. Parties

This agreement is between Melissa Paul (“Coach”) operating as M Power Mend, and the undersigned individual (“Client”). Client confirms they are eighteen years of age or older.

2. Nature of coaching

Coaching is a forward-looking, action-oriented partnership focused on goals, growth, and the practical work of change. Coaching is not psychotherapy, counseling, psychological assessment, or medical care. Coaching does not diagnose or treat mental illness, substance use disorders, or any other clinical condition. Coaching does not create a therapist-client, doctor-patient, or any other licensed-professional relationship.

Coaching is offered nationwide. Coaching is not regulated by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, or any other state mental-health board.

3. Coaching is not a substitute for clinical care

If Client is currently experiencing or develops symptoms of a mental-health condition (including but not limited to: persistent depression, suicidal ideation, mania, psychosis, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress, severe anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, substance dependence, or self-harm), Client agrees to seek qualified clinical care. Coach may, in her sole judgment, pause or end the coaching relationship and refer Client to appropriate clinical resources. Coach’s referral does not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Client confirms they currently have, or know how to access, a primary-care provider and a mental-health provider should one be needed.

4. Crisis protocol

Coaching sessions are not monitored in real time outside of scheduled sessions. If Client is in crisis between sessions, Client agrees to call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Email and text messages to Coach are not a crisis channel.

5. Confidentiality and its limits

Coach will keep the content of coaching sessions private and will not share information about Client without Client’s written consent, except in the following circumstances which apply regardless of the coaching context: (a) suspected abuse or neglect of a child, at-risk adult, or elder, where mandated reporting laws apply to anyone with knowledge; (b) imminent risk of serious harm to Client or another identifiable person; (c) response to a valid court order, subpoena, or government investigation; (d) consultation with legal counsel, accountants, or insurers as reasonably required to operate the practice.

Client acknowledges that coaching does not enjoy the legal privilege that attaches to licensed psychotherapy. Records of coaching may be subpoena-able in civil or criminal proceedings.

6. Sessions and cadence

Sessions are conducted by secure video, are fifty minutes in length, and are scheduled in advance. Client selects one of three packages at the start of each month: Monthly Anchor (one session), Twice-Monthly Rhythm (two sessions), or Weekly Intensive (four sessions). Unused sessions do not roll into the next month.

7. Fees and payment

Current package pricing is shared during the consult and confirmed in writing before signing. Coaching is paid in cash; coaching is not a covered health-insurance benefit and Coach will not generate insurance documentation, diagnostic codes, or superbills for coaching services.

Payment is collected by secure invoice (card or ACH) at the start of each month before the first session of that month. Failure to render payment may result in suspension of sessions until the balance is current.

8. Cancellation, rescheduling, and refunds

Individual session cancellations made more than twenty-four hours in advance are rescheduled within the same calendar month at no charge. Cancellations inside the twenty-four-hour window forfeit that session unless caused by emergency. No-shows forfeit the session.

Monthly packages renew automatically and may be paused, downgraded, or canceled with fourteen days’ written notice before the next billing date. Refunds for the current billing month are pro-rated only for sessions not yet held in that month.

9. Recording and notes

Sessions are not recorded by Coach. Client may take their own notes. Coach maintains light private working notes for continuity (themes, agreed action items) which are not clinical records and are not subject to HIPAA.

10. Communication outside sessions

Email and text messages to Coach are answered within one business day, Monday through Friday. Between-session messages are for scheduling, administrative coordination, and brief check-ins. Substantive coaching work happens in sessions.

11. Termination

Either party may end the coaching relationship at any time with written notice. Coach may terminate without notice if Client engages in abusive conduct toward Coach or third parties, if continued coaching would be clinically inappropriate, or if Client fails to maintain payment. On termination, fees already earned are non-refundable and unearned package fees for the current month are refunded pro-rata.

12. Limitation of liability

Coaching outcomes depend on Client’s own efforts and circumstances. Coach makes no guarantee of any particular result. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Coach’s aggregate liability for any claim arising from this agreement is limited to the fees paid by Client in the three months preceding the claim. Coach is not liable for indirect, consequential, or punitive damages.

13. Faith integration

Christian coaching is offered when Client requests it and reflects Coach’s own Christian faith framework. Scripture, prayer, and faith-centered language are introduced only at Client’s invitation. A client of any faith background or no faith background is welcome and will not have a faith framework imposed.

14. Governing law and dispute resolution

This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute that cannot be resolved by good-faith negotiation shall be submitted to confidential mediation in Denver, Colorado before any other action is filed.

15. Entire agreement

This document, together with the current written pricing and cadence confirmation, is the entire agreement between Client and Coach regarding coaching services. It supersedes any prior conversation or correspondence about coaching scope or fees.

16. Acknowledgment

By signing below, Client confirms that they have read this agreement, understand the difference between coaching and psychotherapy as described in Section 2, understand the crisis protocol in Section 4, and agree to the terms.

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