Contract between you (the client) and Anna Bobak trading as Fife Counselling

This contract sets out the framework for our coaching relationship:

Coaching is a collaborative, goal-focused process designed to support you in developing strategies, building skills, and achieving specific objectives. Coaching is distinct from psychotherapy and counselling in important ways:

Coaching focuses on present and future goals rather than past experiences or emotional processing. Whilst we may discuss how past experiences inform your current challenges, the primary focus remains on developing practical strategies and actionable plans.

As your coach, I may offer direct suggestions, strategies, and psychoeducation about relevant topics (such as executive function, time management, or workplace communication). This differs from the non-directive approach typically used in counselling.

If therapeutic needs arise during our coaching work, I will discuss this with you and may suggest that parallel counselling support would be beneficial.

This is a very important aspect of our relationship.

Everything we discuss in our sessions together is confidential except:

1. If I am required to break confidentiality by a court of law;

2. Where, in my opinion, there may be harm to yourself or to others; and

3. For the purposes of supervision*

*Supervision sessions allow me to gain support and guidance on my work and also to check that I am working ethically and competently. I am required to have regular supervision and to discuss my work with my supervisor. I never disclose anything that would enable you to be identified.

I keep brief notes of sessions which are anonymised.

Any data that I hold is securely stored in accordance with GDPR 2018.

Coaching sessions usually last for 60 minutes and take place at an agreed time and day.

I also offer shorter check-in sessions to established clients on an ad-hoc basis when there is a need to address a particular issue or to provide targeted support between regular sessions.

These shorter check-in sessions are charged at £2 per minute.

Brief email communication (under 500 words) between sessions is included as part of the coaching relationship. This might include sharing resources, clarifying action steps, or brief check-ins on progress.

Extended email exchanges or substantive work between sessions is charged at £2 per minute.

Payment can be made by bank transfer, payment link or invoice.

Fees should be paid at least 24 hours before your session takes place, or within 24 hours of receiving your invoice.

I charge a fee of £2 per minute for reading emails over 500 words, filling in forms, and writing letters or reports that you may need me to complete or write on your behalf.

I require a minimum of 48 hours notice of any cancellation that you need to make, otherwise the full session fee is payable.

If you are running late, please let me know.

If you fail to show up for a scheduled appointment, the full session fee is still due.

I will send you a reminder 10 minutes in.

I will wait in the session for 20 minutes, then notify you that I am closing the session and leave.

If I am ill, I will contact you as soon as I can to give you as much notice of my need to cancel. 

I will try to offer an alternative time and day if possible.

If I intend to take a holiday I will give you at least 4 weeks notice.

If you take an extended break, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to hold your preferred appointment time.

Coaching is most effective when you engage actively between sessions. We will typically identify action steps or experiments to try between our meetings.

Whilst I will support your progress, the responsibility for implementing strategies and working towards your goals ultimately rests with you.

We will regularly review your progress towards agreed goals and adjust our approach as needed.

Coaching is typically time-limited or goal-focused rather than open-ended, though the duration of our work together will be determined collaboratively based on your needs.

Either of us may end the coaching relationship at any time. I am always mindful of endings and am constantly working towards creating a collaborative and mutually agreed ending that allows you to consolidate your learning and plan for maintaining progress independently.

In the event that I am unable to contact you directly, my supervisor, Alison Clist, will reach out on my behalf. To facilitate this, I share with her the following limited information: your first name, the duration of our coaching relationship, and your mobile number.