Contracting with clients

Starting a therapeutic or coaching relationship with a client involves crucial initial steps that help to set expectations.

An essential element of this is a mutual agreement. This should outline the goals, structure, and boundaries of the therapeutic or coaching journey ahead. We recommend discussing and agreeing on this in the first session, for transparency and a shared understanding of your professional relationship.

It should also be documented in a client agreement form or contract, for transparency and a shared understanding of your professional relationship.

Client agreement

While not mandatory, offering a client agreement form or contract is recommended. It establishes the agreements between you and your client and provides important information about your practice and ways of working.

Unmind doesn't provide a standard agreement form (to honor your individual practices), but we do encourage you to include key details such as:

• Confidentiality
• The Unmind attendance/cancellation policy
• Risk/crisis information
• Contact and communication norms
• Procedures around ending the relationship
• Details of your registration/accrediting body and numbers
• Dispute resolution process

It's also vital to set clear expectations about the number of sessions. This should include how many sessions they are entitled to that are paid for by their employer, the frequency of sessions, duration and timing of sessions, and what can be expected within the timeframe. This lays the roadmap for the client's journey and allows both parties to plan effectively.

Consider sending the agreement form before your first session to give the client enough time to review and reflect on it.

After an agreement form is agreed upon and/or signed, make sure both parties have a copy as a reference point for the agreed terms. This will help to prevent misunderstandings in the future.

Navigating endings

The client should know from the beginning how many sessions they have with you. You should outline how and when therapy or coaching may conclude, the process leading up to the end, and the provisions for support afterwards. For more information about endings, please see here.

Regularly reviewing your agreement

Make it a habit to periodically review and update your agreement form, especially if there are changes in your practice or policies, or when there are updates in the regulatory or ethical landscape. Then, when updates are made, clearly explain changes to the client and invite them to re-review the agreement.

This ongoing process reinforces transparency and keeps both parties informed.