Policies & Procedures

Welcome to my coaching practice! It is an honor to be part of your personal or professional journey. Before we lace our boots up together, let’s go over my process, disclosures, expectations, and policies.
 

The process:

While we work together on your recovery journey, it is important that you understand that my role is to be a source of knowledge, encouragement, and validation. As a Trauma-Informed Coach, I intend to add an awareness of how trauma affects our behavior, relationships, and processing patterns. Our relationship is one of peers and we collaborate as such. I’m not an authority figure and will not treat you as someone who has less power than I do.

I also believe that you have within yourself, the will to break cycles, the strength to find compassion for yourself, and the power to utilize your ADULT voice. I bring with me a toolkit stocked with trauma recovery tools, life experience, intuitive coaching skills, and past/continued education by some of the most influential and renowned professionals in the field of psychological trauma.

Disclosures:

 

• Trauma coaching may result in healthy changes in your relationships as well as healthy changes in the types of relationships you form with yourself, other human beings, and the world.

• I primarily utilize Zoom for Telehealth. Please note that Zoom is not HIPPA compliant.

• You must make me aware of sessions being recorded prior to doing so.

• I (Brian Matthews, CTRC) agree not to disclose, reveal or make use of any confidential information learned of, through transactions with the client, written or oral, without the expressed written consent is granted by the client. I will make sure anything you say to me, my notes, any paperwork provided by you or your physician, mental health professional or legal representative (current or past) provided solely to me will be kept in the strictest confidence. Your safety is very important to me. Our coaching relationship is built on safety and trust. The only time the law requires me to break confidentiality is if I feel you are in danger of harming yourself, another person, or if I receive a legal subpoena to release your records. I will contact you if the legal subpoena occurs so you may take appropriate action.

• As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™, If I am made aware of event(s), abuse(s), or neglect that fall under guidelines for mandated reporting, I will ALWAYS report any such abuse(s) to appropriate local agencies. Types of events and abuse include (but are not limited to) child abuse or neglect, and elder abuse or neglect. I act as a mandatory reporter, as outlined by The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching.

Escalation Protocols:

In my coaching practice, there are some things that are not in my scope of practice. If you are in a place where there are risks to your safety - significantly self-harming - actively suicidal – in the midst of active addiction - then we need to put a plan in place for people who can best support you. You can still work with me. I want to make sure you have all the support you need in your recovery. At your request, I can provide you more information on the Escalation Protocol.

What you can expect of me:

 

• To show up on time, fully present, ready to work

• To create a safe place for you to communicate

• To continue and maintain my own recovery

• To be your peer and guide through our time together. I know trauma but you know yourself.

• To continue my education and continue to further expand my knowledge on trauma, complex trauma, and the latest research on trauma.

My expectations of you:

 

• Please come to sessions 100% willing to work on your recovery.

• Please dedicate your focus during our coaching time on our work for the entirety of our session.

• Please let me know if you are feeling triggered or unsafe.

• Please advise me if you need help developing a plan for self-care.

• Please let me know if there is something you need from me to meet your recovery goals that I may not already be providing.

• Please be open and honest with me. This will enable our work together to be as beneficial as possible. I am here to support you.

 

Policies & Procedures:

 

Payment & Cancellation

Payment is expected prior to each session. You will be invoiced at least 24 hours prior to each session and payment needs to be fulfilled before the session can take place. If you do not make payment, the appointment will be cancelled. I ask that you please cancel a Coaching session at least 24 hours prior to the session’s start time. If you do not do so, or if you fail to show to our appointment without any prior notice, I will require payment for that session. I have set aside this hour for you and if you do not cancel ahead of time, I am unable to fill it with another client. If you repeatedly fail to timely cancel our sessions, this may result in my terminating our coaching relationship or requiring payment at the time of booking. In the rare event an emergency does occur, please contact me at your earliest convenience to reschedule your appointment before the end of your billing cycle. If your plan is not on a billing cycle, you must reschedule within 2 weeks of your cancellation to avoid session expiration. You may choose to discontinue coaching at any time, but paid fees are non-refundable.
 

Crisis Response

 

If you find yourself in crisis due to safety issues such as suicidal ideation, significant self-harming, or violence within a relationship you may reach me via email at treadstonetrc@gmail.com. I am not available to respond after 6 pm CST or before 10 am CST every weekday. If you are in crisis outside of those hours, please reach out to your physician or health insurance crisis hotline. You can also access RAINN’s Crisis Line (1.800.656.4673) or their online chat feature. You may also reach out to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. The National Suicide Hotline is available at 1.800.273.8255
 

Communication Outside of Sessions

 

You may email me outside of our sessions whenever you like and as often as you like. I regret that I am not able to respond to every email you may send. I promise that I will read all of them before our next session. I encourage you to share your wins with me! Even if they feel small.
 

Drugs & Alcohol

 

Please do not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during our coaching sessions. It is difficult, if not impossible, to have a session worth the devotion of either of our time when you are under the influence. If you are struggling with any substance abuse issues, I welcome you to let me know so that we can talk about it and work to get you any help that you might need. If you repeatedly come to a session under the influence but do not tell me, and/or fail to acknowledge that you are impaired if I ask you whether you are, this may result in my ending our coaching relationship.
 

Distractions

 

Please do not bring anyone to a coaching session (spouse, parent, friend) without first discussing it with me. We need to discuss your confidentiality and goals before a third party is brought into a coaching session.
Please turn your cell phone off or leave it in another room during coaching sessions, unless you are using your phone to hold the session. As a father, I understand sometimes babysitters cancel, or children need special attendance. We can work together with this but please remember that you are investing time and money to focus on yourself during this time. I invite you to email me with any questions pertaining to this for further clarification.
 

Grievance Procedure

 

I am required to let you know that I am a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™ credentialed by The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching. As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™, I am bound to uphold the Association’s Code of Ethics.

If at any time you feel I have failed to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics or wronged you in another way you are welcome to contact our Professional Standards Committee at Grievance@iaotrc.com. You will be sent a grievance form to complete and submit. All reports and grievance actions are held confidential by the Professional Standard’s Committee.
 

No Substitution for Medical Treatment

 

Please agree to be mindful of your own wellbeing during the course and seek medical treatment (including, but not limited to psychotherapy), if needed. I do not provide medical services. I am also not responsible for any decisions made by you as a result of the coaching and any consequences thereof.