Terms & Conditions | Ave Maria Coaching

Ave Maria Coaching Ltd

Updated – 17th June 2025

In the spirit of good practice, when the Client (hereby You) are purchasing coaching services from Ave Maria Coaching Ltd (hearinafter AMC), AMC asks you to confirm that You have read and agreed to each statement below and that you wish to proceed.

By purchasing products from AMC or using any print or web-based content of AMC, You are in agreement with and subject to the following Disclosures and Terms of Service and Use now and in the future.

Coaching Disclaimer and Coaching Terms and Conditions

All coaching and training services and communication, email or otherwise, delivered by AMC are meant to help You identify the areas in Your life and in Your thinking that may be preventing You from experiencing greater well-being. Coaching is not a substitute for professional mental health care or medical care. Coaching, however, can work in conjunction with mental or medical health care.

The term “coaching,” as used here includes, but is not limited to, life coaching, personal coaching, spiritual coaching, thought/emotional coaching, and relational coaching for clients.

AMC is continually striving to ensure an excellent standard of service that we provide to our clients. AMC filters all of our coaching techniques through an authentic Catholic lens. We are discerning with techniques that we provide and aim to aid our clients to live a more integrated, abundant, joy-filled life, and receive their dignity that was given to them by God.

COACHING DISCLAIMER

You understand that the coaching services and/or training You will be receiving from AMC are not offered as a substitute for professional mental health care or medical care and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any mental health or medical conditions. You also understand that AMC is not acting as a mental health counsellor or a medical professional.

For legal purposes, You understand that coaching is currently an unregulated industry and that AMC is not professionally licensed by any United Kingdom body even though the sessions may take place in the United Kingdom.

You understand and agree that You are fully responsible for Your well-being during Your coaching and/or training sessions, and subsequently, including Your choices and decisions.

You understand that coaching is not a substitute for counselling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, or substance abuse treatment, and You will not use it in place of any form of therapy.

You understand that all comments and ideas offered by AMC are solely for the purpose of aiding You in achieving the defined goals You create with AMC. You have the ability to give Your informed consent, and hereby give such consent to AMC to assist You in achieving such goals and You understand that results are not guaranteed.

You understand that to the extent our work together involves inter and intrapersonal work, or career, AMC is not promising outcomes, including but not limited to, increased well-being, and or career success.

You understand that AMC will protect Your information as confidential unless You state otherwise in writing. If You report child, elder abuse, or neglect or threaten to harm myself or someone else, You understand that necessary actions will be taken and

Your confidentiality agreement will be limited in this capacity. Furthermore, if AMC is ordered by a court to provide information or to testify, AMC will do so to the extent the law requires.

[For Group Coaching Participants] You understand that group coaching calls are recorded and available for members of the AMC

online communities to view now and in the future, and that by participating in group coaching You are agreeing to be recorded and have Your session available for viewing within AMC’s online communities. You understand that You will not have any right to demand removal or editing of Your coaching on a group coaching session, and that You are solely responsible for Your own representation and disclosure on group coaching calls.

You understand that the use of technology is not always secure and You accept the risks of confidentiality in the use of email, text, phone, Skype, Zoom, and other technology.

You hereby release, waive, acquit and forever discharge AMC, any agents, successors, assigns, personal representatives,

executors, heirs, and employees from every claim, suit action, substantial right, demand, or right to compensation for damages

You may claim to have or that You may have arising out of, or in connection with, acts or omissions by myself or by AMC as a result of the advice given by AMC or otherwise resulting from the coaching relationship contemplated by this agreement.

You further declare and represent that no promise, inducement, or agreement not expressed in this agreement has been made to

You to sign this agreement. This agreement shall bind You, Your heirs, executors, personal representatives, successors, assigns,

and agents.

COACHING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The number and frequency of coaching sessions will be agreed upon at the start of coaching between AMC and You and confirmed by AMC in email. Where no specific number is agreed, sessions will be provided on a session by session basis.

In return for the fees payable by You (or by a third party on Your behalf), AMC agrees to provide the service as described below and in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below. You agree to pay fees for the service in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below (in situations where a third party pays the fees, the third party counts as an agent acting on Your behalf).

The date that the first coaching session takes place shall be deemed to be the start date for the service. If You are unhappy with any of the terms and conditions You can contact Carol D’Souza at carol@avemariacoaching.com to discuss any concerns and see if the concern(s) can be resolved before the first coaching session. Your payment and participation in the first coaching session constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

The date and time of the first session and any subsequent session will be agreed between AMC and You via email.

Where You pay for a session or sessions in advance You must have the coaching session(s) that You have paid for within 3 months of the payment or Your fee is forfeited. There are no partial refunds for unused sessions in coaching bundles.

FORMAT OF SESSIONS

Coaching sessions will be conducted virtually via Zoom. AMC is responsible for ensuring that they are available for consultation at agreed times and for the duration of the virtual session. The length of each virtual session is as agreed between AMC and You before coaching sessions commence.

Additional coaching may be offered via audio messaging, or text messaging, via Voxer; or other format where such is agreed.

Audio messaging may take place in between virtual sessions via Voxer, but the client should be limited to ten (10) minutes per message a day. The client is responsible four downloading the Application. For audio or text messaging via Voxer, AMC will make reasonable effort to respond within one (1) business day.

BETWEEN SESSIONS

AMC may assign You tasks or exercises to complete between coaching sessions. There is no obligation on You to complete these items of ‘homework’, but not doing so may slow Your progress in gaining improved quality of life or achieving desired business or personal outcomes.

You may contact AMC by e-mail, or Voxer between sessions to seek clarification regarding anything arising from a coaching session or for administrative purposes (e.g. where You need to rearrange a coaching session or make a payment).

Additional coaching can also be provided between virtual sessions but there may be an additional charge for this. AMC will always advise You in advance if the nature of Your contact is likely to incur an additional charge and no such charges will be imposed without Your agreement in writing.

SESSION FEES

Fees are payable in advance of each virtual coaching session unless otherwise agreed. Where payment has not been received by AMC in advance of a coaching session AMC is not obliged to provide the session. The number of sessions for which payment is required in advance will be agreed before coaching sessions commence.

AMC may agree to provide additional coaching sessions after completion of the initial agreed session(s). The same terms and conditions of the initial session will apply to any additional sessions so provided and the Per Session Fee will remain the same as originally agreed except where AMC notifies You in writing by letter or email of a change to the Fee or to any other term or condition in accordance with the section in these terms and conditions headed “Variation of Terms and Conditions”.

VARIATION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Where an Initial Number of Sessions is agreed, any changes to these terms and conditions intended to take effect prior to the conclusion of those Initial Number of Sessions will only have effect if agreed by both AMC and You and confirmed by AMC in writing by email or letter. In other cases, AMC may change any of these terms or conditions including the Per Session Fee by giving You at least one week’s notice in writing by letter or e-mail of the change(s). If following receipt of such notification of change, You no longer wish to proceed with further coaching sessions, You may withdraw from the service immediately by giving notice in writing by email or letter and You will then be entitled to a full refund of any fees paid in advance for coaching sessions not yet provided. Such notice will be effective on receipt by AMC.

EARLY TERMINATION

In exceptional circumstances, such as illness or unavailability due to bereavement or other commitments, inappropriate behaviour by You, actual or potential conflict of interest, or other reasons, AMC can decide to terminate the service to You early or refuse or be unable to provide further coaching sessions to You. In such a circumstance You will be given reasonable notice of termination by AMC and will be refunded any advance payments made for coaching sessions not yet provided.

PAYMENT TERMS

Fees can be paid online by debit or credit card or bank transfer. Where receipts are requested by You, they will be sent by e-mail unless otherwise requested.

By completing this purchase, You acknowledge and accept that AMC uses various Third Party vendors and software to process payments, (i.e. Stripe, Paypal, Ticket Tailor, Quickbooks) and that AMC does not retain credit card numbers and banking information.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Personal information or business information provided by You in coaching sessions will be treated as confidential. This information will not be disclosed to a third party without Your prior permission, save where required by law or where action might be necessary to prevent harm to You or someone else.

If You are participating in a recorded group coaching session, You will be notified in advance that the session will be recorded and available for replay on AMC membership areas. Participants who participate in group coaching sessions do so in full knowledge that the session will be available for replay, and they are fully responsible for protecting their own privacy with regards to what they share in these sessions. Information disclosed during group coaching sessions will not be treated as confidential, by sharing and participating in a group coaching session You acknowledge this.

After the group session has been recorded and made available for replay, AMC will not modify or take down the replay.

GOVERNING LAW

This contract is governed by the United Kingdom whose courts have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any dispute, disagreement, proceedings or legal claim of any nature relating to the service provided or the contract.

COACH-CLIENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The coach commitments:

Honour the schedule as agreed with the client. Will reschedule sessions if needed due to changes on the coach’s side no later than 24 hours prior to the session. Exceptions can occur due to urgent and unforeseen circumstances.
Show up to each session with respect and professionalism.
Guide, support, and challenge the client with questions in order to help the client progress towards their goals.
Be straightforward and honest with the client.
Lead the client to identify and take action items that would help them progress towards their goals.
Hold the content of the sessions confidentially. (Please see the Coaching Disclaimer section for exceptions.)
Send a meeting invite with all the details needed for the client to attend the session.
For cases where the client purchased a coaching package, the coach will honour all the services mentioned in the package.
If the client selects the package with the opportunity for daily voice messages, the coach will try to respond within 24 business hours to the voice messages. However, exceptions can occur due to urgent and unforeseen circumstances.

The client commitments:

Honour the schedule as agreed with the coach. Reschedule sessions at least 24 hours in advance, or the session will be forfeit (exceptions can be made for urgent and unforeseen circumstances).
Show up to each session with respect and professionalism.
Be engaged during the session, and work collaboratively with the coach to progress towards their goal.
Be honest with the coach in order to ensure the best success of the session.
Share with the coach if they are receiving mental help from a therapist, counsellor or psychiatrist, and if they are under any mental health medication or treatment.
If the client selects the package with the opportunity for daily voice messages, it is the client’s responsibility to download the Voxer App.

The coaching agreement rights and obligations:

The client is entitled to coaching sessions as agreed with the coach based on the personalized coaching package offer
The client is responsible for ensuring they have the right scheduled time for the coaching session, taking into account time zone differences.
If the client is late for a scheduled session, up to 15 minutes, the session will be shortened accordingly.
If the client is late for a scheduled session, for more than 15 minutes, or wants to reschedule less than 24 hours in advance, the session will be cancelled without possibility of rescheduling. The client will forfeit the session. Exceptions can be made for urgent and unforeseen circumstances.
For packages, the client is responsible for scheduling all the sessions before 180 calendar days have elapsed from the start date of the agreement. Sessions not scheduled during this time will be forfeited by the client.
The content of the coaching sessions are co-created by the coach together with the client.
The client is responsible for taking their own notes and writing down the actions items, and enacting them.
The client is solely responsible for taking or rejecting the coach’s advice, guidance and suggestions.
The client is the sole decision-maker in the coaching process.
The client is responsible for their progress during the time of the coaching relationship, which includes any choices and decisions made by them. The coach makes no guarantees about the results of the coaching relationship.
Any and all actions or consequences resulting from the coaching sessions are the responsibility of the client.
The client is free to reject any advice, suggestion or request from the coach at any time.
The client releases the coach of all liability pertaining to the services rendered in the coaching relationship.
The client gives permission for the coach to store their name, email, occupation, address, notes taken during the coaching sessions, and all other personal information that the client agrees to share with the coach. After the end date of the agreement, the client is responsible for sending a request via email to have all their personal information removed if they so desire. (Please note that some third parties, e.g. Google calendar, could still retain some information, e.g. email address. The coach is not responsible for such cases.)
All sessions are done virtually by Zoom. For packages that offer this option, voice and text messaging will be provided via Voxer. Communication can also be done via email.
Payment is taken before the coaching sessions. No refunds are available.

Contract agreement termination:

The client has the freedom to choose to discontinue the coaching relationship and agreement at any time. Money refunds are not available.
The coach can terminate this agreement at any time. Reasons of termination can include (but not limited to):
1. The client is not showing up for scheduled sessions.
2. The client is being disrespectful.
3. The client is breaking the current agreement terms.

Disclaimer:

Coaching is a specialized form of consulting focused on personal development.
Coaching may address specific personal projects, goals, life successes, or general conditions in the client’s life or profession. Other coaching services can include brainstorming, goal setting, identifying action plans, core values assessment, discernment exercises, guided prayer.
Coaching is NOT professional or licensed therapy or counselling, or any other medical health service. Nor is it a substitute for mental health services.
The coach, Carol D’Souza is not a medical or licensed professional. She is not a medical doctor, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist, or social worker. She will not offer any services that fall under these specializations.
The information exchanged during a coaching session is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by the client’s own medical provider or mental health provider.
The client agrees to seek the advice of a medical provider and/or mental health provider with any questions or concerns regarding their physical or mental health.
If the client struggles with suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm or harm to others, they need to seek a professional mental health provider. The coach, Monica Niculescu, is not able to help with such issues.
Although the coach will treat all information provided with confidentiality, please note that there is no legal protection of such confidentiality. If illegal activities and actions are mentioned during the coaching sessions, the coach has a legal responsibility to share that information with the legal authorities.
The coaching services that the coach is providing have a strong Catholic foundation. Catholic values, principles and teachings might be mentioned during the coaching sessions.

Ave Maria Coaching Ltd

Schedule your coaching session

carol@avemariacoaching.com