Jim McGee Coaching: What to Expect

Welcome to My Coaching Practice

It is my honor to be a part of your journey in:

  • Healing from your past
  • Fully enjoying your present
  • Creating a future that you love

Please read these policies carefully so we’re on the same page. Thank you!

The Value of Knowing What to Expect

Trauma survivors have typically endured far too much: lack of clarity, ambiguity, negative surprises, unmet expectations, disappointments, and “changing of the rules” in their relationships.

  • Unmet expectations are disappointing to anyone
  • Unmet expectations are usually triggering to trauma survivors
  • I do not want that to happen to you again with someone you place your trust in

Therefore, I want to take this time to outline my process, expectations, policies, and disclosures in detail.

My Coaching Process

I have found that in general, the most effective method I know of for permanently curing CPTSD is the NeuroAffective Relational Model.

It is a gentle, non-regressive, non-retraumatizing, experiential, psychodynamically deep and somatic psychotherapy that is resource-based and led by your intention for yourself. That’s a mouthful, I know. There’s too much too explain here, but it works amazingly well.

Essentially it dissolves ideas about your identity that revolve around shame, allows fear to discharge, reconnects you to your heart, and empowers you to live a connected, vital life. Believe it or not.

It is important that you know that

  • I don’t believe:
    • There’s something “wrong with you”
    • You’re “broken”
      • Regardless of anything you’ve done
      • Regardless of any habits you’ve developed
      • Regardless of:
        • Anything you’ve been diagnosed with
  • I do believe:
    • You are having a normal reaction to an abnormal circumstance
      • Many, if not most, disorders are actually the result of cumulative trauma
    • I believe that recovery is possible
      • For you
    • You can create a life you love to live

I will not

  • Diagnose, or
  • Pathologize:
    • Any difficulties you have encountered with:
      • Emotions
      • Self-regulation
      • Psychological challenges or diagnoses
      • Developmental issues
      • Physical issues
    • Any coping mechanisms you have developed to cope with the toxic stress that trauma entails
      • I believe that all coping mechanisms are understandable and were originally ingenious solutions that enabled you to survive your past and the consequent distress.
        • You’ve survived – that’s not always easy, much less enjoyable
      • Sometimes our coping mechanisms could stand some refinement; it’s a lot easier when underlying turmoil dissipates and we begin healing
  • Tell you what to do or devise “treatment plans”
    • Because I believe you will know how to move forward … with the right support.
      • What might have been right for me might not be right for you.

I will

Believe that within you are the knowledge and abilities that you need to move forward from your trauma and build a life you love to live. 

If you’ve come to me, then within you is an impulse to healing, growth, connection, vitality, and aliveness. My job is to give you the right relational support as you clarify, nurture, and explore what might be getting in the way of that.

  • I recognize that you may not believe that now
  • I will help you discover these resources inside yourself

Empower you to follow your own true path. I respect your individuality and capacity for development.

  • Within you is the knowledge of:
    • What you need
    • What you want
    • What is right for you
  • I will help you discover this
  • I will support you until you realize your heart’s desire

Be a source of knowledge, encouragement, validation, and especially support when you feel overwhelmed and/or lost. 

  • We are equals; we are peers
  • I’m not an authority figure
  • I will treat you as someone who has equal power, status, authority, and sanity as myself
    • We will work collaboratively
    • I expect to learn a lot from you

Expectations 

You can expect me

  • To be on time for appointments
  • To be 100% focused on you during our time together
  • To be knowledgeable about
    • Trauma
    • Trauma Recovery
    • Narcissistic Abuse & Recovery
  • To be up to date on the latest research about:
    • Trauma & 
    • Trauma Recovery
  • To be your peer and guide through our time together.
    • I know trauma and narcissistic abuse
    • But you know yourself and your experience
      • I will honor that you can guide your recovery
  • To bring tools and strategies to our work so that you feel confident knowing you are “on the right path” 

My expectations of you

  • Please show up to appointments or cancel/reschedule with at least 24 hours notice
  • Please be willing to work on your recovery journey
  • Please dedicate your focus to your recovery during our sessions
  • Please let me know if there is something you need from me for our work together
    • To help you meet your recovery goals that I am not providing
  • Please let me know if you feel triggered during a session 

Maintaining our relationship

  • Please be as open and honest with me as you are able
    • This will enable our work to be as beneficial as possible
    • Our relationship is a safe place
      • Where you will receive no judgment from me
  • If we work together long enough, and vulnerable wounds get opened up it is possible that I’m going to let you down at some point.
    • Not on purpose, I’ll do my very best!
  • Maybe I’ll fail to “get it”, say too much, say too little, or say something that does not land very well with you
  • This happens when 2 fallible human beings interact on deep level talking about painful things.
  • Sometimes, the ghosts of our pasts have an uncanny ability to worm their way into the relationship.
    • These are called “relationship ruptures”
    • Unfortunately, they happen at times, and they are very distressing
      • However, relationship rupture repair is something that many developmental trauma survivors rarely (if ever) got the benefit of
      • Instead, for many, disruptions were catastrophic and seemingly terminal when we were young, and the “badness” from the ruptures seemed to override all goodness in our lives and relationships
  • So, please let me know if I disappoint you, offend you, fail to “get you”, fail to “get it”, say something insensitive, or let you down
    • I will try to own my part & work to repair our relationship
      • These moments can be wonderful opportunities for growth and healing when handled responsibly
      • Repair processes humanize both parties and can be profound, shame-dissolving, “subjectifying” experiences; which can go a long way toward restoring your faith in the universe
        • They can counteract the accumulated effects of objectifying, one-up/one-down, coercive, under-the-radar dynamics that many of us have had entirely too much of
        • Plus, you’ll teach me something

Policies & Procedures 

Appointment cancellation

  • I ask that you please cancel a Coaching session at least 24 hours prior to that session’s start time.
    • If you do not do so, or if you fail to show to our appointment without any prior notice…
      • This will incur a fee of 50% of the session cost.
      • If you repeatedly fail to timely cancel or reschedule our sessions this may result in the termination of our coaching relationship.

Lateness / No-Show

Discovery Sessions:

  • I will wait 5 minutes for you and if you don’t show, I will consider it a no-show
  • I will not be able to offer another free discovery session
  • You are welcome to schedule a paid appointment

Regular Clients:

Things happen, I understand.

If you’re going to be late for an appointment, just let me know in advance and we’ll work something out.

  • On the other hand it is important that we both make the most of our time.

Lateness:

  • Without notice, more than 5 minutes late will be considered late
  • Multiple lateness incidents may need to be addressed

No-Show:

  • I will wait 15 minutes, then
    • I will consider the appointment a no-show
    • I will stop waiting for you
    • The session will not occur
    • You will be charged for the session

Payment

  • Payment is expected prior to each session
    • Except free discovery sessions
  • You may pay when you sign up for appointments
    • You may also pay via PayPal before the session – send payment to Jim@JimMcGeeCoaching.com
      • Payment needs to be made for the session to take place
      • If you do not make payment the appointment may be cancelled

Communication Outside of Sessions

  • You may email me outside of session whenever you like at:
    • jim@jimmcgeecoaching.com
      • I regret that I am not able to respond to every email
      • I will read all of them before our next session 

Crisis response / Emergencies

  • If you find yourself in crisis due to safety issues such as suicidal ideation, significant self-harming, or violence within a relationship:
    • Please:
      • Reach out to your physician
      • Call your health insurance’s crisis hotline
      • Call or text 988: The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
      • Call RAINN’s Crisis Line at 1-800-656-4673, or
      • Text the Crisis Text Line at 741741
      • For some other options click here
    • If you are actively suicidal (you have a plan), please:
      • Call 911, or
      • Go to the nearest emergency room
    • After you have secured your safety, you may let me how you’re doing via email at jim@jimmcgeecoaching.com
      • Please remember that I reside in Mountain Standard Time. 
      • I am not available to respond after 4pm MST or before 9am MST, or on Sundays

Alcohol and drugs

  • If you are struggling with substance abuse, please let me know so we can get you any help that you might need
    • There’s no shame in addiction
    • Up to 78% of trauma survivors struggle with some form of addiction
    • It’s a coping mechanism that unfortunately creates its own problems later
    • Let’s get you free from those problems
  • 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 if you’re under the influence. 
    • If you repeatedly come to a session under the influence but do not tell me, or fail to acknowledge that you are impaired when you clearly are, this might result in my ending our coaching relationship. 

Bringing a third person into sessions

  • 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. 

Cell phone usage

  • 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 (such as on Facetime or Facebook Messenger) 

Disclosures

  • Coaching may result in changes in your relationships
  • It also may result in healthy changes in the types of relationships you form going forward
  • Zoom and Google Meet are not HIPPA compliant and, therefore I cannot guarantee, with 100% certainty, that videoconferencing will be safe from a data breach.
  • I keep all client records secured in ways that anyone other than myself does not have access to them. 
  • Anything that you say to me, my notes or any paperwork provided by you or your physician, mental health professional or legal representative (current or past) will be kept confidential.
    • The only time I will break that confidentiality is:
      • If I feel you are in danger of harming yourself or another person
      • If you report abuse to someone (see below about my being a Mandatory Reporter) or 
      • If I receive a legal subpoena to release your records.
      • To discuss your case anonymously to learn how I can better help you (while keeping your identity anonymous)  with supervisory level mentors and/or NARM Master Therapists through the NARM Training Institute.
        • Mentors help me brainstorm/problem-solve ways to best assist you, particularly if I feel there is a way in which I feel I could be serving you better.
          • I will never disclose your identifying information with my mentors.
  • As a coach, there are some situations that I do not have the expertise to help you with, namely:
    • If you are experiencing risks to your safety:
      • You are suicidal, or
      • Significantly self-harming, or
      • In the midst of an active substance addiction:
        • Then the IAOTRC mandates that I help you find someone who is competent to deal with that/those particular issue(s).
          • You do not have to stop seeing me
          • But we must bring in another professional who has the expertise with whatever safety issue is at hand to help you with those issues.
            • This is called our Escalated Care Protocol. 
            • I can provide you with additional details if you have questions about this process.

Termination & Refunds

You, as the Client, or Jim McGee Coaching LLC, may terminate our Coach-Client relationship at any time with 3 days’ written (email or text) notice. 

  • You agree to compensate Jim McGee Coaching LLC for all services rendered through and including the effective date of termination of the coaching relationship.
    • No refunds will be given for services already rendered.
  • The agreement in every purchase of services includes the provision that “All purchases are non-refundable.”
    • The client may request via email a refund not more than 10 days after the termination date for any prepaid packages or services.
    • Jim McGee Coaching LLC may agree to or deny a refund request of any amount, at its discretion, and will inform you of its decision in writing within 10 days of receiving the refund request.
      • Decisions are final.
  • Access to the client portal will be revoked immediately upon termination of the Coach-Client Relationship
    • Clients may obtain a copy of their completed portal documentation by sending an email request to jim@jimmcgeecoaching.com. 
  • Jim McGee Coaching LLC reserves the right to terminate this agreement immediately, and its discretion, should any issues of Jim McGee’s safety occur (as perceived by Jim McGee), or violations on the client’s part of any policies, procedures, including commitments regarding payment, rescheduling/canceling of sessions/services that the client has agreed to previously in writing or implied by the act of their purchase.
    • No refunds will be issued in these cases. 
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