Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
Applies to Root Cause Therapy & Equine Wellbeing Sessions
Last updated: September 2026
The work we do together is a professional relationship built on trust, respect, choice and collaboration.
Whether you are participating in Root Cause Therapy or an Equine Wellbeing Session, you should feel comfortable asking questions, expressing your needs, setting boundaries and letting me know when something does not feel right.
This policy outlines what you can expect from me and the boundaries that help create a safe, respectful and supportive client relationship.
You are an active participant in your own work.
You are encouraged to:
Ask questions;
Share what feels important to you;
Let me know what you need;
Work at a pace that feels appropriate for you;
Say when something does not feel right;
Decline an exercise or activity;
Take a break when needed.
You are never required to share more than you are comfortable sharing.
There is no expectation that you disclose trauma, painful experiences or personal information in order to participate.
Your participation is based on informed and ongoing consent.
You have the right to:
Ask questions about an exercise or process;
Say no to an exercise or activity;
Pause or stop a session;
Change your mind;
Request a different approach;
Ask for clarification.
Consent is not assumed simply because you have agreed to something previously.
For Equine Wellbeing Sessions, participation in any activity involving physical interaction with a horse is voluntary. You may choose not to participate in an activity at any time.
The relationship between client and practitioner is a professional relationship.
I will maintain appropriate professional boundaries and will not knowingly use the professional relationship for personal, emotional, financial or other inappropriate benefit.
Professional boundaries may include reasonable limits around:
Communication outside sessions;
Availability and response times;
Social media;
Gifts;
Personal relationships;
Physical contact;
Financial arrangements;
Requests for support outside my scope of practice.
These boundaries are intended to protect both the client and the integrity of the professional relationship.
Clients may contact Rhodes to Wellness Coaching regarding appointments, scheduling, payments and reasonable questions relating to their sessions.
Communication outside scheduled sessions is not intended to replace a session or provide ongoing crisis or therapeutic support.
I will maintain reasonable boundaries around availability and response times.
If something requires more time, care or attention than can appropriately be provided through a message, I may suggest addressing it during a scheduled session.
A respectful relationship goes both ways.
I will communicate with you respectfully, and I ask that you extend the same courtesy to me.
Difficult conversations, frustration and differences of opinion are allowed.
Harassment, threats, intimidation, abusive communication or deliberately disrespectful behaviour are not appropriate within the professional relationship.
Where possible, concerns will first be addressed through open and respectful communication.
I will respect your privacy and maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Privacy & Data Policy and applicable privacy requirements.
There are circumstances where confidentiality may have limits, including where disclosure is required by law or where there is a serious concern about someone's safety or wellbeing.
I cannot promise absolute confidentiality in every circumstance.
Rhodes to Wellness Coaching provides Root Cause Therapy and Equine Wellbeing Sessions within the scope of my education, training and professional practice.
These services do not replace emergency services or regulated medical or mental health care.
I will be honest about what I am able to provide and will not knowingly work beyond my competence.
Where your needs fall outside my scope of practice, I may recommend seeking additional support from an appropriately qualified professional or service.
Some sessions may involve meaningful or emotionally challenging material.
You are encouraged to notice your own limits and communicate when you need to slow down, pause or change direction.
You do not need to push through something simply because an exercise or process has been introduced.
At the same time, meaningful personal work can sometimes involve discomfort or strong emotions. We can work together to notice the difference between something that feels challenging but manageable and something that feels like too much.
Physical contact is not required during Root Cause Therapy.
If physical contact is ever relevant to an activity, it will be discussed beforehand and requires appropriate consent.
You can decline physical contact at any time without needing to explain why.
Equine Wellbeing Sessions are non-riding sessions. Physical interaction with the horses is voluntary and subject to the relevant health, safety and horse welfare guidelines.
Working alongside horses requires additional awareness and respect for both human and horse boundaries.
Clients are expected to:
Follow reasonable safety instructions;
Approach and interact with horses only as directed;
Respect the horse's space and signals;
Never deliberately frighten, provoke or mistreat a horse;
Tell me if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe;
Understand that an activity may be changed or stopped if it is not appropriate for the horse or participant.
A horse's willingness to participate is respected. If a horse is showing signs of stress, discomfort, illness, fatigue or otherwise appears unsuitable for an activity, the activity may be modified or stopped.
Connecting with clients through personal social media accounts is not required.
I may maintain professional boundaries around social media, online communication or personal relationships in order to protect the professional nature of our work together.
If a client and I have another connection outside the professional relationship, I will consider whether this creates a conflict of interest or boundary concern and address it appropriately.
Fees, payment arrangements, refunds and cancellations will be handled according to the applicable business policies.
I will not knowingly use the professional relationship to create inappropriate financial dependency or personal financial benefit.
Gifts or other exchanges that could create an uncomfortable obligation, expectation or conflict of interest may be declined.
You have the right to pause or end your work with Rhodes to Wellness Coaching.
I may also recommend pausing or ending the professional relationship where:
Your needs fall outside my scope of practice;
The relationship is no longer appropriate or beneficial;
Professional boundaries cannot be maintained;
There are significant safety concerns;
Continuing would not be appropriate for your wellbeing.
Where appropriate, I may provide information about other sources of support or referral.
If something about your experience does not feel right, I encourage you to tell me.
You do not need to wait until a concern becomes serious before raising it.
Concerns may relate to:
The service you received;
Communication;
Professional boundaries;
Privacy or confidentiality;
Fees or business practices;
Something that occurred during a session.
Concerns will be treated respectfully and handled in accordance with the Complaints Procedure.
You will not be penalised simply for raising a genuine concern or complaint.
A healthy professional relationship is something we create together.
My responsibility is to provide services with professionalism, respect, appropriate boundaries and care.
Your responsibility is to communicate honestly about your needs, respect reasonable safety and professional boundaries, and make choices that support your own wellbeing.
You do not have to have everything figured out when you begin.
You simply need to be willing to communicate about what feels right for you.
Related Policies
Policy owner: Janet Rhodes, Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
Review date: September 2027