Client Services Agreement & Informed Consent

 

Welcome. Thank you for choosing to work with me. It is an honor to be invited into your personal and spiritual journey. My goal is to provide a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment where you can explore your beliefs, strengthen your connection with yourself, and cultivate greater balance, healing, and personal growth.

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The most meaningful work happens when we enter into our sessions with mutual trust, respect, honesty, and clear expectations. This agreement explains how we will work together and helps ensure a positive experience for us both.

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1. Scope of Services

• My services may include Spiritual Counseling, Reiki, Guided Meditation, Shamanic Practices, Energetic Alignment, Ritual Support, Spiritual Education, and related holistic practices.

• These services are educational, spiritual, and supportive in nature. They are intended to encourage personal growth, self-awareness, and spiritual development.

• My services are not psychotherapy, psychological counseling, psychiatric treatment, medical care, legal advice, financial advice, or crisis intervention. Nothing offered should be interpreted as diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any medical or mental health condition.

• If you are experiencing significant emotional distress or a mental health crisis, I encourage you to seek assistance from a licensed mental health professional or emergency services immediately.

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2. Scheduling, Payment & Cancellations

• All appointments must be paid in full at the time of booking. An appointment is not considered confirmed until payment has been received.

• Appointments may be rescheduled with at least twenty-four (24) hours' notice.

• Appointments canceled with less than twenty-four (24) hours' notice are non-refundable except in documented emergencies and at the sole discretion of Bernard Alvarez.

• Clients who fail to attend a scheduled appointment without notice ("no-show") will forfeit that session. Repeated no-shows may result in the termination of the professional relationship.

• All fees paid for services are non-refundable once a scheduled appointment has begun or once any portion of a package or program has been used.

• Packages are offered at a discounted rate in exchange for a commitment to the process and are intended to be completed within three (3) months of purchase. All package fees are non-refundable. Once any portion of a package has been used, no refunds will be issued for any remaining sessions except where required by law.

• Any unused sessions remaining after three (3) months will expire unless an extension is granted at the sole discretion of Bernard Alvarez.

• Packages are non-transferable and may not be shared or assigned to another person.

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3. Client Responsibilities

By scheduling a session, you agree to:

• Participate honestly and openly.

• Arrive on time for scheduled appointments.

• Take responsibility for your own decisions, actions, and personal growth.

• Understand that meaningful change requires your active participation.

• Treat our sessions with respect and confidentiality.​

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Ultimately, you remain fully responsible for your own physical, emotional, psychological, financial, legal, and spiritual well-being.

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4. Practitioner Responsibilities

I agree to:

• Provide a respectful, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment.

• Bring my full attention and professionalism to every session.

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

• Respect your privacy as outlined in this agreement.

• Offer guidance based upon my education, training, experience, and spiritual practice.

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While I will always work in your best interest, I cannot guarantee specific outcomes, healing experiences, or personal results.

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5. Communication Between Sessions

• Brief emails regarding scheduling or short follow-up questions are welcome

• If additional coaching, counseling, spiritual guidance, or energetic support is needed outside of a scheduled session, an additional appointment may be recommended.

• Telephone or video consultations outside scheduled appointments may be billed at my discretion.

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6. Confidentiality

• Your privacy is important to me.

• Information shared during our sessions will be treated respectfully and kept confidential to the extent permitted by applicable law.

• Confidentiality may be limited when disclosure is required by law, including situations involving imminent risk of serious harm to yourself or others, suspected abuse or neglect where reporting is legally required, or compliance with a valid court order.

• Because spiritual counseling is not psychotherapy, our communications are generally not considered legally privileged.

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7. Informed Consent

By participating in my services, you acknowledge that:

• You understand the spiritual nature of the services being provided.

• You understand these services are not a substitute for licensed medical or mental health care.

• You are voluntarily choosing to participate.

• You have the capacity to make informed decisions regarding your own well-being.

• You understand that spiritual practices, meditation, energy work, and ritual experiences may be emotionally meaningful but are not guaranteed to produce any specific outcome.

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8. Professional Boundaries

I reserve the right to decline or discontinue services if I believe doing so is in the best interest of either party.

Services may be terminated due to, including but not limited to:

• Repeated cancellations or no-shows.

• Harassment, abusive language, threats, or discrimination.

• Failure to respect professional boundaries.

• Inappropriate behavior.

• Non-payment.

• Initiating a payment dispute without first attempting to resolve the matter directly.

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9. Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

• If you have any concern regarding payment, I ask that you contact me directly so we may attempt to resolve the matter professionally.

• Initiating a credit card dispute, chargeback, or payment reversal before making a good-faith effort to resolve the matter directly with me may result in immediate termination of our professional relationship.

• Future appointments following a chargeback are entirely at my discretion and may require a new client agreement and advance payment.

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10. Recording Sessions

Audio or video recording of any session is not permitted without my prior written permission.

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11. Release of Liability

• You understand that all decisions made before, during, and after our sessions remain your personal responsibility.

• By participating in my services, you agree to release and hold harmless Bernard Alvarez from any claims, damages, losses, or liabilities arising from decisions, actions, or outcomes resulting from your participation, except where prohibited by applicable law.

• No guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, are made regarding personal, spiritual, emotional, financial, or life outcomes.

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12. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

13. Acceptance of Agreement

By purchasing or scheduling any service with Bernard Alvarez, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Client Services Agreement & Informed Consent.

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Your purchase, booking, or electronic acceptance constitutes your agreement to these terms.