Onboarding — Derek Elder Client Portal

What to expect

How this works.

A few things worth knowing before we start.

This is identity work, not strategy work

We focus on who you are being, not just what you are doing. The shifts that last happen at the level of identity and internal state — that's where we'll spend most of our time.

You lead, I follow

Come to each session with what is alive for you right now. There's no fixed curriculum. The more honest you are about where you actually are, the faster things move.

The work happens between sessions too

Pay attention to what shifts, what you notice, what comes up between calls. What happens in the days after a session is often as important as the session itself.

Discomfort is a sign it's working

Real change requires stepping into unfamiliar territory. If something feels uncomfortable, that's usually a signal we're close to something important — not a reason to back away.

Step 1 of 2 — Intake form

Tell me about you.

This helps me prepare and means we can use our first session for the real work. Takes about 10 minutes.

Form received.

Thanks for taking the time to fill this in — I'll read through it before our first call. Make sure you check the list at the bottom of this page before we speak.

Full name *

Email address *

Phone number

What do you do — work, career, or what you're building right now *

Anything relevant to your health, or anything I should know before we start working together *

This could be medical, a diagnosis, medication, or anything that affects your energy or capacity. It stays completely private and just helps me show up for you properly.

Where you are

What's the main thing that's brought you here, right now?

Not the goal — the actual moment or situation that made you reach out.

How would you describe yourself honestly — not who you want to be, who you actually are right now? *

Where do you feel the gap most right now between who you are and who you know you're capable of being?

Could be in your work, a relationship, your own head — wherever it shows up loudest.

What have you already tried? What's worked, and what hasn't?

Books, other coaches, therapy, just trying harder — whatever you've done before this.

What's actually running underneath

What do you believe about yourself when things get hard or don't go to plan? *

What labels or stories have you carried about yourself for a long time — whether from others or yourself? *

Where do you think those beliefs came from? *

What do you think is actually holding you back — not the surface reason, the real one? *

Take a moment with this one. Most people's first answer isn't their real answer.

Have you explored hypnosis, meditation, or visualisation before? If so, what was your experience?

Just so I know your starting point — there's no right answer here.

Where this is going

Where do you want to be in 12 months — across your work or career, your health, your relationships, and how you feel day to day? *

Doesn't need to be polished. Just where you actually want things to be.

Who is the version of you that has all of this handled? Describe them. *

How do they think, act, and carry themselves — when things go wrong, and when things go right.

What do you think needs to change most to get there? *

Your day to day

What does a typical day look like for you, morning to night? *

Where do you feel most inconsistent, or like you're operating below your potential? *

What habits or routines do you currently have — and which ones are you missing?

How would you describe your energy and focus on a daily basis? *

Who's around you

Who are the people you spend the most time with, and how do they influence you? *

Does your current environment push you to a higher standard, or keep you comfortable? *

What does the conversation around you typically sound like — what gets talked about most?

Your answers go directly to Derek — nowhere else.

Step 2 of 2 — Coaching agreement

Read and sign.

Please read through the terms below in full, then sign at the bottom to confirm you've understood and agreed before we begin.

Agreement signed.

Your signed agreement has been received. You're all set — check the list below before your first call.

Session Structure

1:1 sessions, 60 minutes minimum, conducted via the Zoom link provided in your client portal. Session frequency is as agreed between Coach and Client at the start of the engagement.

Nature of the Work

This work goes deep, and that's exactly the point — it's why it succeeds where surface-level approaches haven't. These sessions are for personal development, performance, and behavioural change, not the medical treatment of psychological disorders. Derek does not hold a clinical license as a therapist, psychologist, or medical doctor.

In situations involving a medical emergency, suicide risk, or psychiatric crisis, immediate professional or emergency support takes priority over our coaching work, and Derek will support you in getting that.

Medical Disclosure

If you have a history of epilepsy, clinical psychosis, or any other condition that may be affected by deep trance or hypnosis work, you must disclose this before we begin, and may be asked to obtain clearance from a doctor before this kind of work is used in our sessions.

Rescheduling & Cancellation

Minimum 24 hours' notice is required to reschedule a session. No-shows or cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice result in the session being forfeited — it will not be made up or refunded.

Client Commitment

Change requires active collaboration — this isn't something done to you or for you, it's something we do together. Honesty is the basic operating condition of this work.

If something is asked of you, or you're encouraged to explore something between sessions, it's your responsibility to do that work and take the coaching onboard. What happens between sessions matters as much as the sessions themselves.

Coach's Commitment

Derek will show up prepared, on time, and professional for every session, acting as a guide throughout the process. The coaching follows you, not a fixed process — sessions are built around what's actually alive for you. No specific outcome can be guaranteed, but full, dedicated effort is.

Derek is committed to investing in his own continued learning and development, to bring the best and most current practice into our work together.

Communication Between Sessions

You can reach Derek via WhatsApp at any time, for questions, voice notes, sharing wins, breakthroughs, realisations, or struggles. Derek aims to respond within 24 hours.

Recordings & Materials

Any recordings, exercises, or materials provided as part of this coaching remain the property of Derek Elder and are for your personal use only — they must not be shared, copied, or distributed beyond our work together.

If you are given a hypnosis or trance recording to use between sessions, do not listen to it while driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that requires your full conscious attention.

Payment

Payment is due according to the terms agreed directly between Coach and Client at the start of the engagement. Payments are expected on time for the full duration of the agreed commitment. Fees are non-refundable once coaching has commenced.

Confidentiality

Everything shared in sessions stays private. This works both ways — Derek does not share what a client discusses, and information shared in confidence is treated as confidential for the duration of the working relationship and beyond.

Agreement

By typing your name below and checking the box, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms above.

Sign below

Your signature.

Preparation

Before your first call.

A short checklist to make sure you're set up and ready.

Complete the intake form and sign your coaching agreement above — both are required before your first session.

Set aside 10 minutes to reflect on your main goal before the call — clarity on your side makes the session more useful for both of us.

Find a private space where you won't be interrupted for the duration of the call. A closed door makes a real difference.

Have something to write with nearby. Insights often come quickly and it's worth capturing them in the moment.

Make sure Zoom is installed and working — download it at zoom.us if you haven't already.

Bookmark the Calls page — your weekly Zoom link lives there and stays the same every week.

Before we begin.

How this works.

Tell me about you.

Read and sign.

Your signature.

Before your first call.