Terms, Conditions & Informed Consent

Effective Date: 25 March 2026

Business: Desire Pathways

Location: Taupo, New Zealand

Contact: michaela@desirepathways.co

By booking or participating in sessions, you agree to the following:

1. Nature of Services

Desire Pathways provides online somatic sex coaching focused on embodiment, intimacy, and sexual wellbeing. Sessions are:

  • Educational and coaching-based.

  • Conducted online only and are non-physical (no touch between coach and client).

  • Professional in nature, involving tools such as breath, awareness, movement, non-erotic self touch and sound.

2. Not Therapy or Medical Care

This is not psychotherapy, counselling, or medical treatment.

  • Role Clarity: While I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I am operating solely as a Somatic Sex Coach. This relationship is coaching-based and does not constitute a clinical or psychological relationship.

  • Emergency Support: This is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate distress, please contact local helplines (e.g., 1737 in NZ).

3. Informed Consent & Personal Responsibility

  • The Right to Pause: You have the absolute right to pause, modify, or stop any exercise at any time. I recognise that "no" can be expressed verbally or non-verbally; your internal boundaries always take priority over coaching suggestions.

  • Somatic Responses: This work focuses on physical sensation. You acknowledge that this can bring up strong physical or emotional responses.

  • Capacity & After-Care: You confirm you are not in a psychological crisis and are able to self-regulate. You take full responsibility for your wellbeing and after-care during and after our sessions.

4. Professional Boundaries

  • Environment: Sessions must be attended sober, clothed, and in a private, uninterrupted space with your camera on.

  • Conduct: Genital self-touch and sexualised comments directed toward the coach are strictly prohibited. Violations will result in immediate termination without a refund.

  • Cool-down Period: A minimum two-year period must pass after the coaching relationship ends before any personal relationship may be considered.

5. Scope of Practice & Relationships

The coach works with topics including porn use and kink but does not specialise in Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM).

  • Relational Policy: For partner (2:1) sessions, both parties must be present. If one partner is absent, the session must be rescheduled; it cannot proceed as an individual session.

6. Communications & Data Security

  • Channels: Support is via email or Voxer only. Professional boundaries are maintained by not providing coaching support via Instagram or Snapchat DMs.

  • Security: While I use professional platforms (Acuity, Heidi AI, Voxer, Squarespace), Desire Pathways is not responsible for the data security practices or breaches of these third-party providers.

7. Intellectual Property

All materials, anatomical diagrams, and worksheets provided by Desire Pathways are for your personal use only. They may not be redistributed, shared, or sold without written authorisation.

8. Payments, Rescheduling & Tech Failures

  • Payment: All sessions are paid in full via Acuity at the time of booking and are non-refundable.

  • Rescheduling: Requires at least 24 hours' notice. Notice given within 24 hours, or being more than 10 minutes late, results in a forfeited session.

  • Tech Failure: If a technical or internet failure on either side lasts more than 15 minutes, the session will be rescheduled at no extra cost.

9. Heidi AI Note-Taking

To ensure accuracy and presence, I use Heidi AI for internal audio-based summaries.

  • Audio is processed solely to create a written summary for my professional records.

  • Clients receive a human-written summary only.

  • You may opt out of AI-assisted note-taking via the checkbox in your booking form.

10. Governing Law

This agreement is governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes shall be resolved within New Zealand jurisdiction.