Terms, Conditions & Informed Consent

Effective Date: 24 May 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.

  • Fully clothed at all times (conducted online only and non-physical, with 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 well-being and after-care during and after our sessions.

  • Voluntary Participation & Alternatives: You acknowledge that your participation is entirely voluntary. You understand that somatic coaching is only one modality for exploring intimacy and sexual wellbeing, and that alternatives (such as traditional clinical sex therapy, pelvic floor physiotherapy, or psychotherapy) may be better suited for deep trauma processing or medical concerns.

  • No Guaranteed Outcomes: While somatic coaching can support deeper intimacy and embodiment, specific emotional, relational, or sexual outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Your progress depends entirely on your own integration, pacing, and practice.

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. Confidentiality & Privacy

Your privacy is deeply respected. All information shared within our sessions, including intake forms, notes, and discussions, is kept strictly confidential.

  • Exceptions to Confidentiality: I will not disclose your information to anyone without your written consent, except where required or permitted by New Zealand law, which includes:

    • If there is a clear and imminent risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else.

    • If there is reason to suspect the abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult.

    • If subpoenaed by a court of law.

  • Professional Supervision: To maintain the highest standard of care, I periodically discuss cases with a professional supervisor. During these consultations, your identity is always kept completely anonymous to protect your privacy.

7. Communications & Data Security

  • Channels: Support is via email only. To maintain professional boundaries, I don't provide coaching support via Social Media

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

8. 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.

9. 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 for standard changes. Within the 24-hour window, you can reschedule up to 3 hours in advance via your booking link or by emailing me. Arriving more than 10 minutes late or missing this window 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.

10. Heidi AI Note-Taking

To ensure accuracy and presence, I use Heidi AI to create internal audio 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.

11. Governing Law

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