This agreement clarifies the terms of the FAM workshops, together with the commitments and responsibilities of Michal Schonbrun (“the facilitator”) and the participant (“the client”).
A. General Clarifications
- Learning FAM is a personal choice and its use and implementation stem from the personal desire and decision to take control and responsibility for one’s sexual health and fertility management.
- FAM is a tool and method for identifying the fertile and infertile days of the menstrual cycle. It is most often used as contraception but also for achieving pregnancy and for overall body awareness. FAM reduces dependence on other contraceptive methods; it does not eliminate or exclude the use of additional methods if and when a couple wants to have sex during the fertile and pre-fertile days of the cycle.
- While FAM has the potential to reach a nearly 100% effectiveness rate, actual user effectiveness is not a guaranteed statistic; it is determined by the user’s understanding of how the method works, the quality of her fertility charts, and the degree to which the client implements the method rules correctly and consistently (see article).
- No method of contraception is 100% (except for abstinence) and FAM is not a “stand-alone” method. This means that couples who want to maximize the days of “sexual freedom” during the cycle, understand that the use of two, simultaneous back-up methods are necessary during the fertile days (e.g. diaphragm and gel, condom and spermicide). They also understand that during the learning period (4-6 months or cycle), the use of one back-up method is necessary during the pre-fertile days of the cycle. Couples who choose to rely solely on a condom during the fertile time are at risk for an unplanned pregnancy. If a condom breaks or “malfunctions,” that risk approaches 100%!
- If a client is planning to use FAM as a method of contraception, she and her partner will want to reach an agreement about the use of other methods during the fertile and pre-fertile days, before the workshop begins or before the client actually stops using hormonal or IUD methods.
- During the learning period (typically 3+ months or cycles), some clients will be able to rely on FAM sooner than later, though not all. This will depend on the person’s hormonal status. If a client is in “transition” e.g. just came off or about to come off hormonal birth control, post-miscarriage, post-abortion, or first postpartum cycle, more time may be needed for the body’s hormonal “re-set” to occur and until the method rules can be safely implemented. FAM is a partial rather than a complete method of contraception and can be very “unforgiving” when used incorrectly.
- FAM does not protect against sexually-transmitted infections or diseases.
- If reproductive or other health problems become known during the workshop period, the facilitator will provide all relevant guidance, referrals for diagnostic testing, feedback, and support to the client. This guidance is not a substitute for proper medical consultation, evaluation, or care.
- Nursing mothers are always welcome to bring their babies to the group. If there is noise or disruption, the client can mute her microphone.
- Missed sessions: If, for whatever reason, you cannot attend one of the sessions, there are three options: make up the session missed with another group; request in advance that the session be recorded with the permission from other members in the group; schedule a private make-up session at an additional cost.
B. Facilitator commitment and responsibility
- The facilitator is responsible for teaching FAM according to the highest professional standards.
- During the learning period and for a full-year following, the facilitator is responsible for providing individual follow-up (via phone, WhatsApp, text message, email, etc). Clients can expect feedback/answers to their inquiries usually within 1-2 days and they are entitled to personal consultation and guidance. This includes referrals for diagnostic tests, referrals to practitioners, counselling concerns related to fertility, sexual health, and mastering fertility charts. When the year of follow-up ends, the fee for any future follow up is $40 per hour.
- The facilitator is not held responsible if or when FAM is used incorrectly, which can result in an unplanned pregnancy.
- The facilitator commits to working with and supporting each client.
C. Client commitment and responsibility
The client understands that:
- Committing to the workshop means taking responsibility- to the group and to the facilitator. I, Michal, can only commit to follow-through when each participant does the following: a) makes a decision to attend on the dates she chooses, b) fills out the health form at least one week in advance, c) promptly confirms that she will attend after receiving the email invitation, and d) transfers the registration fee/deposit at least one week in advance.
- She is responsible to chart her cycles for at least two-three months before she can begin to implement the method effectively. It takes time to acquire knowledge, experience, skills, and trust. It takes at least a few months to collect personal data (through charting) and identify personal patterns based on one’s fertility signs.
- Motivation, commitment, and perseverance during the learning period are key factors in reaching success, in terms of both effectiveness and self-confidence.
- She is expected to take an active part in the workshop, read all learning materials, complete assignments and demonstrate her understanding of chart interpretation.
D. Client responsibility regarding workshop ethics and group process
The client agrees to:
- Respect the rights, dignity, and privacy of each participant. Any personal history or information (including even the names of other participants) shared by someone in the group is strictly confidential.
- Respect the opinions, beliefs, and choices of others. This means behaving in a civil, mature, tolerant, and polite way, even if differences arise.
- Accept and recognize that each participant comes to the workshop with different experiences, needs and expectations.
- Participants are: religious and secular; single, coupled, married, or in a same-sex relationship; they are on the spectrum of fully supporting conventional medicine together with those supporting complementary, natural medicine; people with and without children (by choice or by circumstance). Acceptance and respect of others helps foster group trust, openness, and safety.
- Decision-making about self-disclosure: There is no requirement to share intimate, personal information in the workshop. Each participant is free to share what is comfortable and relevant for her.
- Discuss with the facilitator (one-on-one) any issue or conflict which could interfere with the group dynamic.
- Protect and safeguard all materials received during the workshop. All written and visual materials (including handouts, charts, presentations, etc.) used in the workshop are for personal, private use only and are not to be modified in any way, copied, photographed, published, or shared with others.
- Respect professional boundaries: While the client has learned FAM for personal use and is welcome and encouraged to share her experiences about the workshop with others, she is not educated or trained to teach what she has learned to others. Teaching FAM to others, particularly in the framework of contraception, is a serious responsibility. If someone wants to teach others, they can consider pursuing professional training and certification.
- Be mindful of the time factor. If someone needs more time and attention around a specific issue, then it is best to schedule that time during individual follow-up with the facilitator so that the workshop schedule is not compromised.
- Refresher workshop: Anyone who has completed the ten-hour workshop is welcome to repeat it, or parts of it, in the future, at no additional cost.
E. Payment and cancellation policy
A workshop requires a minimum of 4-5 participants. It is unfortunate to have to cancel/postpone a workshop when people drop out and change their mind at the last minute. Cancellations hurt my reputation and practice and hurt those who were looking forward to begin, as scheduled. To prevent situations like this, please be sure you are ready to commit before you register.
- A 25% deposit/registration fee is required to secure a space. It can be paid via PayPal, bank transfer, or a money transfer app. This sum will be subtracted from the total.
- The full workshop fee can be paid in up to 4 installments.
- If someone cancels at least a week in advance, their deposit will be fully refunded.
- If someone cancels less than a week before the workshop begins, the registration fee will not be refunded, but can be applied to a future workshop within the following 3 months.
- If someone pays in full and cancels anytime after the first session, she will receive a 60% refund. If canceling after the second session, the two sides will negotiate the refund amount.
- If for any reason I, Michal, cancel the workshop, the registration fee will be refunded in full or be applied to the next available workshop.
I declare that I have read and understood the agreement and I agree to the conditions and terms stated herein.
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Signature Date