CCMC Ethical Practice & Professional Development 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CCMC notices signs that a client may be experiencing depression. What is the ethically appropriate response?
- Begin providing therapeutic support to address the depression
- Acknowledge the client's experience, suggest professional mental health support, and adjust coaching accordingly (Correct answer)
- Ignore the signs to stay within the coaching scope
- Terminate the coaching relationship immediately
Correct answer: Acknowledge the client's experience, suggest professional mental health support, and adjust coaching accordingly
Coaches should recognize mental health concerns, encourage professional help, and stay within their scope rather than attempting therapeutic intervention.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a boundary violation in career coaching?
- Using structured assessments to guide career exploration
- Entering a business partnership with a current coaching client (Correct answer)
- Discussing a client's long-term career vision across multiple sessions
- Charging a session fee before the first appointment
Correct answer: Entering a business partnership with a current coaching client
Entering a business partnership with an active client creates a dual relationship that can compromise objectivity and harm the client.
Question 3: A CCMC is marketing their services online and wants to use a testimonial from a former client. What ethical requirement applies?
- Testimonials may be used freely once the coaching relationship ends
- The coach must obtain explicit written consent from the client before using any testimonial (Correct answer)
- Anonymous testimonials require no consent
- Testimonials are prohibited entirely under professional ethics codes
Correct answer: The coach must obtain explicit written consent from the client before using any testimonial
Using client testimonials requires explicit informed consent to protect the client's privacy and uphold professional integrity.
Question 4: What is the most important reason for a CCMC to document the basis for major coaching decisions in client records?
- To demonstrate compliance with billing requirements
- To provide accountability, support reflective practice, and protect both client and coach in disputes (Correct answer)
- To share with employers during the client's job search
- To satisfy government reporting mandates
Correct answer: To provide accountability, support reflective practice, and protect both client and coach in disputes
Documentation of decision-making provides accountability, supports the coaching process, and offers protection if the coach's conduct is ever questioned.
Question 5: A CCMC is asked to guarantee a client will land a job within 90 days. How should the coach respond?
- Agree in order to win the client's business
- Decline to make the guarantee and explain that outcomes depend on multiple factors outside the coach's control (Correct answer)
- Offer a partial refund policy as a substitute guarantee
- Guarantee the outcome only if the client follows all recommendations
Correct answer: Decline to make the guarantee and explain that outcomes depend on multiple factors outside the coach's control
Ethical coaches do not make unsubstantiated guarantees about outcomes, as job placement depends on many variables beyond the coach's control.
Question 6: How should a CCMC handle a conflict between a client's expressed career goal and what the coach believes is in the client's best interest?
- Override the client's preference in the client's best interest
- Share the coach's perspective honestly while ultimately respecting the client's autonomy to decide (Correct answer)
- Refuse to coach toward goals the coach disagrees with
- Involve a third party to resolve the disagreement
Correct answer: Share the coach's perspective honestly while ultimately respecting the client's autonomy to decide
Coaches may share their perspective but must ultimately honor client autonomy, as self-determination is a foundational value in career coaching.
Question 7: What distinguishes a CCMC's ethical obligation to a minor client versus an adult client?
- No distinctions exist; ethical obligations are identical for all clients
- Coaches must obtain parental or guardian consent for minors and consider developmental appropriateness of methods (Correct answer)
- Minors cannot participate in career coaching under any professional code
- Coaches must share all session content with parents of minor clients
Correct answer: Coaches must obtain parental or guardian consent for minors and consider developmental appropriateness of methods
Working with minors requires parental consent and age-appropriate approaches, adding a layer of ethical responsibility beyond standard adult coaching.
CCMC Ethical Practice & Professional Development 5
A CCMC notices signs that a client may be experiencing depression.
What is the ethically appropriate response?