Coaching Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards

A client discloses they are experiencing suicidal thoughts during a coaching session. What is the coach's primary ethical obligation?

Answer: Refer the client immediately to a mental health professional and provide crisis resources

Mental health crises exceed the scope of coaching; the ethical response is immediate referral to qualified mental health professionals and providing crisis resources.

How should a CLC coach handle a situation where two clients in the same organization have conflicting interests?

Answer: Disclose the conflict, obtain informed consent from both, or decline to coach one

Conflicting interests between clients in the same organization create a conflict of interest that must be disclosed and managed transparently.

What is the purpose of a 'coaching agreement' from an ethical standpoint?

Answer: To establish mutual expectations, boundaries, confidentiality terms, and the coaching framework

A coaching agreement establishes clear mutual expectations and ethical boundaries including confidentiality, scope, and process.

A leadership coach realizes they have strong personal opinions about a client's industry that may bias the coaching. What is the ethical response?

Answer: Engage in supervision or self-reflection to manage the bias, and consider disclosing if it could affect the work

Coaches are ethically responsible for recognizing and managing personal biases through supervision, self-reflection, or disclosure when appropriate.

Under ICF standards, which action would violate the principle of client autonomy?

Answer: Directing the client toward a specific outcome the coach believes is best for them

Client autonomy means the client determines their own direction; a coach who directs toward a predetermined outcome undermines this principle.

A coach is asked to provide coaching services that include psychological assessments they are not licensed to administer. What should they do?

Answer: Decline that component and refer the client to a licensed psychologist for assessments

Coaches must operate within their professional scope; licensed psychological assessments require appropriate credentials the coach may not hold.

What does 'maintaining appropriate boundaries' mean in a leadership coaching context?

Answer: Ensuring the coach-client relationship remains professional and does not develop personal, financial, or romantic dimensions

Maintaining boundaries means keeping the coaching relationship professional and free from dual relationships that could compromise objectivity.