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Communication & Client Relations Flashcards

7 cards from real ICF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Communication & Client Relations flashcards as text

  1. Which of the following is an example of 'forward-focused' communication as valued by ICF?

    Answer: Asking what steps the client will take toward their goal this week

    ICF coaching is forward-focused, orienting questions and conversation toward action, growth, and future possibilities.

  2. A client discloses they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. The ICF-aligned coach should:

    Answer: Break confidentiality if necessary and refer to crisis resources

    ICF ethics permit breaking confidentiality when there is serious risk of harm, and coaches must refer clients to appropriate professional resources.

  3. What does 'dancing in the moment' mean in ICF coaching?

    Answer: Responding fluidly to what emerges in the session rather than following a rigid plan

    'Dancing in the moment' describes the coach's agility to follow the client's energy and what is most alive in the session.

  4. Which best describes the ICF's view of 'powerful questions'?

    Answer: Open-ended questions that provoke reflection, discovery, or new thinking in the client

    ICF defines powerful questions as open-ended prompts that stimulate reflection, insight, and new perspectives in the client.

  5. A coach realizes they have a conflict of interest with a new prospective client. The ICF-aligned action is to:

    Answer: Disclose the conflict and decide together whether to proceed or refer

    ICF ethics require transparent disclosure of conflicts of interest so the client can make an informed decision about the coaching relationship.

  6. A client repeatedly cancels sessions. An ICF-aligned coach would:

    Answer: Name the pattern and explore what it means for the client's commitment

    Noticing behavioral patterns and raising them as observations is a Direct Communication and Active Listening competency.

  7. What is the ICF's stance on giving advice during a coaching session?

    Answer: Advice can be shared when invited, framed as perspective, and the client remains autonomous

    ICF does not absolutely prohibit advice but emphasizes that the client's own thinking and autonomy must remain central.