Risk Assessment & Mitigation 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 Risk Assessment & Mitigation flashcards as text
A coach notices their client is showing signs of emotional instability during a session. What is the FIRST risk mitigation step the coach should take?
Answer: Assess the severity and determine if a mental health referral is needed
ICF ethics require coaches to assess client wellbeing and refer to mental health professionals when issues fall outside coaching's scope.
Under the ICF Code of Ethics, which situation represents a conflict of interest risk that a coach MUST disclose?
Answer: Coaching an employee of a company where the coach holds stock
Financial interests in a client's employer create a conflict of interest that the ICF requires coaches to disclose proactively.
A sponsor requests detailed progress reports on a coachee. What is the primary risk this creates for the coach?
Answer: Violating the coachee's confidentiality and undermining trust
Sharing detailed progress information with sponsors without coachee consent violates ICF confidentiality standards and the coaching relationship.
Which mitigation strategy best addresses the risk of scope creep from coaching into therapy?
Answer: Clearly contracting boundaries upfront and maintaining referral resources
Establishing clear contracting about coaching scope and maintaining professional referral networks is the ICF-recommended approach to prevent scope creep.
A coach is working with a client who discloses plans to engage in illegal activity. According to ICF ethics, the coach should:
Answer: Consider breaking confidentiality based on applicable laws and severity of harm
ICF ethics allow confidentiality to be broken when required by law or when there is risk of serious harm, requiring case-by-case professional judgment.
What risk does a coach assume when continuing to coach a client well beyond their stated goals without renegotiating the agreement?
Answer: Risk of fostering client dependency and ethical boundary violations
Prolonged coaching without renegotiation can create unhealthy dependency, which conflicts with ICF's commitment to client autonomy and self-sufficiency.
When a coach operates in a country where coaching is not regulated, what is the PRIMARY risk management tool for maintaining professional standards?
Answer: Adhering strictly to ICF's Code of Ethics and professional standards
In unregulated environments, voluntary adherence to ICF's Code of Ethics and standards is the primary safeguard for professional integrity.