Life Coaching Coaching Ethics and Professional Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization is the most widely recognized credentialing body for professional life coaches?
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) (Correct answer)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Correct answer: International Coaching Federation (ICF)
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the global standard-setting body for professional coaching, offering ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials.
Question 2: According to ICF ethics, what must a coach do if a client presents an issue beyond the coach's competence?
- Continue coaching and research the topic later
- Refer the client to an appropriate professional resource (Correct answer)
- Charge a lower fee
- Ask the client to find a new coach without explanation
Correct answer: Refer the client to an appropriate professional resource
ICF ethics require coaches to recognize the limits of their competence and refer clients to other professionals when appropriate.
Question 3: What does 'confidentiality' mean in the coaching relationship?
- The coach shares session details only with paying subscribers
- Client information is kept private unless there is risk of harm or legal obligation (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality applies only to group coaching settings
- The coach can share anonymized case studies without consent
Correct answer: Client information is kept private unless there is risk of harm or legal obligation
Coaches are ethically bound to protect client privacy, with exceptions for legal obligations or imminent risk of harm.
Question 4: What is the key ethical distinction between life coaching and psychotherapy?
- Coaching focuses on the future and goal achievement, while therapy addresses mental health conditions and past trauma (Correct answer)
- Coaching is always more expensive than therapy
- Therapists cannot help with goals, only coaches can
- There is no meaningful distinction between the two
Correct answer: Coaching focuses on the future and goal achievement, while therapy addresses mental health conditions and past trauma
Coaching is future-focused and works with well-functioning individuals on goals, whereas therapy diagnoses and treats psychological disorders.
Question 5: According to ICF standards, who owns the agenda in a coaching session?
- The coach
- The coaching organization
- The client (Correct answer)
- The client's employer (in corporate coaching)
Correct answer: The client
ICF's core principle states that the client is the expert in their own life and owns the coaching agenda; the coach follows the client's lead.
Question 6: What is a 'dual relationship' in coaching ethics, and why is it problematic?
- When a coach works with two clients simultaneously
- When the coach has both a professional coaching role and another personal or business relationship with the same client (Correct answer)
- When a client has two coaches at the same time
- When coaching is delivered via two different methods
Correct answer: When the coach has both a professional coaching role and another personal or business relationship with the same client
Dual relationships can compromise objectivity, create conflicts of interest, and blur professional boundaries, potentially harming the client.
Life Coaching Coaching Ethics and Professional Standards 1
Which organization is the most widely recognized credentialing body for professional life coaches?