Ethics Info Flashcards
commit to professionalism
x4
1 ongoing development of skills
2 up-to-date with relevant research
3 following recertification procedures
4 model healthy behavior skills (particularly prioritizing self-care
self-awareness practices, including emotional self-regulation)
Legal Responsibilities
1 client records are protected
2 health care settings abide by HIPAA
3 Awareness of relevant federal and state
regulations that affect health coaching
Confidentiality
1 Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all information unless release is required by law
2 adhering to applicable state/federal reg
3 clear agreement about how coaching information will be exchanged
Working within an organization; serving sponsor and client
Make clear to any employer/sponsor and to the client what activities fall
within the scope of practice within an ICHWC-certified health and
wellness coach, as well as the outcomes that can be reasonably be
expected
Conflicts of interest
Disclose all anticipated compensation from
third parties for referrals of clients
Seek to be conscious of any conflict or potential
conflict of interest, openly disclose any such
conflict to all stakeholders involved,
and offer to remove myself when a conflict arises.
cultural sensitivity
Demonstrate dignity and respect for all people,
honor diversity, cultural sensitivity
Honesty
True and accurate representation of your
training, experience, expertise, credentials
Attribution
Provide attribution for contributions of others, including copyrighted material
Scope of practice
Coaches Do not: x3
diagnose conditions
prescribe treatments
provide psychological therapeutic interventions
Scope of practice
Coaches MAY Provide x3
- support clients achieving health goals
& change based on clients’ goals and treatment
plans prescribed health care providers - expert guidance in areas with active,
nationally recognized credentials - resources from nationally recognized authorities
Professional Coaching Relationship
when coaching includes an agreement (including contracts) that defines the rights, roles and responsibilities of each party.
Avoid any sexual or romantic relationship with current clients, sponsor(s),
students, mentees or supervisees
Sponsor
the entity paying for and/or arranging for coaching services
coaching agreements should clearly establish the rights, roles and
responsibilities for both the client and sponsor if different
Conflict of Interest
A situation where coach has private or personal interest sufficient
to appear to influence the objective of his or her professional role or responsibilities
Code of Ethics x3
Refer when necessary
Consent and approval from relevant parties
Seek consultation or supervision as needed
Self-monitoring and management of triggers and boundaries
- recognize any personal issues that may impair,
conflict with or interfere with coaching - seek the relevant professional assistance
and determine action to be taken
suspend or terminate coaching relationship whenever
the facts and circumstances necessitate
Altruism or Beneficence
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others,
devoid of ulterior motive.
Autonomy
The capacity and right to make informed,
uncoerced decisions and to govern oneself.
Best Practice
Coaching techniques that are based on
the best available research evidence.
Bias
A partiality that prevents objective
consideration of an issue or situation;
a prejudice or preconception.
Boundaries of Competence or Scope of Practice
Competencies refer to skills and techniques in which you have been
thoroughly trained and are competent to perform. A basic ethical principle
is never to coach outside of the boundaries of your competencies and to stay
within the scope of your training and your professional role when working with clients.
Confidentiality
The right to have one’s privacy and records protected.
Conflict of Interest Having competing roles, relationships or
other interests that could potentially interfere with your
objectivity or effectiveness in caring for your client(s).
Continuity of Care
Arranging for the continuous care of clients if you become
impaired or unable to complete contractual agreements.
This will likely involve keeping excellent client records,
networking with other coaching professionals and
creating a network for client referrals.
Do No Harm or Nonmaleficence
One of the fundamental principles of modern mental
health practice, from the Latin “primum non nocere,”
translated as “first, do no harm.” Take reasonable
steps to avoid harming others and to minimize harm
where it is forseeable and unavoidable.
Dual relationships
Dual, or multiple, relationships can occur when the
coach and client (or someone close to the client
such as a family member or employer) have other
interactions with each other such as in the community,
socially, or professionally, outside the coaching relationship.
Exploitive Relationships
A relationship of trust and confidence between
two people in which one person (the fiduciary)
holds much more power, knowledge or skill than
the other and is, therefore, held by the law
to a higher standard of conduct.
Informed Consent
Obtaining informed consent from a client
involves discussing candidly with the client
such things as the nature of the treatment
including risks, benefits, forseeable consequences
of declining or withdrawing from treatment,
and Limits of Confidentiality
Inherent Power Imbalance
A power imbalance is inherent in a professional
relationship between a helper and one who is
seeking help. This imbalance must be noted
and respected in order to avoid Paternalism
and Exploitive Relationships, and to
respect client Autonomy.
Impaired competence
Coaches maintain an awareness of situations
where personal problems may interfere with
their ability to perform their duties effectively.
They take appropriate measures such as seeking
supervision or assistance, and deciding whether
to limit, suspend, or discontinue their coaching practice.
Justice
The principle of fairness that like cases
should be treated alike and clients should
be treated equally.
Limits of Confidentiality
Client information is kept strictly confidential
expect for specific situations provided for in law.
Examples may, or may not, include client statements
of intention to harm themselves or others, or
admissions of the maltreatment of children or
vulnerable adults or other situations of
Mandated Reporting.
Mandated reporting Situations requiring that the
confidential relationship between coach and
client be breached and a report made to the
appropriate authorities. Common examples are
child abuse and neglect, or a client’s stated
intentions to harm themselves or others.
Coaches must be aware of all applicable state and local statutes.
Paternalism
An attitude stemming from the Inherent Power
Imbalance in the relationship between a coach
and a client that lacks respect for client
autonomy and instead makes decisions or
proscriptions on behalf of clients “for their own good.”
