Purpose

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify the key ethical boundaries a life coach must maintain, and recognize situations that require referral outside the coaching relationship.

Lesson Explanation

Ethical coaching practice rests on several specific, concrete boundaries, distinct from general good intentions:

Scope of practice   — coaching addresses goals and performance, not mental health diagnosis or treatment
Confidentiality      — client information stays private, with clearly stated, narrow exceptions
Dual relationships   — avoiding coaching someone when a conflicting relationship (like a close friend or business partner) could compromise objectivity
Informed consent     — the client understands what coaching is, what it isn't, and agrees to the terms before starting

Building directly on Lesson 1’s distinction between coaching and therapy: recognizing when a client’s needs fall outside a coach’s scope is a genuinely critical ethical skill, not a minor technicality. Warning signs that a referral to a licensed mental health professional is needed include: persistent hopelessness, expressed thoughts of self-harm, or a pattern that seems rooted in unprocessed trauma rather than a forward-looking goal.

A genuinely important, specific point: a coach is not qualified to diagnose whether a client’s struggle is “just” a coaching issue or something requiring clinical support — when in doubt, referring out is the ethical default, not something to avoid for fear of losing a client.

Practice Questions