Research Paper: My Client, My Friend

Conclusion

The relationship between coach and client is unique from most other professional relationships.  Because the alliance is co-creative in nature, the likelihood of exploitation by a coach is rare.  The likelihood that a friendship or other professional relationship led to the coaching relationship, or that a friendship or other professional relationship could develop outside of the coaching relationship, is not so rare.

A coach must maintain perspective and protect the client from any conflicts which might arise from a dual or multiple role relationship, and which could threaten the client’s progress during the coaching process.  A coach has a host of support from which to gain the information necessary to make decisions about dual or multiple relationships, including his or her professional coaching education; the ICF Core Competencies; the ICF Code of Conduct:  and the ICF Code of Ethics.  One should also never underestimate the significance and insight gained from his or her own experiences as a coach.

References

American Counseling Association (ACA). (2012). ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved July 3, 2012 from http://www.counseling.org/resources/codeofethics/TP/home/ct2.aspx

Hayden, C.J., and Whitworth, Laura. “Distinctions Between Coaching and Therapy.” International Association of Personal & Professional Coaches Newsletter, Oct. 1995.

International Coaching Federation (ICF). (2011). ICF Code of Conduct.  Retrieved June 21, 2012 from

International Coaching Federation (ICF). (2011). ICF Code of Ethics.  Retrieved June 21, 2012 from

International Coaching Federation (ICF). (2011). ICF Core Competencies.  Retrieved June 21, 2012 from

Pignotti, Monica. What is a Dual Relationship?  Potentially Harmful and Other Questionable Therapies. Retrieved July 5, 2012 from http://phtherapies.wordpress.com/2011/09/03what-is-a-dual-relationship/

Vander Leek, Shann. (1999). Do You Need a Life Coach or Therapist?  Retrieved on July 5, 2012 from

Williams, Patrick and Anderson, Sharon K.  Law & Ethics in Coaching – How to Solve and Avoid Difficult Problems in Your Practice. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Press, 2006.

Zur, Ofer. “In Celebration of Dual Relationships – How Prohibition of Non-Sexual Dual Relationships Increases the Chance of Exploitation and Harm.” The Independent Practitioner 20 (2000): 97-100.

QUESTIONS

1. Are you presently an ICA student?
2. Are you a graduate of ICA?
3. Are you a member of the ICF?
4. Are you certified as an ACC, PCC, or MCC with the ICF?
5. Have you coached a client with whom you had a concurrent dual relationship?
6. Please describe nature of the concurrent dual relationship.
7. What was your greatest challenge during the concurrent dual relationship?
8. How, if at all, did one relationship affect the other?
9. Have you coached a client with whom you had a sequential dual relationship?
10. Please describe nature of the sequential dual relationship.
11. What was your greatest challenge during the sequential dual relationship?
12. How, if at all, did one relationship affect the other?