Coaching Psychology as a Profession: Ethical and Practice-Related Issues

Coaching is an age-old profession, with coaching psychology emerging as a distinct domain of psychology in 2000. Coaching psychology is grounded in the science of human behaviour, with the practice of this science known as evidenced-based coaching. It largely remains unregulated, as does coaching. The training and ethical development of coaching psychologists require studies in higher institutions — it would be misleading to consider coaching psychology practice as a coaching practice, offered by a coach without any regulated formal professional qualification in psychology. It is argued that the difference is in the unobservable: that is, the use of science and the well-grounded eithical training inherent in the practice of a coaching psychologist. An outline of the various ehtical codes in coaching, the ethical considerations in the boundaries of coaching and therapy, and the need for clear contracting are explored in this chapter. Additionally, the tension felt by a coaching psychologist in a largely unregulated profession is discussed, with case studies and reflective questions.