Coaching & Ethics
Practice with clarity. Lead with integrity.
A practical course for coaches who want to make thoughtful, ethical decisions, protect the trust at the heart of coaching, and know what to do when real life situations get complicated.
Four live online sessions • 2 hours each
ACE Coaching & Ethics
Ethics becomes real in the moments you didn't plan for.
Every coaching relationship is unique.
What belongs in a coaching agreement? What stays confidential? What if someone else is paying for the coaching?
Coaching & Ethics gives you practical principles, real-world case studies, and guided discussion to help you meet these moments with greater clarity and confidence while keeping your client’s well-being at the center.
What You'll Learn
During this four-session course, you’ll learn how to:
- Create clear coaching agreements that establish trust and professional expectations from the beginning.
- Protect client confidentiality and understand the circumstances that can affect your responsibilities.
- Recognize and navigate conflicts of interest, dual relationships, and professional boundaries.
- Understand the limits of coaching and recognize when another profession may be a more appropriate resource.
- Refer clients with care when they may benefit from another coach or from legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional support.
- Recognize important indicators that may signal a need for medical or mental health support.
- Apply ethical principles to real situations with greater confidence, clarity, and good judgment.
More Than Knowing the Rules
There isn’t a perfect answer for every situation a coach will encounter.
That’s why this course goes beyond simply reviewing ethical guidelines.
Through case studies and discussions, you’ll practice evaluating the situation, considering your options, and deciding what best serves the client and the integrity of the coaching relationship.
The goal is not to give you a script for every possible scenario.
It’s to give you a strong ethical foundation so that when the unexpected happens, you’re better prepared to respond.
- Create clear coaching agreements that establish trust and professional expectations from the beginning.
- Protect client confidentiality and understand the circumstances that can affect your responsibilities.
- Recognize and navigate conflicts of interest, dual relationships, and professional boundaries.
- Understand the limits of coaching and recognize when another profession may be a more appropriate resource.
- Refer clients with care when they may benefit from another coach or from legal, financial, medical, psychological, or other professional support.
- Recognize important indicators that may signal a need for medical or mental health support.
- Apply ethical principles to real situations with greater confidence, clarity, and good judgment.
Who Is This Course For?
Coaching & Ethics is designed for coach-trainees and practicing coaches who want to build a strong professional and ethical foundation for their work.
It’s especially valuable as you begin working with clients and encounter real-world questions that don’t always have simple answers.
Whether you’re building your coaching practice or deepening your understanding of professional coaching ethics, you’ll leave better prepared to protect the trust your clients place in you, and to know when to seek additional support or guidance yourself.
Course at a Glance
Format: Four live, online sessions
Length: 2 hours per session
Learning Experience: Guided discussion, real-world case studies, practical application, and brief written reflections.
Course Leaders: Raquel Najera, ACC and Greg Reinauer, PCC
Grounded in: Professional coaching ethics and the ICF Code of Ethics
Next Course – November 2026
Schedule: November 16, 23, 30 & December 14
9:00 am – 11:00 am Pacific | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Tuition: $500
Save $100 when bundled with ACE Foundations 1: Mastering Your Life and ACE Foundations 2: Being Coach.
Participants must attend three of the four live sessions. A missed session may be completed by reviewing the recording and completing the corresponding coursework.
You do need a clear ethical foundation, sound judgment, and a commitment to keeping your client's well-being at the center of the coaching relationship.
Coaching & Ethics helps you build exactly that.