What are the relationships between coaching, psychotherapy, and social work and how should our understanding of these relationships impact ethical decision-making for social workers?
3. Why care about ethics and Coaching?
Client safety
Practitioner safety
Responsibility to our profession
4. What is coaching? - ICF
Partnering with clients in a
thought-provoking and
creative process that inspires
them to maximize their
personal and professional
potential
5. What is coaching? – Cavanagh & Grant
A goal-directed, results-oriented,
systematic process in which one
person facilitates sustained
change in another individual or
group through fostering the self-
directed learning and personal
growth of the coachee
6. What is psychotherapy? - Colorado
’Psychotherapy’ means the treatment,
diagnosis, testing, assessment, or counseling
in a professional relationship to assist
individuals or groups to alleviate mental
disorders, understand unconscious or
conscious motivation, resolve emotional,
relationship, or attitudinal conflicts, or
modify behaviors that interfere with
effective emotional, social, or intellectual
functioning
7. What is psychotherapy? – California SW
use of psychosocial methods within a professional
relationship, to assist the person or persons to
achieve a better psychosocial adaptation, to
acquire greater human realization of psychosocial
potential and adaptation, to modify internal and
external conditions which affect individuals,
groups, or communities in respect to behavior,
emotions, and thinking, in respect to their
intrapersonal and interpersonal processes
9. Coaching vs Therapy??
Some say that
Therapy
• The past
• What’s wrong
• Pathology
• Therapist as expert
Coaching
• The future
• What’s right
• Strengths
• Coach as co-creator
10. How to define coaching and therapy?
Is it a function of:
What?
How?
Who?
Why?
11. Differences
What – Topics, types of goals?
How – Techniques, focus, tone of voice?
Where – Whose office? In a public place?
Who – No diagnosis?
Why – Overall goal? Healing?
12. Theoretical Differences
Therapy Coaching
Attention to power
dynamic (vulnerability)
Assumes strength and
resilience in
relationship with coach
Attention to
transference
Little discussion about
transference
13. Practical differences
Therapy Coaching
Privileged communication No privilege
Reimbursable Not reimbursable
Malpractice covered Not always covered
Must be licensed in state Client can be anywhere
One clear code of ethics Multiple codes of ethics
Influence of insurance
based fees
Market based fees
20. Codes of ethics
NASW
Coaching associations
International Coach Federation
Board-certified coach
International Association of Coaching
21. Ethical decision-making process
Does it quack like a duck?
How different from
psychotherapy is it?
Power differential?
Client vulnerability?
Setting?
Topics?
22. Decision-making guidelines
For the benefit of the client?
Any conflict of interest?
What codes of ethics apply and what do they say?
Whom can I ask for help?
What are my options?
What are the risks and can I accept them?
Document the options considered and choices made
28. Boundaries – Sequential engagements
Therapy followed by coaching?
Coaching followed by therapy?
29. Barter / Gifts
Follow social work code of ethics?
In a pure coaching scenario, any
downside to client to saying no?
30. Marketing / referrals
Separate cards?
Separate websites?
Social media?
Limited by social work ethics?
Testimonials?
Referral fees?
31. Distance-based work
Which state’s rules apply?
Danger of practicing without a license?
Is it covered by malpractice?
Specific training for distance work
ISMHO – International Society for Mental
Health Online
32. Distance-based good news
The Social Work Professional Liability
Insurance policy sponsored by NASW
Assurance Services provides coverage
worldwide, as long as the claim is
made and the suit is brought in the
United States, its territories,
possessions, Puerto Rico or Canada.
Therefore, it's not necessary to
purchase another policy for internet,
phone/telecommunication practice.
33. Distance-based caveat 1
However, because of the changing
atmosphere and unprecedented
legislation regarding the internet, it
is imperative that you keep abreast
of current events concerning your
methods of practice.
34. Distance-based caveat 2
In addition, taking great care to
prevent a breach of privacy
regarding client confidentiality
should be of utmost concern. It is
recommended that documentation
not be accessible through the
internet.
35. Distance-based bad news
…coverage would be excluded for a
wrongful act committed while you
did not have a license as required by
law. You must be practicing legally
for the policy to afford coverage.
36. Touch as a model?
Social workers should not engage in
physical contact with clients when
there is a possibility of psychological
harm to the client as a result of the
contact (such as cradling or caressing
clients). Social workers who engage in
appropriate physical contact with
clients are responsible for setting clear,
appropriate, and culturally sensitive
boundaries that govern such physical
contact.
37. Next steps – Coaching and social work
Can / should any situations be carved out as non
social work?
Clarification of what is safe practice
Address distance / state licensing issues
Clarify / address liability insurance coverage
Additional support for social workers who coach
Advocate for the role of social workers in coaching
