Professional conduct at large
(Summarized)
Contact NBHWC to address any ethics violation or possible breach as soon as I become aware of such situation,
... [Show More] whether it involves me or others.
Communicate and create awareness in others who might need to be informed of the responsibilities established by this Code.
Refrain from unlawful discrimination in occupational activities, and consistently demonstrate dignity and respect in all professional relationships.
Make verbal and written statements that are true and accurate about what I offer as a health and wellness coach, the coaching profession, and the NBHWC.
Accurately identify my coaching qualifications, expertise, experience, training, certifications and NBHWC credentials.
Recognize and honor the efforts and contributions of others and only claim ownership of my own material.
Strive at all times to recognize any personal issues that may impair, conflict with or interfere with my coaching performance or my professional coaching relationships.
Recognize that the Code of Ethics applies to my relationship with coaching clients, students, mentees, sponsors, and other coaches.
Conduct and report research with competence, honesty and within
recognized scientific standards and applicable subject guidelines.
Maintain, store and dispose of any records created during my coaching engagements in a manner that promotes confidentiality.
Use NBHWC credentialed coach contact information, such as email addresses and telephone numbers, only in the manner and to the extent authorized by the NBHWC.
Conflicts of interest
Seek to be conscious of any conflict or potential conflict of interest, openly disclose any such conflict.
Clarify roles for health and wellness coaches, set boundaries and review with sponsors and stakeholders conflicts of interest. Disclose to all clients the exact nature of the coach's role within the company.
Disclose to my client and the sponsor all anticipated compensation from third parties that I may receive for referrals of clients or pay to
receive clients. Compensation from the sale of products or non-coaching services to clients must be disclosed fully before coaching begins.
Honor an equitable coach/client relationship, regardless of the form of compensation.
Conduct with clients
Ethically speak what I know to be true about the potential value of the coaching process or of me as a coach.
Make clear to any employer/sponsor and to the client what activities fall within the scope of practice within an NBHWC-certified health and wellness coach, as well as the outcomes that can be reasonably be expected.
Adhere to all ethical standards of practice for his/her respective health care licensures and credentials.
Carefully explain the nature of health and wellness coaching, the nature and limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements, and any other terms of the coaching agreement.
Have a clear coaching service agreement with my clients and sponsor(s) before beginning the coaching relationship and honor this agreement.
Hold responsibility for being aware of and setting clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern interactions.
Avoid any sexual or romantic relationship with current clients.
Respect the client's right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point during the process,
Strive to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the client. I will encourage the client or sponsor to make a change if I believe the client or sponsor would be better served by another coach or by another resource.
Confidentiality/privacy
Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all client and sponsor information unless release is required by law, specifically adhering to all applicable state and federal regulations.
Have a clear agreement about how coaching information will be exchanged among coach, client and sponsor, including mobile health/electronic health data collected by the client.
Have a clear agreement about the conditions under which confidentiality may not be maintained (e.g., illegal activity, pursuant to valid court order or subpoena; imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others; etc.) and make sure all knowingly agree in writing to that limit of confidentiality. Where I reasonably believe that because one of the above circumstances is applicable, I may need to inform appropriate authorities.
Require all those who work with me in support of my clients to adhere to the NBHWC Code of Ethics.
Professional development
Commit to the need for continued and ongoing development of my professional skills.
Pledge of ethics
As a Health and Wellness coach, I acknowledge and agree to honor my ethical and legal obligations to my coaching clients and sponsors, colleagues, and to the public at large. I pledge to comply with the NBHWC
Code of Ethics and to practice these standards with those whom I coach, teach, mentor or supervise.
Scope of practice
Health and wellness coaches work with individuals and groups in a client-centered process to facilitate and empower the client to develop and achieve self-determined goals related to health and wellness.
Coaches support clients in mobilizing internal strengths and external resources, and in developing self-management strategies for making sustainable, healthy lifestyle, behavior changes.
While health and wellness coaches per se do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or provide psychological therapeutic interventions, they may provide expert guidance in areas in which they hold active, nationally recognized credentials, and may offer resources from nationally recognized authorities such as those referenced in ICHWC’s healthy lifestyle curriculum.
As partners and facilitators, health and wellness coaches support their clients in achieving health goals and behavioral change based on their clients’ own goals and consistent with treatment plans as prescribed by individual clients’ professional health care providers.
Coaches assist clients to use their insight, personal strengths and resources, goal setting, action steps and accountability toward healthy lifestyle change. [Show Less]