Code of Ethics as defined by the International Coaching Federation

Philosophy of Coaching:

Gateways Art Coaching adheres to a form of coaching that honors the client as the expert in his/her life and work, and believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach’s responsibility is to: Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve; Encourage client self-discovery; Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies; Hold the client responsible and accountable.

Definition of Coaching:

To hire a professional art coach is to have an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of artist coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of conversation, while the art coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. The artist coach accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Art coaching concentrates on where clients are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future. Gateways Art Coaching recognizes that results are a matter of the client’s intentions, choices and actions, supported by the coach’s efforts and application of the coaching process.

Part Three: Standards of Ethical Conduct:

Professional Conduct At Large

1) I will conduct myself in a manner that reflects well on coaching as a profession and I will refrain from doing anything that harms the public’s understanding or acceptance of coaching as a profession. 2) I will honor agreements I make in my all of my relationships. I will construct clear agreements with my clients that may include confidentiality, progress reports, and other particulars. 3) I will respect and honor the efforts and contributions of others. 4) I will respect the creative and written work of others in developing my own materials and not misrepresent them as my own.

Professional Conduct With Clients:

5) I will accurately identify my level of coaching competence and I will not overstate my qualifications, expertise or experience as an artist coach. 6) I will ensure that my art coaching client understands the nature of artist coaching and the terms of the coaching agreement between us. 7) I will not intentionally mislead or make false claims about what my client will receive from the coaching process or from me as their art coach. 8) I will not give my clients or any prospective clients information or advice I know to be misleading or beyond my competence. 9) I will be alert to noticing when my client is no longer benefiting from our coaching relationship and would be better served by another coach or by another resource and, at that time, I will encourage my client to make that change.

Confidentiality/Privacy:

11) I will respect the confidentiality of my client’s information, except as otherwise authorized by my client, or as required by law. 12) I will obtain agreement with my clients before releasing their names as clients or references or any other client identifying information. 13) I will obtain agreement with the person being coached before releasing information to another person compensating me.

Conflicts of Interest:

14) I will seek to avoid conflicts between my interests and the interests of my clients. 15) Whenever any actual conflict of interest or the potential for a conflict of interest arises, I will openly disclose it and fully discuss with my client how to deal with it in whatever way best serves my client. 16) I will disclose to my client all anticipated compensation from third parties that I may receive for referrals or advice concerning that client.

Part Four: Pledge of Ethics:

As a professional art coach, I acknowledge and agree to honor my ethical obligations to my artist coaching clients and colleagues and to the public at large. I pledge to comply with this Code of Ethics, to treat people with dignity as independent and equal human beings, and to model these standards with those whom I coach.

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