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Code of Conduct

This Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct guides all my coaching at NeuroKind Coaching.

 

It reflects my commitment to honesty, care, and professionalism,

especially for clients living with Fibromyalgia, ADHD, and other life challenges.

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It is based on the ethical standards of the ICF, AC, and EMCC,

and I aim to meet and grow beyond those standards.

This is a living document, reviewed at least once a year and whenever my practice changes.

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The Code applies to every coaching relationship, including paid, reduced-rate,

and pay-what-you-can sessions. A shorter version is shared with clients during onboarding.

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I sign each section as a personal pledge to my clients and to myself.

If I get something wrong, I will acknowledge it, learn from it, and do better.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is the foundation of my coaching relationship.

 

Clients need to feel safe to speak openly about their lives, challenges,

and goals and I treat everything they share as strictly private.

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I do not share personal information with anyone without explicit written consent,

unless I am legally required to do so.

 

I keep notes and records secure, explain confidentiality and its limits at the start,

and use anonymised details only when seeking supervision or peer support.

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I store records safely, in line with UK GDPR, and keep them only for as long as necessary

before securely destroying them.

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My commitment is to protect my clients’ privacy and create a space

where they can be honest, open, and fully supported.

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When Confidentiality Must Be Broken

  1. I will break confidentiality and will always tell the client I am doing so when:

  2. There is a serious, credible risk to the client's life (suicidal intent with plan or means)

  3. There is a credible risk of serious harm to a named third party

  4. I am required to do so by law (e.g. court order)

  5. A child or vulnerable adult is at risk of abuse

  6. In all other cases, confidentiality is absolute.

  7. I discuss this at intake so there are no surprises.

Informed Consent

Informed consent means clients freely choose to work with me

with a full understanding of what coaching involves.

 

  1. I explain what coaching is, what it is not, and what they can expect before they commit, and consent can be withdrawn at any time.​

  2. I am clear about my background and never misrepresent my experience or qualifications.

  3. Every client signs a coaching agreement before the first paid session, covering coaching scope, confidentiality, session format, cancellation, fees, and ending the relationship.​

  4. I ask for permission before recording sessions or using any unfamiliar creative, somatic, or nature-based exercises.

  5. I also check in regularly, because consent is ongoing, not a one-time form.​

  6. My intake process is kept simple and accessible, with plain language and digital or paper options.
     

My pledge is that clients always know what they are agreeing to and can change their mind freely.

Professional Relationships

Professional boundaries create the safe structure that makes coaching possible.​​
They protect clients from harm, protect me from burnout, and keep the coaching relationship clear and ethical.

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  1. I keep a clear line between coaching and friendship.​

  2. I do not enter personal, romantic, or financial relationships with current clients.

  3. I do not coach close friends or immediate family.​

  4. I keep communication professional and within agreed hours.

  5. and I do not respond to messages late at night or at weekends unless there is a safeguarding concern.

  6. I also avoid making the coaching about me, and I seek support if I notice I am becoming too emotionally involved.

  7. If a boundary is challenged, I address it calmly and clearly.​

  8. If a coaching relationship becomes ethically compromised, I end it responsibly.

Client Autonomy

I trust that every client has the capacity and wisdom to find their own way forward.

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My role is not to tell them what to do, but to create a space where they can discover their own answers.

I do not give advice, push my own goals, or tell clients what they should do.

I follow the client’s agenda, offer choices, and support their right to make decisions,

even when I might personally choose differently.

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For clients living with Fibromyalgia or ADHD, I especially work to return power to them in each session.

My pledge is to trust my clients fully and to be the best question-asker in the room,

not the one with all the answers.

No Harm

I commit to doing no harm in all my coaching work.​
 

  1. I actively ensure my coaching does not cause psychological, physical, emotional, financial, or social harm.

  2. I stay within my professional boundaries.​

  3. I do not diagnose, treat, prescribe, or give medical or therapeutic advice.​

  4. If a client needs support beyond coaching,I refer them to appropriate services such as their GP, NHS, or a qualified mental health professional.​

  5. I assess risk at the start of our work and continue to monitor wellbeing throughout our time together.

  6. I follow a clear safeguarding protocol and act on it immediately when needed.​

  7. I recognise that clients with chronic illness or neurodivergence may be more vulnerable.

  8. I use careful, respectful language and avoid shame-based or overly challenging approaches.​

  9. I do not use confrontational, shaming, or aggressive coaching methods.​

  10. I limit my client load to ensure I can provide safe, high-quality support at all times.

  11. ​If a session is causing distress, I pause or end it and check in with the client before they leave.​

  12. I take responsibility for my own wellbeing and do not coach when I am unwell, distressed, or unable to practise safely.

  13. If I make a mistake, I acknowledge it, apologise where appropriate, and take steps to put it right.

Integrity

Integrity means my values, words, and actions are aligned.

In coaching, this means I am honest, transparent about my limits, and consistent in how I show up.

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  1. I am always honest about my qualifications, experience, and expertise.

  2. I do not make promises I cannot keep or claims I cannot prove.

  3. I charge fairly and am clear about pricing and available options.

  4. I do not use pressure or manipulation to gain or keep clients.

  5. I give honest feedback with care and compassion when asked.

  6. I acknowledge my mistakes and take responsibility for them.

  7. I behave consistently, both in sessions and outside of them.

  8. I do not speak negatively about clients, other coaches, or competitors.

  9. I respect cancellation policies both ways. If I cancel, I give as much notice as possible and do not charge.

  10. My marketing is accurate and does not exaggerate outcomes or create false expectations.

 

My pledge: I practise what I teach and live my values, even when it is difficult.

Respect

Respect means valuing every client as they are, without judgment.

 

  1. I treat every person with dignity, regardless of their circumstances, choices, or background.

  2. I approach clients with curiosity, warmth, and openness.

  3. I use the names, pronouns, and language my clients choose.

  4. I do not make assumptions about a client’s life, abilities, or beliefs.

  5. I listen to understand and give my full attention.

  6. I respect cultural, religious, and personal differences and adapt my approach where needed.

  7. I do not impose my own values or beliefs.

  8. I recognise that clients are the experts in their own lives and bodies, especially those with chronic conditions.

  9. I respect a client’s right to pause, reflect, or not have an answer.

  10. I communicate clearly and accessibly, using plain language and formats that suit each client.

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My pledge: I see and respect the whole person in front of me, not a label or a problem to fix.

Competence

Competence means I work within my current skills and knowledge while continuing to grow.

 

  1. I am honest about what I know and what I do not.

  2. I am open about my background, including lived experience, self-development,

  3. and ongoing learning rather than formal qualifications at this stage.

  4. I only use coaching tools and techniques I understand and have practised.

  5. I do not work with complex trauma, personality disorders, psychosis, or active suicidality, and I refer clients to appropriate professionals.

  6. I commit to ongoing learning, including at least 40 hours of CPD each year.

  7. I stay informed by reading current research on Fibromyalgia, ADHD, positive psychology, and coaching practice.

  8. I develop my skills through self-coaching and peer practice.

  9. I seek peer support when needed, always protecting client confidentiality.

  10. I recognise when a client’s needs go beyond coaching and support a safe and respectful transition to other services.

  11. I am working towards formal accreditation (ICF, AC, or EMCC) and review my progress each year.
     

My pledge: I am honest about my level of experience and committed to continuous learning.

Responsibility

Responsibility means being accountable to my clients, my profession, and myself.

 

  1. I act proactively, not just when issues arise.

  2. I take full responsibility for the quality and ethics of my coaching.

  3. I maintain appropriate insurance for my work.

  4. I keep accurate and secure records of client sessions and my own reflections.

  5. I review my practice each year against this Code of Ethics.

  6. I take care of my own wellbeing so I can coach safely and effectively.

  7. If a client raises a concern, I listen, take it seriously, and respond without defensiveness.

  8. I follow a clear complaints process.

  9. I ensure clients know how to access emergency support and do not rely solely on me.

  10. I stay informed about safeguarding, GDPR, and relevant laws.

  11. I regularly reflect on my own assumptions, biases, and blind spots.
     

My pledge: I take full ownership of my practice; including its growth, challenges, and mistakes.

Continuous Development

The commitment to continuous development is what distinguishes a good coach from a great one.

Learning never stops and in the absence of formal training so far, it is especially vital that I proactively and rigorously invest in my own growth.
 

  1. I maintain a structured CPD log, recording all learning activities, hours, and reflections.

  2. I read widely: coaching, psychology, neuroscience, chronic illness, creativity, and wellbeing.

  3. I complete at least one structured learning programme per year (course, certificate, workshop, or intensive).

  4. I practise reflective journaling after every coaching session.

  5. I actively seek feedback from clients (end-of-programme feedback form).

  6. I attend webinars, conferences, or community events related to coaching or my specialisms.

  7. I engage with the wider coaching community through online forums, communities of practice, and peer groups.

  8. I review and update this Code of Conduct annually or after any significant incident.

  9. I am on a pathway toward formal accreditation (ICF ACC as a first milestone).

  10. I track my coaching hours from day one to build the practice log required for accreditation.
     

My pledge: I am becoming the coach my clients deserve — and that is a lifelong commitment, not a destination.

Contracting

Contracting is the professional practice of clearly establishing the terms, boundaries, and expectations of the coaching relationship before it begins.
 

Good contracting prevents misunderstanding and protects both coach and client.

 

Every client relationship begins with a written coaching agreement, no exceptions.

The agreement covers:

  1. purpose and scope of coaching, number and length of sessions, format, investment, cancellation policy, confidentiality, and how to end the relationship.

  2. I explain the agreement verbally as well as providing it in writing — some clients find dense documents hard to process (especially with fibro fog or ADHD).

  3. I invite questions and give clients time to read before signing.

  4. I re-contract when the relationship significantly changes — new programme, new focus, long break.

  5. I make explicit that either party can end the coaching relationship, with agreed notice (typically two weeks).

  6. I have a clear, fair cancellation and rescheduling policy that acknowledges the reality of chronic illness (more flexibility than standard).

  7. I document all changes to agreements and ensure the client has a copy.

  8. I hold myself to the terms of the agreement as strictly as I hold the client.

  9. My pledge: Clear agreements from the start mean we can both focus on what matters — the client's growth.

Reflective Practice

Reflective practice means regularly looking back on my coaching with honesty and curiosity.
It helps me learn, improve, and stay accountable.
 

  1. I write a short reflection after each session, stored securely.

  2. I reflect on what went well, what was challenging, how I felt, and what I would do differently.

  3. I use simple reflection models (such as Gibbs or GROW) to deepen my learning.

  4. I review my practice every quarter against this Code of Ethics.

  5. I take part in peer reflection, sharing anonymised experiences to learn from others.

  6. I reflect not only on my skills, but on whether I am living my values in practice.

  7. I keep a learning log of insights from reading, training, and peer work.

  8. When something feels difficult or goes wrong, I treat it as an opportunity to learn.

  9. I am working towards regular peer and professional supervision as my practice develops.
     

My pledge: I look honestly at my work so I can continue to grow and earn my clients’ trust.

Reflective Practice

Reflective practice means regularly looking back on my coaching with honesty and curiosity.
It helps me learn, improve, and stay accountable.
 

  1. I write a short reflection after each session, stored securely.

  2. I reflect on what went well, what was challenging, how I felt, and what I would do differently.

  3. I use simple reflection models (such as Gibbs or GROW) to deepen my learning.

  4. I review my practice every quarter against this Code of Ethics.

  5. I take part in peer reflection, sharing anonymised experiences to learn from others.

  6. I reflect not only on my skills, but on whether I am living my values in practice.

  7. I keep a learning log of insights from reading, training, and peer work.

  8. When something feels difficult or goes wrong, I treat it as an opportunity to learn.

  9. I am working towards regular peer and professional supervision as my practice develops.
     

My pledge: I look honestly at my work so I can continue to grow and earn my clients’ trust.

Wellbeing of the Coach

I recognise that my wellbeing directly affects the quality of my coaching.

I commit to:

  • Not coaching when significantly unwell, emotionally flooded, or distressed

  • Maintaining my own self-care practices (as outlined in the BLOSSOM methodology I use with clients)

  • Setting a maximum caseload that allows me to serve every client fully

  • Taking genuine rest, including unplugged time away from client work

  • Seeking my own coaching or therapeutic support when needed

Social Media Presence

My online presence reflects my professional values.


I commit to:

  • Never sharing client stories, quotes, or identifiable information on social media, even positively

  • Only sharing testimonials with explicit written consent and after the coaching relationship has ended

  • Maintaining the same standards of respect, inclusion, and integrity online as in sessions

  • Not engaging in public disputes or unprofessional commentary about other coaches or approaches

  • Ensuring all marketing is honest, accurate, and not designed to exploit vulnerability

Financing

  • I never pressure clients financially or use sales tactics that exploit emotional vulnerability

  • I am transparent about all costs, including any extras, from the first conversation

  • I offer genuine access options (sliding scale, PWYC) and I honour them

  • I do not charge for cancelled sessions caused by my own unavailability

  • I issue refunds fairly for sessions not delivered

  • I keep my financial records and client payment information securely and separately

Financing

  • I never pressure clients financially or use sales tactics that exploit emotional vulnerability

  • I am transparent about all costs, including any extras, from the first conversation

  • I offer genuine access options (sliding scale, PWYC) and I honour them

  • I do not charge for cancelled sessions caused by my own unavailability

  • I issue refunds fairly for sessions not delivered

  • I keep my financial records and client payment information securely and separately

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