Contracting, boundaries, and ethics for dual-qualified coaches

This chapter explores three interwoven pillars of professional coaching practice – contracting, boundary management, and ethical integrity – through the lens of the dual-qualified coach. It addresses the challenges therapists often face when shifting into coaching, where psychological safety must be maintained while navigating new expectations, roles, and organisational dynamics. Contracting is reframed as an ongoing, relational, and ethical process, extending beyond logistics to include implicit agreements and systemic complexities. The chapter offers practical guidance for both individual and organisational contracting, highlighting the risks of unclear boundaries and role confusion. It examines ethical responsibilities in depth, including conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and dilemmas arising from working across roles or with former therapy clients. Drawing on real-world vignettes and supervision insights, it equips readers to work with discernment, confidence, and clarity in ambiguous territory. This chapter helps therapists maintain professional integrity while building a coaching practice that is ethical, relational, and psychologically informed.