Coaching and Its Role in the Practice of Psychology

Calls to The Trust’s Advocate 800 Program show that many psychologists, including many clinicians, are interested in coaching as an adjunct or alternative to their clinical practice. Coaching emphasizes strength and healthy functioning rather than amelioration of emotional problems. It allows providers to escape the negative impacts of managed mental health care and insurance requirements and regulatory issues such as HIPAA and EMRs. Coaching, however, is an open market specialty. There is no third-party reimbursement and considerable competition for limited resources. Whether and how coaching will be regulated has not been decided.

For licensed psychologists, there are clear legal and ethical issues about how a psychologist coach can operate, and how coaching differs regulatorily from psychotherapy. However, one thing is clear. Coaching is part of the practice of psychology. This presentation will focus on the current state of regulation, including the requirements for competent practice as a coach, informed consent and confidentiality, how boards are likely to adjudicate complaints and interjurisdictional practice. It will also cover ethical issues with marketing a coaching practice such as direct solicitation, testimonials and boundaries. Finally, it will cover current malpractice insurance coverage for coaching.

Instructors: Leisl M. Bryant, Ph.D., ABPP; Eric A. Harris, Ed.D., J.D.; Joe Scroppo, Ph.D., J.D.

[Note] This webinar was filmed in 2019 and may not reflect the most current information and laws regarding this topic.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the informed consent and confidentiality requirements of coaching

• Identify how coaching complaints are likely to be handled by the psychology licensing board

Important Notice

Because this webinar is on-demand, once you are registered and have created a login account, you can view the webinar at any time in whatever time increments are most convenient. In order to download your CE certificate, receive CE credits, and become eligible for a discount on your Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance policy premium, you must:

• Complete the entire webinar,
• Pass a brief exam, and,
• Complete a brief evaluation form.

You are required to achieve a passing score of 75 percent or higher. You are allowed three attempts to successfully complete the exam. If you are unsuccessful on the third attempt, you must re-purchase the course to try again.

Eligibility for Insurance Premium Discounts

• The combined 6 hours of CE earned from the Summer CE Bundle will make you eligible for a 15% savings on your Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance premium for two consecutive renewal periods.

• To obtain CE discounts, download and submit CE certificates (totaling 6 hours and completed within the previous 15 months) with your insurance application/renewal.

• Discounts are not applicable to Researcher/Academician or Student policies.
• Group policies become eligible for CE discounts when at least 50% of individuals insured under the group policy submit CE certification totaling the number of credits needed for a particular percentage discount.
• All applications are individually underwritten and submission of CE certification will not guarantee insurance policy issuance or renewal.

Continuing Education Credits

The Trust is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Trust maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Continuing Education Grievance Policy

The Trust is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. The Trust will comply with all legal and ethical guidelines for non-discrimination in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of CE participants. The Trust CE Director is responsible for complying with these standards.

While the Trust strives to assure fair treatment for all participants and to anticipate problems before they occur, occasionally grievances may be filed. In cases where a participant files a written or oral grievance, the following actions are taken:

• If the grievance concerns the content of the workshop, webinar, book or the continuing education test, a Trust representative will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the CE Director or a Trust representative will either provide a credit for a subsequent CE offering or provide a partial or full refund of the CE fee already paid.
• Actions involving a credit or a refund will require a written note documenting the grievance for record-keeping purposes. The aggrieved individual need not sign the note. If the grievance specifically concerns The Trust, the CE Director or Trust representative will attempt to arbitrate.

Direct correspondence to:

Continuing Education
The Trust
111 Rockville Pike, Suite 700
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (800) 477-1200

Email: grievances@trustinsurance.com