Scope of Coaching Practice and Competence: as a Trauma Recovery Coach/Memory Healing Coach, the scope of trauma coaching practice and competence involves understanding and applying specific skills to support individuals who have experienced trauma. Trauma Recovery Coaching focuses on helping clients navigate their trauma recovery process by providing guidance, support, and strategies for personal growth and healing. 

Scope of Competence: 

Coaches should be familiar with various types of trauma: acute, chronic, complex trauma, and their impacts on individuals. Coaches must adopt a trauma-informed approach, recognizing the prevalence of trauma and its effects. Coaches must understand the limits of their practice and avoid providing therapy or counseling unless they are licensed to do so.  

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not work with client’s who are engaged in behavior that puts their physical safety at risk, such as: active alcohol and drug addiction, active and significant self-harming behavior. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not work with clients who are actively suicidal. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not have sessions with clients who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Coaches must reschedule clients in that situation and address the drug or alcohol issue at a subsequent session. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches provide a safe space for clients to explore their feelings and emotions related to trauma. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches educate clients about trauma and its effects on the mind and body, helping them understand their experiences.

• Trauma Recovery Coaches teach clients effective coping strategies to manage stress and trauma-related symptoms. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches work with clients to set realistic goals for their healing and personal development. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches assist clients in creating action plans to achieve their goals and track their progress. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches always provide trauma informed services which include the awareness of the various impacts of trauma, the variety of ways to recover from trauma, the necessity for and provision of policies and procedures that allow for trauma survivors to safely receive services from them and that actively seek not to re-traumatize survivors. They also provide services that emphasize safety, empowerment, trustworthiness, transparency, peer support, collaboration/mutuality, and recognition of client multi-dimensionality. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches will not offer services to clients where the focus of care would require assistance with issues outside of the coach’s scope of practice or competence. 

For example: a client might seek care for trauma related shame, which would be within the coach’s scope of competence. However, they might also be diabetic, which would not fall within the coach’s scope of practice. But because that is not the focus of the coaching relationship, the coach may work with this client. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not provide advice about psychotropic medication. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not diagnose or assess mental health issues. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not conduct sessions under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches must always consider the context surrounding each client’s trauma experiences. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches seek to understand the client’s experience by asking about factors that provide context such as: culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches seek to understand each client’s unique experience by holding context in the forefront of their work with the client throughout the coaching relationship.

• Trauma Recovery Coaches will consider the context of what the client may have inherited regarding these qualities from prior generations. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches that have training outside of Trauma Recovery Coaching, may provide services that are compatible with their level of training. 

Confidentiality:

• Trauma Recovery Coaches provide their services with complete confidentiality. Coaches do not disclose their work with any clients, client records, or any client information to anyone unless: 

- A client is a danger to themselves or someone else. 

            - A client has given written consent.

            - A coach receives a valid subpoena.

            - A coach must report abuse of a minor, elder, or disabled person. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches keep accurate, detailed records of their work with clients. They store those records in such a way that does not allow access to them by anyone other than the Coach themselves. This includes both written documents and online data. 

• Trauma Recover Coaches serve as Mandatory Reporters in those countries where there are Mandatory Reporter laws. They always report current abuse to minors, elderly, and the disabled, to the appropriate local agencies. 

Standards Around the Work of Coaching:

• Establishing a power differential in a coaching relationship is unethical. Trauma Recovery Coaches work with clients as peers and equals. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not discriminate against any race, gender, social class, gender identity, or religious belief. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches set goals with their clients that reflect their client’s needs and wishes, not those of the Coach. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches respect their client’s views, ideals, and beliefs. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches do not allow clients to leave sessions when they are feeling unsafe. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches shall notify all their clients about the Code of Ethics packet. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches will keep up to date with research and methodology in the field of trauma, trauma recovery, and intervention. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches will not use another person’s intellectual property without giving/seeking appropriate credit and reference for it. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches will have a clearly stated refund policy that is provided to 

       every client who pays a fee.

• Trauma Recovery Coaches demonstrate empathy and compassion. 

• Trauma Recovery Coaches possess strong listening skills to understand clients’ needs and concerns. 

Client Safety:

Trauma Recovery Coaches set the safety of their clients as their highest priority, both in direct work with clients and when creating any materials for clients to consume (such as curriculum or video content). 

Safety Risk Assessments are mandated to be completed at the beginning of any coaching relationship regardless of the format of delivery of services such as one-to-one, group, or weekend retreat coaching. A Safety Risk Assessment is not required if you do not enter a coaching relationship. If a coach is providing psychoeducation, which may include discussion that has a natural outcome of greater self-awareness for participants but for which that was not the intent, that does not constitute a coaching relationship.

The Intersection of Professional and Personal Standards:

Coaches will always conduct themselves in accord with their professional status in a way that neither undermines public confidence in the process or profession of coaching, nor brings it into disrespute, while being aware of professional and personal boundaries. 

Coaches will be aware of their personal beliefs and biases. The Coach will do their best not to bring personal biases into their professional work with clients. 

Coaches understand that it is difficult to have a complete separation of personal and professional interactions. Coach and client may live in the same community. In this setting, a Trauma Recovery Coach will never acknowledge their client as a client either to that person or to others present. If the client wishes to name you as their coach, that is up to them. Trauma Recovery Coach will not disclose that relationship nor will they contribute to a conversation where the client is disclosing issues the two of you discuss in sessions. 

Coaches will never enter dual relationships that involve a power differential, romantic or sexual relationship involvement, or financial dealings with a client. 

Ethical Guidelines and the adherence to ethical standards is crucial in maintaining professional integrity. 

Continuous Learning:

Trauma Recovery Coaches should engage in continuous professional development to stay informed about the latest research and best practices of trauma care. 

Limitations:

• Trauma Recovery Coaching is not a replacement for professional therapy or counseling. Coaches will refer clients to mental health professionals when therapeutic intervention is needed.  

• Trauma Recovery Coaches are not equipped to handle crisis situations. Clients in crisis should be directed to appropriate crisis intervention services. 

• In cases of complex trauma or severe mental health issues, coaches should collaborate with or refer clients to specialized mental health professionals. 

Conclusion:

Trauma Recovery Coaching plays a valuable role in supporting individuals on their healing journey by providing guidance, education, and practical tools. Coaches must operate within their scope of practice and maintain professional competence to effectively support their clients. Collaboration with mental health professionals and a commitment to ongoing learning are key components to a successful Trauma Recovery Coaching practice.