Edited by Dr Trish Turner
Chapter 4: Contracting, boundaries and ethics for dual-qualified coaches: negotiating the psychological space with integrity
By Aubyn Howard
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.
Biography
Aubyn is co-founder of Psychosynthesis Coaching Limited, which delivers EMCC-accredited training for coaches and supervisors. He holds an MA in Psychosynthesis Psychology and an MSc in Change Agent Skills and Strategies, and brings over 30 years’ experience as a consultant, facilitator, educator and coach. He works with leaders across sectors and cultures to support transformational change and leadership development. Aubyn is an APECS Accredited Master Executive Coach, EMCC Senior Practitioner and EMCC EISA Psychosynthesis Coaching Supervisor. He is the author of Psychosynthesis Leadership Coaching: A Psychology of Being for a Time of Crisis (2020).