Confidentiality

 

As noted, what you and your coach discuss is confidential and stays between you. Coaches won’t tell your family, your professors, or your friends anything that we talk about (unless you’ve clearly asked or given expressed permission to do so). That is one of the benefits of the “formal” aspect of the coaching relationship. We hope this allows you to feel you can speak freely and openly without worry of being judged or feeling like what you share in session could have some kind of unfavorable impact on your standing as a Coca-Cola Scholar.

There are a few limitations, however, that should be addressed before moving forward with the coaching relationship. There are two major areas where confidentiality is limited.

1. Duty to warn: Harm to self or others. If in the coaching conversations it becomes clear to that you might be at risk of physically harming yourself or harming someone else, then your coach will break confidentiality to take necessary actions to protect someone from harm. This could involve contacting a campus official (e.g., Dean of Students) or another professional qualified to provide the necessary support, treatment, and protection for the individual(s) at risk.
2. Coach Supervision. Coca-Cola Scholars Coaches will participate in ongoing supervision sessions that help the coaches grow and develop. Essentially our supervision sessions consist of approximately 5 coaches and one supervisor (or Coach of Coaches). This supervisor has professional experience as a coach and is there to help reflect on sessions and learn how to be the best coach possible. It’s possible that a coach might bring up some issues that discussed in a session, but if that is the case, coaches will not refer to coachees by name. The focus will not be on coachees; rather, the focus is on helping coaches gain deeper understanding of their role as coach and how to support coachees most effectively.