Introduction
CoachVille is suggesting that each coach develop their own list of Client Bill of Rights and distribute this list of rights to their potential and current clients.  This will help the buyer of coaching services to make a better educated decision.  Our original plan was to craft a CoachVille Code of Ethics but, for now, we're going with the Bill of Rights approach.  It's client-centered, and can be customized to reflect the priorities and style of each coach.

The list below is a raw/unedited collection of possible client rights, as contributed by the members of the CoachVille R&D Team.  You may cut/paste and adapt as you wish.  No attribution needed.

Enjoy!

Thomas




List of Rights/Ideas

Confidentiality
-- The client has the right to privacy.
-- The client has the right to not worry about what is said. It will never be repeated.
-- The client has the right to have complete confidentiality within legal limitations.
-- The client has the right to expect a coach to keep confidentially -a coach must take all precautions to protect the client's information from the internet. 


Treatment
-- The client has the right to respect. 
-- The client has the right to courtesy.
-- The client has the right to fairness.
-- The client has the right to value.
-- The client has the right to be accepted as they are without judgment or evaluation (including race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural origin, religion, etc.) 
-- The client has the right to not be limited because their vision does not match the coaches vision of what is possible.
-- The client has the right to prohibition of sexual or romantic relationships.
-- The client has the right to expect a safe and supportive environment/relationship.
-- The client has the right to patience.
-- The client has the right to know a coach that has no hidden agenda.


Active Listening/Two way communication
-- The client has the right to receive explanation from the coach about the purpose of tools used in the coaching relationship.
-- The client has the right to disagree with the coach...anytime.
-- The client has the right to be themselves...no manipulating.
-- The client has right to tell the coach whether or not he/she is hearing them... not meeting their needs/expectations.
-- The client has the right to know that their thoughts count.
-- The client has the right to a feeling of comfort with their coach.
-- The client has the right to tell the coach that the value anticipated is not being received and ask for a different approach or to suggest referrals.
-- The client has the right to have a coach who is willing to compliment them and the work they are doing. 
-- The client has the right to give negative (constructive and kind) feedback to their coach without the coach taking it (too) personally.
-- The client has the right to expect the coach to provide excellent
coaching......or as we recently distinguished, perfect coaching.
-- The client has the right to an unbiased, objective viewpoint.
-- The client has the right to a broad perspective, encompassing multiple approaches to any situation or goal.
-- The client has the right - and responsibility - to select their own approach from the multiple approaches generated in 
partnership with the coach.


Support
-- The client has the right to participate in deciding which coaching methods are used in the coaching relationship.
-- The client has the right to speak and be not only heard but "listened to" fully.
-- The client has the right to receive services as quickly as possible. With our tech age, this should be within 24 hours.
-- The client has the right to have their coach fully present and focused on them and them alone with no distractions.
-- The client has the right to a coach who listens without judgment. 
-- The client has the right to a coach who is trustworthy with their best interests in mind.
-- The client has the right to be able to back out their commitment to coaching without any feelings of guilt.
-- The client has the right to be honest and forward with their coach about any feelings they might have without fear of recrimination.
-- The client has the right to include (vs. criticize) their point of view or  response, even when it may seem unrealistic, and then gently 
guide the coach to discover other options.
-- The client has the right to be accepted as a client only if the coach truly believes they can fully support them and commit to helping them achieve their goals. 
-- The client has the right to client centered coaching. Meaning this is  30 minutes to focus on exactly what they need to focus on...not that the coach can't offer options, but the decision and direction rests with the client.
-- The client has the right to being held accountable for commitments. Sometimes coaches are willing to "let clients off the hook" so to speak. 
-- The client has the right to expect the coach to "hold the space big" on behalf of the client. Challenge the client's limits in thinking...boundaries of possibilities.
-- The client has the right to continuity of thought - even from week to week.  To expect their coach to remember the thread of where they are going/what they are about.
-- The client has the right to 'just chat' from time to time.
-- The client has the right to miss an occasional call without officially canceling.
-- The client has the right to fail.
-- The client has the right to get really mad or really sad.
-- The client has the right to be heard beyond words.
-- The client has the right to disagree and still be accepted.
-- The client has the right to make mistakes.
-- The client has the right to change their mind.
-- The client has the right to say no and not feel guilty.
-- The client has the right to do less than agreed upon.
-- The client has the right to change the course of direction.
-- The client has the right to move at their own pace.
-- The client has the right to set their own guidelines.
-- The client has the right to be themselves.
-- The client has the right to ask for more information.
-- The client has the right to take time for themselves.
-- The client has the right to feel good about themselves.
-- The client has the right to determine the direction of their own life.
-- The client has the right to determine if the means by which the coach is assisting them are working for them, as an individual.
-- The client has the right to know that they are OK right where they are. 
--The client has the right to be asked if they are willing to. . . , rather than being told what they should do or need to do.
--The client has the right to speak the truth of their experience within the relationship without fear of being called "uncooperative" or "uncoachable".
-- The client has the right to be successful, happy, productive, and fulfilled purely for their own sake and not as means to meet the conscious or unconscious needs of the coach.
--The client has the right to receive intensely focused support that helps them follow their passions.
-- The client has the right to be energized, enthused, uplifted, enlightened, etc. by every coaching session.
-- The client has the right to  honest responses  to a coaches communications, coming from either their gut, head, heart or spirit;
-- The client has the right to unwavering support as they walk the path of development.
-- The client has the right to assistance getting them there with nudges, challenges, empowerment.
-- The client has the right to a coaches wisdom as they breathe in and incorporate pathways to their intuition and spiritual connections to us all.
-- The client has the right to a celebration of the uniqueness of themselves. 
-- The client has the right to a coach who is always empathic and understanding of the client's needs, never being critical of the client's 
state of mind or life. The coach must also be able to recognize, accept, and back away from an assignment, when she/he
does not have the expertise necessary to coach a specific client problem (drug abuse, child abuse, etc).
-- The client has the right to re-evaluate the relationship every three months. 
-- The client has the right to a coach who is positive, has integrity with the client, has the courage to give straight advice, and who is in partnership with the client.
-- The client has the right to a coach who will listen before speaking.
-- The client has the right to a coach who will call on them when they are B.S.'ing themselves or the coach.
-- The client has the right to a coach who will PULL them into discovery, rather than pushing them.
-- The client has the right to a coach who will force them to reach higher/farther than they otherwise would.
-- The client has the right to a coach who will be financially ethical with their money collection.
-- The client has the right to a coach who will know how to snap them back into progress.
-- The client has the right to a coach that will see and lead them into a healthy future.
-- The client has the right to a coach that offers his/her unconditional support.
-- The client has the right to a coach who values and honors their biggest dreams.
-- The client has the right to a coach who challenges them. 
-- The client has the right to a coach who loves them. 
-- The client has the right to be free from other unwanted connections to the coach.
-- The client has the right to have their coach understand when they do not live up to the task.
-- The client has the right to challenges that are realistic.
-- The client has the right to a coach who is conscious of time: starting & ending appt.
-- The client has the right to 24 hr. rescheduling.
-- The client has the right to making good use of coaching time.
-- The client has the right to a coach who promotes independence vs. codependence.
-- The client has the right to accept or reject the coaches suggestions or guidance based on where they are at the moment.
-- The client has the right to change subjects or directions with no notice.
-- The client has the right to change their accountability if that serves them better.
-- The client has the right to move slower or faster than their coach is comfortable with.
-- The client has the right to coach them self at any time.
-- The client has the right to remain as they are if they do not want to change.
-- The client has the right to choose their own actions.
-- The client has the right to be difficult and moody, and expect that their coach will help them through it.
-- The client has the right to be imperfect and be accepted.
-- The client has the right to take their time in thinking.
-- The client has the right to be uncomfortable.
-- The client has the right to state their opinion even if it offends the coach. 
-- The client has the right to be wildly creative and innovative.
-- The client has the right to unlimited happiness in their life.
-- The client has the right to define their own values, priorities and goals, in their own words and in their own time.
-- The client has the right to be stuck.
-- The client has the right to be heard.


Procedures
-- The client has the right to receive copies of any and all notes that the coach may take during the coaching sessions.
-- The client has the right to renegotiate the coaching relationship at any time (i.e. number of sessions, etc.).
-- The client has the right to be able to discontinue the relationship at any time.
-- The clients has the right to a Coachville coach who can assure them of an honest assessment, direction and billing from beginning and end.
-- The client has the right to a Coachville coach who can assure professional assessment, evaluation and goal setting that leads
to the client functioning independently.
-- The client has the right to expect a coach to be well prepared for all appointments with them.
-- The client has the right to hold all appointments as scheduled with their coach, except in the case of an emergency. At the beginning of the coaching they will come to an agreement together as to how to handle appointments that must be rescheduled by 
either of them. 
-- The client has the right to fire a coach...contract or no contract...if it
isn't working out.
-- The client has the right to have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee that allows them to opt out of the coaching agreement if they find that the
coach is not right for them within the first 30 days of working together.
-- The client has the right to a free introductory appointment so that they may "try before they buy" and get a feel for if the coach is right for them. 
-- The client has the right to not to be kept waiting.
-- The client has the right to not be put on hold for other matters.
-- The client has the right to never be used for instruction purposes.
-- The client has the right to never to be used, abused or taken advantage of by their coach.
-- The client has the right to not be compromised.
-- The client has the right to not be lied to.
-- The client has the right to not be disadvantaged for personal or professional gain.
-- The client has the right to reschedule a session if an emergency arises or if sufficient notice is given.
-- The client has the right to receive the benefits they agree to pay for in time, energy and money.
-- The client has the right to be provided activities, tools and paradigms that will expand their thinking.
-- The client has the right to be provided with testimonials or referrals.
-- The client has the right to a quiet background during sessions.
-- The client has the right to NO interruptions (home based).
-- The client has the right to know from the onset of coaching what to expect.
-- The client has the right to have fun. 
-- The client has the right to be fully informed regarding pricing/increases and procedures.
-- The client has the right to a coach who provides a written "Code of Ethics" and "Client/Coach Bill of Rights" before establishing a
relationship with a client. The "Code of Ethics" documents the Coach and Client expected behaviors. The "Client/Coach Bill of Rights" documents the cause and consequences of the relationship. 
-- The client has the right to not be "sold" books and business opportunities except when they may provide client-centered help
to problems they are having. NO line crossing from coach to salesman. 


Training/Background
The client has the right to know the coach's training and experience level. 
-- The client has the right to a coach who is committed to their own evolution and learning, continually upgrading their skills and staying abreast of the evolution within the coaching industry.
-- The client has the right to have a coach who operates from integrity and subscribes to high professional standards.
-- The client has the right to the truth of their coach's background, training, experience, and credentials without any overstating of the basic facts.
-- The client has the right to a coach who - 'walks the talk.'
-- The client has the right to work with a competent skilled coach who does not need to be trained by the client.
-- The client has the right to a coach who has a life that works for them. (A coach does not whine about
their own challenges).


Growth
-- The client has the right to be challenged constructively with their best interests in mind.
-- The client has the right to a Coachville coach who can has  confidence in the client's ability to grow with coaching and become
self sufficient in a reasonable goal oriented time frame. 


Referrals to other coaches/outside support
-- The client has the right to work with more than one coach at a time if so desired.
-- The client has the right to speak with an attorney regarding any questions that may compromise the client's wishes or intentions
in hiring a coach.
-- The client has the right to have a coach or mentor or teacher who  works with them to provide another perspective.
-- The client has the right to have a plan in place (e.g. arbitration) in the event that they are dissatisfied with the quality of the coaching service they are receiving.
-- The client has the right to request a referral to another coach(s)


The content above was generously contributed by the CoachVille R&D Team.