OK, I know, any column with the word “policies” in the title looks like an antidote for insomnia, but wait, don’t drift off just yet! Here’s why anyone with an online coaching presence should care. Whether you’re advertising traditional (over-the-phone and face-to-face) coaching services or actually providing coaching services online, your privacy and security policy says a lot about you, your organization and your commitment to the industry’s code of ethics.
Consider for a moment the International Coach Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics (part two, section 1, #7 http://www.coachfederation.org/about-icf/ethics/icf-code-of-ethics/).
It states: “I will maintain, store, and dispose of any records created during my coaching business in a manner that promotes confidentiality, security, and privacy, and complies with any applicable laws and agreements.” “Applicable laws and agreements” in this case include, among others, the Fair Information Practice Codes enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US, the Data Protection Act in the UK, and the Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information in Canada.
… read the complete story ~ http://issuu.com/onlinetherapyinstitute/docs/tiltimagiss6?mode=window&pageNumber=38
This article first appeared in the July 2011 issue of TILT Magazine ~ Therapeutic Innovations in Light of Technology.
Lyle Labardee, LPC, DCC, is a distance counseling credentialed, Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in web-enabled coaching. He is co-founder and CEO of LifeOptions Group, Inc., and is based in Michigan, USA.
