Code of Conduct

What is shared within the learning community, in group sessions, peer coaching, and facilitated work, remains confidential. This includes names, personal information, coaching conversations, and vulnerable disclosures.

Do not discuss a peer's work, stories, or struggles outside the learning space. Inside the learning space, only discuss a peer's work with their explicit permission.

All pro bono clients are entitled to the same confidentiality protections as peers. What they share in coaching sessions remains confidential. (See the Recording and Photography section below for exceptions)

Client work discussion: You may discuss your client work within the learning community for supervision, peer learning, and assessment purposes. All client identifying information - names and identifying details - must be changed or removed to protect client privacy.

Exceptions: If you have serious concerns about safety, your own or someone else's, speak confidentially with a facilitator or the Course Director.

Course materials: Course materials provided by CTS including notes, slides, frameworks, and facilitator-created content are CTS intellectual property. Where content belongs to others it will be clearly attributed. Please do not share outside our learning community without permission from the owners.

All students, facilitators, and staff deserve respect regardless of background, identity, beliefs, or experience.

Disrespect, discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the programme.

The coaching skills in this programme are built through consistent, engaged participation across all components: live class sessions, peer coaching practice between sessions, and your 10 hours of mentor coaching. All components are essential to your learning and to the group's.

100% completion of all learning content and elements is required in order for you to be eligible for your award.

If you cannot attend a session or complete a required element, please notify the Course Director as soon as possible.

If you miss a session, we'll do our best to arrange for you to make up the learning content in a one-to-one session with a facilitator. There is a cost for this makeup session, which we'll discuss with you when you get in touch. Completing the content this way means you won't fall behind.

If something unexpected has happened, such as serious illness, bereavement, or a major life event, please talk to us about a deferral. We understand that unexpected events happen, and we can work with you on timing.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pace, the depth, or the commitment, please get in touch. There is no shame in this. Feeling overwhelmed during deep personal work is not weakness: it's human. We see asking for help as a sign of strength here and not a weakness. We will do our best to help you. Struggling in silence does not serve you or your group.

The most important thing is communication. If anything is getting in the way of your attendance or presence, reach out. We're here to help you find a way.

Arrive at all sessions clear-headed and ready to learn. Attending while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances that impair your judgment is not acceptable.

If you are in acute distress, crisis, or unable to be present fully, speak with a facilitator before the session begins.

In this programme, you are both peer and practitioner. You will coach each other and be coached by each other. This requires clear, respectful boundaries.

Do not coach peers outside designated practice sessions without explicit agreement.

Do not blur the line between "peer" and "friend" in ways that compromise the learning.

Be aware of power dynamics; speak up if you feel unsafe or manipulated.

Recording and assessment of your coaching is a core part of the CTS training programme and is also required as part of the ICF credentialing process. You will record three coaching sessions (with peer coaches or pro bono clients). Each recording will be reviewed in a one-to-one session with a mentor coach for assessment and to help you develop your coaching skills.

All recordings require explicit written consent from the client before recording begins. You will learn how to ask for consent clearly and respectfully. Most clients consent when asked directly; they understand it's part of your training.

No recording happens without consent. Unauthorised recording of peer, pro bono, or class sessions is a breach of trust and may result in immediate removal from the programme.

Recordings are stored securely and used only for learning, assessment, and evaluation purposes as outlined by CTS and the ICF.

This programme involves deep personal work and the exploration of patterns, beliefs, and shadows. You are not required to disclose personal material beyond what feels safe. You have the right to privacy and to feel unforced.

This is new territory for most people. You'll receive training in recognising shadow work and managing depth appropriately, and we'll support you as you develop this skill. Any mistakes and missteps are part of learning.

You are in control of your own experience. If a session is going somewhere that doesn't feel right, whether too deep, moving too fast, or touching something you're not ready for, you can pause, redirect, or stop. You don't need to follow the coach's lead, especially when they're learning too. Sometimes both of you can get caught up in the momentum; that's normal. Either of you can call a gentle halt and recalibrate.

In classroom sessions, facilitators are trained to recognise when a session is drifting into therapeutic territory and will watch for this. They may not catch everything, since they're monitoring multiple groups, and you might be working outside or having a walking dialogue. But they're attuned to it. If they do notice, they'll step in to redirect. And if they miss something, know that you can pause or redirect the session yourself.

In peer practice outside the classroom, you and your peer coach are working independently. This is where self-awareness and peer accountability matter most.

Extend the same respect to your peers. There's a real distinction between appropriate challenge (which supports growth) and pressure (which doesn't). Challenge invites; pressure demands. Offer the former, avoid the latter.

If you do redirect but still feel shaken up or destabilised afterwards, even if you're not in crisis, please contact a facilitator. We want to know and help. You matter to us, and we're here to help you ground and land safely again.

If you are in active mental health crisis or require clinical support, speak with a facilitator or contact us immediately. Facilitators will help you connect with appropriate mental health professionals.

Your assessments, case studies, client work, and self-reflections are your honest representation of your learning.

Do not falsify attendance, coaching hours, or client feedback.

Do not submit work that is not your own.

If you struggle with an assignment or assessment, speak with your facilitator.

Academic integrity is essential to your development as a trustworthy coach.

Conflicts or misunderstandings may arise. They are normal and can be resolved.

If you have a concern about a peer: Address it directly and respectfully, if safe to do so. If the concern remains unresolved, speak with a facilitator confidentially.

If you have a concern about a facilitator or the programme: Speak with the Course Director confidentially.

CTS takes all concerns seriously and will work toward resolution.

CTS trains coaches, not therapists. Coaching works with the present and future; therapy works with the past and pathology.

Facilitators are trained to recognise when a conversation is shifting into therapeutic territory and will redirect. Part of your training is developing the discernment to notice this yourself. This skill builds throughout the programme, and you won't be expected to spot it perfectly early on. By the time you're working with clients (peer coaching begins after Module 4, pro bono after Module 5), you'll have facilitator support and mentor coach feedback to help you navigate these boundaries. When in doubt, consult with a facilitator.

Do not attempt to "coach" someone through a mental health crisis. If a client is in crisis or requires clinical mental health support, connect them with appropriate professionals and inform a facilitator.

This Code of Conduct is meant to be aspirational, not punitive. We are all continually learning. If you slip up, speak up. If you see a peer struggling to uphold these principles, support them with compassion and encourage them to reach out to a facilitator. If you're struggling, please contact us for help.

Our learning community grows stronger as we trust and support each other.

Students who persistently or seriously violate this Code of Conduct may be asked to leave the programme. In such cases, fees paid to date are non-refundable, and the student remains liable for any outstanding fees.

This is a last resort, not a first response. We've outlined this because clarity matters, but our commitment is to support students' development, not to remove anyone from the programme.

We hope this does not happen. We are committed to supporting your success.