Abstract/Summary

This paper examines ethical dilemmas and tricky decision-making among coaching supervisors internationally. Supervisors were selected for the first study in this wider project due to the pivotal role they play in coaching practice and the resolution of ethical dilemmas. The research reveals that ethical decision-making is an under-developed area of research given coaching’s growth as an intervention. The study argues that coaching needs to develop an alternative perspective on coach confidentiality, with greater consideration to the circumstances when ‘confidentiality’ can be broken, greater use of contracting and improved coach and coach supervisor training in ethics, ethical sensitivity and ethical decision-making.