Disclaimers—you may not read the fine print yourself very often, but they serve a vital purpose. Well-written disclaimers limit legal liability, clarify the boundaries of service, and prevent misinterpretations. In coaching, a strong disclaimer protects both you and your clients by setting clear expectations from the start. This guide outlines the essential elements of a coaching disclaimer, complete with expert tips and a customizable template to help you craft your own.
What is a Coaching Disclaimer?
A coaching disclaimer maps the boundaries and limitations of your services. It defines what clients can—and cannot—expect, and positions your coaching as distinct from therapy, legal counsel, or other professional services. Beyond protecting your business, a clear disclaimer builds client trust by promoting transparency and mutual understanding.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) refers to this type of disclaimer as a Coaching Agreement. They define a Coaching Agreement as a formal document between a coaching professional and client that outlines the terms, expectations, and conditions of their coaching relationship. It typically includes the goals of the coaching, the duration and frequency of sessions, confidentiality policies, payment terms, cancellation policies, and the responsibilities of both the coach and the client.
Why a Coaching Disclaimer is Fundamental
Implementing a coaching disclaimer offers several critical benefits:
- Professional Protection: Reduces legal risks by clarifying the scope of your services.
- Relationship Clarity: Clearly defines the coach-client dynamic, preventing misunderstandings about the roles and responsibilities involved.
- Informed Clients: Equips clients to engage more confidently and effectively.
- Business Credibility: Demonstrates professionalism and builds client trust.
- Ethical Compliance: Keeps you compliant with industry standards and best practices.
Tip from legal expert Nitzan Solomon at WiseStamp: “When drafting a disclaimer, make sure you seek advice from legal professionals to ensure the disclaimer aligns with relevant laws, regulations, and specific industry requirements.” Being proactive about legal clarity helps you protect your practice while delivering a better client experience.
We recommend that you consult the latest information set forth in the ICF Code of Ethics for standards relating to Confidentiality/Privacy. Questions about the ICF Code of Ethics can be easily directed through the ICF Ethics Assist Line.
What to Include in a Coaching Disclaimer
Each aspect of your coaching disclaimer should clarify your services and protect your coaching business. Below are seven elements to consider:
1. Professional Disclaimer
Purpose: To specify the nature of your coaching services and distinguish them from other professional services.
Importance: Prevents clients from misunderstanding coaching as medical, legal, or other professional advice. Having a specific disclaimer that names “legal advice” can help in jurisdictions where specificity reduces liability. It also emphasizes legal matters as particularly sensitive and outside the scope of coaching—something courts (and clients) take seriously.
What to include:
- The specific type of coaching you offer.
- A statement that your services do not establish any form of professional relationship beyond coaching.
- Language about what your coaching does and does not provide.
Example:
“The coaching services provided are for educational and personal development purposes only. They do not constitute legal, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Clients are encouraged to seek qualified professionals for matters that require licensed expertise.”
2. Coach-Client Relationship Disclaimer
Purpose: To define the boundaries of the coaching relationship.
Importance: Makes clear that coaching is distinct from therapy, legal counsel, or other professional services.
What to Include:
- A clarification that the coaching relationship does not equate to a therapist-client, attorney-client, or similar professional relationship.
- A delineation of specific boundaries between coaching and other related professional services.
Example:
“Though I am a certified coach, I am not acting as a licensed therapist, counselor, or legal advisor. Our coaching sessions are not a substitute for professional mental health care, legal advice, or other professional services.”
3. Coaching Service Disclaimer
Purpose: To communicate that coaching services and outcomes may vary.
Importance: Manages client expectations about the coaching process and its results.
What to Include:
- A statement that coaching services may differ from descriptions.
- An acknowledgment that coaching methods, tools, techniques, and approaches may vary.
Example:
“The descriptions of coaching services and potential outcomes are intended to convey the general nature of the services. Actual methods and results may vary based on individual client needs and circumstances.”
4. Assumption of Risk Disclaimer
Purpose: To inform clients that they assume responsibility for decisions and actions they take based on coaching discussions.
Importance: Protects against liability arising from client actions following coaching sessions.
What to Include:
- A statement that clients voluntarily assume risks associated with the coaching process.
- An acknowledgment that clients are fully responsible for their decisions and actions.
Example:
“Clients voluntarily assume full responsibility for any decisions and actions arising from the coaching process and acknowledge that such decisions and actions are their own.”
5. Results and Outcomes Disclaimer
Purpose: To clarify that specific outcomes are not guaranteed.
Importance: Manages expectations and reduces potential dissatisfaction or legal claims.
What to Include:
- A statement that no specific outcome is guaranteed.
- An explanation that coaching results depend on client effort, circumstances, and external factors.
- An acknowledgment that clients are responsible for implementing the advice provided.
Example:
“While coaching aims to facilitate personal and professional growth, no specific outcomes are guaranteed. Results depend on individual effort, commitment, and external circumstances beyond the coach’s control.”
6. Intellectual Property Disclaimer
Purpose: To protect the coach’s proprietary content, including exercises, frameworks, methodologies, and materials, from being copied, shared, or used for commercial purposes without permission.
Importance: Ensures clients understand that the materials are for personal use only and reinforces the value of original content and methods.
What to include:
- A statement that all coaching materials, frameworks, and exercises are the intellectual property of the coach or their business.
- A clause that prohibits reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of your property without permission.
- Clarification that access to materials does not grant ownership or licensing rights.
Example:
“All coaching materials, including but not limited to exercises, tools, and methods provided during coaching sessions are the intellectual property of [Your Coaching Business Name]. These materials are for personal use only and may not be reproduced, shared, or used for commercial purposes without explicit written permission. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is strictly prohibited.”
7. Confidentiality, Security, and Privacy Disclaimer
Purpose: To provide transparency to the client regarding their personal data, and content of their session, creating clarity, safety and trust.
Importance: Ensures clients understand how their content and data are being stored, creates clarity for coach and client regarding what information is reported outside of the coaching relationship, and ensures the coach is operating within the ICF Code of Ethics.
What to include:
- A clear agreement about what information is exchanged and how it is exchanged among all parties involved during all coaching engagements.
- A clear agreement with client(s), sponsor(s), and other involved parties about what confidential information may need to be disclosed to the appropriate authorities, e.g., illegal activity, required by law, valid court order or subpoena; or imminent/likely risk of danger to self or to others.
- Disclosure of storage and disposal of any records, including electronic files and communications,of the client’s contact information (email addresses, telephone numbers, and so on) and content from within the coaching session.
Example:
“At the heart of every coaching relationship is trust. As your coach, I am committed to protecting your personal information and the content we discuss in our sessions. All conversations, observations, and written communications shared during our coaching engagement are treated with strict confidentiality. I will not share any part of our conversations with third parties—including sponsors or organizations involved—without your explicit consent, except where disclosure is required by law, a valid court order or subpoena, or if there is an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others.
Your data security matters. Any records or notes, whether physical or digital—including your contact details and session summaries—are stored securely and disposed of appropriately in alignment with data protection best practices and the ICF Code of Ethics. If you’re ever unsure about how your information is handled, we can revisit and clarify our agreement at any point during the coaching relationship. My aim is to ensure you always feel informed, safe, and respected throughout our work together
You may wish to consult legal counsel to determine whether additional disclaimers (e.g. legal advice, no guarantees) should be explicitly included based on your jurisdiction.
Optional Add-Ons
The following disclaimer is applicable if you recommend or share resources like books, podcasts, videos, blogs, or tools created by others.
Third-Party Content Disclaimer
Purpose: To clarify that the coach is not responsible for the outcome of advice or information obtained from third parties.
Importance: Protects you in case that content turns out to be inaccurate, misleading, or harmful and limits your liability for the accuracy or safety of that content.
Example:
“Occasionally, I may refer to third-party resources such as books, websites, podcasts, or guest experts. These references are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of any third-party content and am not responsible for any outcomes resulting from their use.”
Sponsor Engagement Disclaimer
The following disclaimer is applicable if the client or coach works with a sponsor.
Purpose: To create safety for the coach and client relationship and clarity for additional parties about the expectations of confidentiality and financial agreements.
Importance: Empowers the coaching relationship to deliver on the client’s agenda and puts the power in the coach/client relationship. Makes clear for all parties under the ICF Code of Ethics that the coach respects “all parties’ right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point for any reason during the coaching engagement, subject to the provisions of the agreement.” And to “Communicate (before coaching begins) with coaching client(s), sponsor(s), and/or other involved parties that the coach is in a direct relationship with to explain the nature of coaching and to co-create a coaching agreement regarding roles, responsibilities, confidentiality, financial arrangements, and other aspects of the coaching engagement.”
Example:
“When a sponsor is involved in a coaching engagement, it is essential to establish a clear and respectful agreement among all parties before coaching begins. As your coach, I am committed to upholding the ICF Code of Ethics by ensuring that the coaching relationship remains focused on co-creating an experience centered on your personal goals and growth, regardless of who is funding the engagement. Confidentiality will be honored between coach and client, and any reporting to sponsors will be limited to what is explicitly agreed upon in advance. All roles, responsibilities, and financial arrangements will be clearly defined to protect the integrity of our work together. Each party—client, coach, and sponsor—retains the right to end the coaching engagement at any time, in alignment with the provisions of our mutual agreement.”
Access Coaching Resources From Co-Active Training Institute
Coaches are driven to create lasting impact and help clients reach meaningful goals. But as business owners, it’s equally important to protect that impact by setting clear boundaries. A well-crafted coaching disclaimer not only minimizes legal risks—it inspires trust, transparency, and professionalism. By being intentional about how you define your services, you lay a stronger foundation for every client relationship.
The Co-Active Training Institute has trained over 150,000 coaches over the last three decades, helping them launch and lead effectively. Today, our proprietary framework and tools are the backbone of coaching businesses worldwide.
Access helpful demos, webinars, and tools on the Co-Active Resource Page, and see how we can help you increase the effectiveness of your coaching sessions.