Each coach should have their own personal boundaries that will guide them in their coaching. Additionally, they should adhere to the site’s coaching boundaries. These are:

• No romantic and/or sexual contact between coach and client in any capacity--this includes flirting and/or other 'grooming' behavior

• No selling of RN services for the sake of making money; personal services should be encouraged only when there is an obvious need for the client

• No recruiting of coaching/counseling services outside of RN (e.g. you have a private practice and use RN as a client mining source)

• No selling to those in recovery/healing (e.g. non-recovery products, services); these are people who are potentially vulnerable to being taken advantage of. It is our job to ensure that this is a safe environment for them to explore and grow.

• Confidentiality and anonymity are stalwarts of this site. Under no circumstances should you share any workshop participant's personally identifying information with anyone outside of the relevant coaching team. And even then, such disclosure should be made with permission and only when that identity has a direct impact on their recovery/healing path. The exceptions to this are those which bind us to morally act to save human life and/or severe suffering.

• No diagnosing of clients in any capacity—even if you have the medical/professional credentials to do so.

• No taking on the role of a counselor—even if you have the medical/professional credentials to do so. RN coaches provide educational services, not counseling. This is sometimes a difficult boundary to identify/maintain--especially when emotional support is required in the midst of a crisis. Do your best and let Jon know if you feel you have crossed this boundary.

• In all cases, when a professional therapist is involved with the workshop participant, our coaching takes a secondary role. It is the therapist and the treatment plan established by that therapist that takes precedent. This is necessary for legal and ethical purposes. The only exception to this is if that therapist is abusing the client.

• No offering of personal contact information to clients—unless there is a VERY good reason. Such sharing should be approved (by Jon) in advance. This is for the protection of coaches, clients and the site.

• No providing financial support to clients—with the exception of professional coaches offering to coach those who cannot pay. But even this practice should be applied sparingly.

• No ‘protecting’ clients who are suicidal, homicidal and/or engaged in ONGOING felonious behavior (e.g. child molestation, rape). As volunteer coaches, we do not have a legal obligation to report such things; but it is RN's position that we do have a moral obligation. Contact Jon immediately if you have any questions/concerns about a particular situation. Or contact the police if it is an emergency.

• No making ‘life decisions’ for others. Whether someone stays married or not is a decision to be made by that person/couple alone. There are rare exceptions to this--as in, when the situation is so bad and the client so lacking in rational thought that you will want to strongly encourage that they remove themselves from the situation and seek help. But limit this to providing them with options, not directing them. The exception to this would be when there is an imminent threat of serious harm to self or others.

Anything Not Yet Covered
If you are ever uncertain as to whether or not a boundary is being violated, contact Jon immediately and share your concerns. If this boundary involves imminent suicide and/or homicide, don’t go through Jon. Instead, contact the police in the hometown of the person that you are working with—if possible. In many cases, we are limited by anonymity and so, there is not much we can do. But those situations where we can do something, we are bound morally to protect and value life.