Dynamic Ethical Practice: Holding Complexity and Courage When Mental Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62882/azmcdp41Keywords:
dynamic ethical practice; coaching ethics; reflective maturity; adult development; mental health in coachingAbstract
This paper examines dynamic ethical practice in coaching and coach supervision in the context of growing complexity and uncertainty. Drawing on adult developmental thinking, King and Kitchener’s (2004) reflective judgment framework, the revised Global Code of Ethics (2026), and a capacity-based view of mental health in coaching (Calleja & Clidière, 2026), the presentation proposed that ethical practice is relational and situational rather than procedural. This also resonates with Smith’s (2025a) view that ethicality is cultivated through intentional, reflective, and value-led engagement with practice. This paper explores four linked themes: complexity, courage, dynamic ethical practice, and ethical maturity as reflective maturity. It then connected these themes to coaching situations in which mental health-related strain, vulnerability, or distress may enter the space. It suggests that client outcomes may be shaped by the practitioner’s reflective depth, ethical discernment, and capacity to pace, contain, and respond appropriately under conditions of uncertainty, this goes beyond tools and models.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ursula Clidiere (Author)
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