Necessary Limits: Professional Boundaries With Clients

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Last week we talked in some detail about the importance of having a signed coaching agreement in place with clients. This week we expand upon that by diving into the topic of professional boundaries - those necessary limits we must set to protect ourselves, our businesses, and our mental health.

Let's begin with the whole idea of professional expectations. Every business has policies and procedures that outline the who, what, how much, and when of the relationship. Do you expect your doctor, who sees hundreds of patients, to disregard his or her office policies for you? We're guessing you don't. You accept those boundaries because you respect their time and their expertise as a professional.

Boundaries are simply teaching people how to treat us. One of the first rules of boundary work is identifying where we are violating our own boundaries. When we are feeling resentful, put upon, take advantage of, or angry ... it's time to evaluate if a boundary is missing or an existing boundary is ineffective.

If a consult call is scheduled for 30 minutes but it goes for an hour, you need to own that you are allowing that. Same goes for session times. If you're late to the next client because the previous client ran over, that's affecting your business. If you find this is happening, re-evaluate what action you need to take to end those calls on time.

Other common situations include cancellations, reschedules, and requests for out-of-session text, phone or email support. What policies are set out in your coaching agreement and are you executing those consistently? If your agreement says that clients get one cancellation with less than 24 hours notice before they are charged and you let a client cancel last minute 3 or 4 times without charging them, you need to ask yourself what is preventing you from following through on that policy?

We encourage you to be intentional about your policies. Take time to review what's working for you, what's not, and what's missing. Then update your agreement accordingly and be consistent in protecting your own professional boundaries.


 You can learn more about DCA™ or find out about any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

Learn more about DCA® or any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com