This ICF coaching FAQ gathers the questions people ask most often before starting work with an ICF-credentialed coach — answered clearly and directly. If you are new to the field entirely, start with What Is ICF Coaching? and come back here for the practical details.
What is the difference between a coach and a mentor? #
A mentor shares their own experience and advice: they have walked a road and show you the map. A coach, in the ICF sense, does something different — they partner with you to surface your own thinking, using questions, reflection and accountability rather than advice. The assumption underneath ICF coaching is that you are resourceful and whole, and that the most durable answers are the ones you generate yourself.
Is ICF-credentialed coaching available online? #
Yes — and it works. Coaching translates naturally to video calls because the core ingredients are conversation, presence and attention rather than physical technique. Online sessions also make scheduling easier and let you work with a coach whose credential and approach fit you, rather than whoever happens to be local.
How is confidentiality handled? #
Confidentiality is built into the ICF Code of Ethics. What you share in a session stays in the session, with the narrow exceptions required by law (such as risk of serious harm). The boundaries are agreed explicitly in the coaching agreement at the start of the engagement, so you know exactly what is and is not shared — including in corporate engagements where a sponsor pays for the coaching.
Can coaching help with anxiety or depression? #
This is a scope-of-practice question, and a responsible answer matters. Coaching is not therapy and does not treat clinical anxiety or depression — that is work for a qualified mental-health professional. Where coaching can help is with the everyday territory around stress: clarifying goals, managing pressure, building habits and confidence. A well-trained coach will recognise when a concern belongs with a therapist and will say so openly. The two can also work well in parallel.
How is progress measured in coaching? #
Against the goals you set — not the coach’s. Early sessions establish what success looks like for you, often in both measurable terms (a decision made, a habit established, a role secured) and felt ones (clarity, confidence, less friction in a relationship). Progress is then reviewed openly as the engagement unfolds, and goals are allowed to evolve as your understanding deepens. What to expect in an ICF coaching session walks through how this looks in practice.
What if I don’t achieve my goals — is that a coaching failure? #
Not necessarily. Sometimes the most valuable outcome of coaching is discovering that the original goal was not actually yours — it belonged to an old story, someone else’s expectations, or a version of you that has moved on. A goal consciously revised is progress, not failure. What a good coaching engagement should always produce is movement: clearer thinking, honest decisions and actions taken. If sessions feel pleasant but nothing changes, raise it — that conversation is itself coaching working as intended.
Still have questions? #
Every engagement starts with a conversation, not a contract. If something about coaching is holding you back — cost, fit, timing, or whether it is the right tool for your situation — ask it directly in an introductory call. A clear, pressure-free answer is a good early test of the coach you are considering.
