According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching is "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."

A true coaching relationship is grounded in the belief that you are creative, resourceful, and whole. A coach's job is to help you access the wisdom that already exists within you.

Both coaching and talk therapy involve working with professionals who are trained to use conversation to facilitate self-awareness and growth. Despite that similarity, talk therapy and coaching serve two distinct—and often complementary—roles in your personal development journey.

Therapy often helps clients heal and grow by exploring the impact of the past on their present experience. Therapists are also licensed to treat mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Coaching begins in the present moment, partnering with clients to identify and work towards their future goals.

Coaches have an ethical responsibility to encourage clients to seek therapy if it becomes clear that the topics being discussed or the level of care needed fall outside of the scope of coaching.

Coaches on the Gateway Coaching platform are currently enrolled or were previously enrolled in an ICF-accredited or board certified coach training. All coach trainings require coaching experience hours for certification, and coaches on the platform are in the process of earning experience hours towards their certification and/or ICF credential. 

Before coaching on the platform, coaches have:
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- Participated in a minimum of 25 hours of coach training
- Logged a minimum of 15 coaching experience hours
- Completed Gateway Coaching's coaching assessment
- Committed to upholding the ICF's Code of Ethics

By joining a cohort, you are committing to work with a coach for four sessions.

Coaches with Gateway Coaching agree to adhere to the ICF's Code of Ethics, which states that the contents of a coaching session are confidential unless:
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- You give consent for your coach to share the contents of your conversation
- The coach is required by law to share
- You present a danger to yourselves or others

For the certification/credential process, your coach will keep a log of your name, the lengths of your coaching sessions, and the timeframe that you worked together.

In the off chance your coach's hours are audited, your coach will provide your email address to the ICF so that they can verify your coaching relationship.