If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen. Great notes are brief, factual, and client‑centered. This guide shows exactly what to capture every session, what to avoid to stay within scope, and a copy‑and‑paste template you can use today. We also cover a coordination log, storage and privacy basics, red flags to document plainly, and a quality check so your notes protect both the client and the coach.

Scope creep is where good intentions go sideways. This guide gives recovery coaches a clear line between coaching and clinical or legal work. You’ll get plain‑language scope, clean scripts for boundary traps, a consent checklist, what to document after tough calls, and protections to keep you—and your clients—safe. Use it to build trust, reduce risk, and coach with confidence.