Trust, Safety, and Intergenerational Connection in Coaching

Trust and psychological safety are foundational to effective coaching relationships, yet many trust breakdowns occur vertically, across differences in generation, experience, and authority. This interactive session explores how suppressed contribution, misinterpreted silence, and unexpressed value can erode trust over time, even when intentions are good. This session aligns with the ICF Core Competency of Cultivates Trust and Safety by emphasizing agency, belonging, and mutual respect as essential conditions for sustainable growth. Coaches will learn how to help clients move from recipient to contributor, strengthen self-trust, and build relational safety across power, age, and positional differences.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify how intergenerational and vertical dynamics impact trust and psychological safety within coaching relationships and organizational systems.
Explain how suppressed purpose and unexpressed…