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Professional
Standards & Ethics The Board of Directors of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) hereby promulgate, pursuant to Article 8, Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Association Bylaws, a Revised Code of Ethical Standards for Art Therapists. Members of AATA abide by these standards and by applicable state laws and regulations governing the conduct of art therapists and any additional license or certification which the are therapist holds. STANDARDS 1.0 RESPONSIBILITY
TO PATIENTS 1.1 Art therapists shall not discriminate against or refuse professional service to anyone on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. 1.2 At the outset of the patient-therapist relationship, art therapists shall discuss and explain to patients the rights, roles, expectations, and limitations of the art therapy process. 1.3 Where the patient is a minor, any and all disclosure or consent required hereunder shall be made to or obtained from the parent or legal guardian of the minor patient, except where otherwise provided by state law. Care shall be taken to preserve confidentiality with the minor patient and to refrain from disclosure of information to the parent or guardian which might adversely affect the treatment of the patient. 1.4 Art therapists shall respect the rights of patients to make decisions and shall assist them in understanding the consequences of these decisions. Art therapists advise their patients that decisions on the status of therapeutic relationships is the responsibility of the patient. It is the professional responsibility of the art therapist to avoid ambiguity in the therapeutic relationship and to ensure clarity of roles at all times. 1.5 Art therapists shall not engage in dual relationships with patients. Art therapists shall recognize their influential position with respect to patients, and they shall not exploit the trust and dependency of persons. A dual relationship occurs when a therapist and patient engage in separate and distinct relationship(s) or when an instructor or supervisor acts as a therapist to a student or a supervisee either simultaneously with the therapeutic relationship, or less than two (2) years following termination of the therapeutic relationship. Some examples of dual relationships are borrowing money from the patient, hiring the patient, engaging in a business venture with the patient, engaging in a close personal relationship with the patient, or engaging in sexual intimacy with a patient. 1.6 Art therapists shall take appropriate professional precautions to ensure that their judgement is not impaired, that no exploitation occurs, and that all conduct is undertaken solely in the patient's best interest. 1.7. Art therapists shall not use their professional relationships with patients to further their own interests. 1.8 Art therapists shall continue a therapeutic relationship only so long as it is reasonably clear that the patient is benefiting from the relationship. It is unethical to maintain a professional or therapeutic relationship for the sole purpose of financial renumeration to the art therapist or when it becomes reasonably clear that the relationship or therapy is not in the best interest of the patient. 1.9 Art therapists shall not engage in therapy practices or procedures that are beyond their scope of practice, experience, training and education. Art therapists shall assist persons in obtaining other therapeutic services if the therapist is unable or unwilling, for appropriate reasons, to provide professional help, or where the problem or treatment indicated is beyond the scope of practice of the art therapist. 1.10 Art therapists shall not abandon or neglect patients in treatment. If the art therapists is unable to continue to provide professional help, the art therapist will assist the patient in making reasonable, alternative arrangements for continuation of treatment. 2.0 CONFIDENTIALITY
2.1 Art therapists shall treat patients in an environment that protects privacy and confidentiality. 2.2 Art therapists shall protect the confidentiality of the patient-therapist relationship in all matters. 2.3 Art therapists shall not disclose confidential information without patient's explicit written consent unless there is reason to believe that the client or others are in immediate, severe danger to health or life. Any such disclosure shall be consistent with state and federal laws that pertain to welfare of the patient, family, and the general public. 2.4 In the event that an art therapist believes it is in the interest of the patient to disclose confidential information, he/she shall seek and obtain written authorization from the patient or patient's guardian(s), before making any disclosures. 2.5 Art therapists shall disclose confidential information when mandated by law in a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from the art therapy. In these cases patient confidences may only be disclosed as reasonably necessary in the course of that action. 2.6 Art therapists shall maintain patient treatment records for a reasonable amount of time consistent with state regulations and sound clinical practice, but not less than seven years from completion of treatment or termination of the therapeutic relationship. Records are stored or disposed of in ways that maintain confidentiality. 3.0 PUBLIC
USE AND REPRODUCTION OF PATIENT ART EXPRESSION & THERAPY
SESSIONS 3.1 Art therapists shall obtain written informed consent from the patient, or where applicable, a legal guardian before photographing patients' art expressions, video taping, audio recording, or otherwise duplicating, or permitting third party observation of art therapy sessions. 3.2 Art therapists shall only use clinical materials in teaching, writing, and public presentations if a written authorization has been previously obtained from the patient(s). Appropriate steps shall be taken to proect patient identity and disguise any part of the art expression or video tape which reveals patient identity. 3.3 Art therapists shall obtain written, informed consent from the patient before displaying patient's art in galleries, mental health facilities, schools, or other public places. 3.4 Art therapists may display patient art expression in an appropriate and dignified manner only when authorized by the patient in writing. 4.0 PROFESSIONAL
COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY 4.1 Art therapists shall keep informed and up-dated with regard to developments in their field through educational activities and clinical experiences. They shall also remain informed of developments in other fields in which they are licensed or certified, or which relate to their practice. 4.2 Art therapists shall diagnose, treat, or advise on problems only in those cases in which they are competent as determined by their education, training, and experience. 4.3 Art therapists shall not provide professional services to a person receiving treatment or therapy from another professional, except by agreement with such other professional, or after termination of the patient's relationship with the other professional. 4.4 Art therapists, because of their potential to influence and alter the lives of others, shall exercise special care when making public their professional recommendations and opinions through testimony or other public statements. 4.5 Art therapists shall seek appropriate professional consultation or assistance for their personal problems or conflicts that may impair or affect work performance or clinical judgment. 4.6 Art therapists shall not engage in any relationship with patients, students, interns, trainees, supervisees, employees or colleagues that is exploitive by its nature or effect. 4.7 Art therapits shall not distort or misuse their clinical and research findings. 4.8 Art therapists shall be in violation of this Code and subject to termination of membership or other appropriate actions if they: a) are convicted of a crime substantially related to or impacting upon their professional qualifications or functions; b) are expelled from or disciplined by other professional organizations; c) have their license(s) or certificate(s) suspended or revoked or are otherwise disciplined by regulatory bodies; d) continue to practice when impaired due to medical or mental causes or the abuse of alcohol or other substances that would prohibit good judgment; or e) fail to cooperate with the American Art Therapy Association or the Ethics Committee, or any body found or convened by them at any point from the inception of an ethical complaint through the completion of all proceedings regarding that complaint. 5.0 RESPONSIBILITY
TO STUDENTS AND SUPERVISEES 5.1 Art therapists as teachers, supervisors and researchers shall maintain high standards of scholarhip and present accurate information. 5.2 Art therapists shall be aware of their influential position with respect to students and supervisees, and they shall avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of such persons. Art therapists, therefore, shall not engage in a therapeutic relationship with their students or supervisees. Provision of therapy to students or supervisees is unethical. 5.3 Art therapists shall not permit students, employees or supervisees to perform or to hold themselves out as competent to perform professional services beyond their education, training, level of experience or competence. 5.4 Art therapists who act as supervisors shall be responsible for maintaining the quality of their supervision skills and obtain consultation or supervision for their work as supervisors whenever appropriate. 6.0 RESPONSIBILITY
TO RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS 6.1 Researchers shall be aware of federal and state laws and reglulations and professional standards governing the conduct of research. 6.2 Researchers shall be responsible for making careful examinations of ethical acceptability in planning studies. To the extent that services to research participants may be compromised by participation in research, investigators shall seek the ethical advice of qualified professionals not directly involved in the investigation and shall observe safeguards to protect the rights of research participants. 6.3 Researchers requesting participants' involvement in research shall inform them of all aspects of the research that might reasonably be expected to influence willingness to participate. Investigators shall be especially sensitive to the possibility of diminished consent when participants are also receiving clinical services, have impairments which limit understanding and/or communication, or when participants are children. 6.4 Researchers shall respect participants' freedom to decline participation in or to withdraw from a research study at any time. This obligation requires special thought and consideration when investigators or other members of the research team are in positions of authority or influence over participants. Art therapists, therefore, shall avoid dual relationships with research participants. 6.5 Information obtained about a research participant during the course of an investigation shall be confidential unless there is an authorization previously obtained in writing. When there is a risk that others, including family members, may obtain access to such information, this risk, together with the plan for protecting confidentiality, is to be explained as part of the procedure for obtaining informed consent. 7.0 RESPONSIBILITY
TO THE PROFESSION 7.1 Art therapists shall adhere to the standards of the profession when acting as members or employees of organizations. 7.2 Art therapists shall attribute publication credit to those who have contributed to a publication in proportion to their contributions and in accordance with customary professional publication practices. 7.3 Art therapists who author books or other materials which are published or distributed shall appropriately cite persons to whom credit for original ideas is due. 7.4 Art therapists who author books or other materials published or distributed by an organization shall take reasonable precautions to ensure that the organization promotes and advertises the materials accurately and factually. 7.5 Art therapists shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities that contribute to a better community and society, including devoting a portion of their professional activity to services for which there is little or no financial return. 7.6 Art therapists shall assist and be involved in developing laws and regulations pertaining to the field of art therapy which serve the public interest and with changing such laws and regulations that are not in the public interest. 7.7 Art therapists shall cooperate with the Ethics Committee of the American Art Therapy Association, Inc. and truthfully represent and disclose facts to the Ethics Committee when requested or when necessary to preserve the integrity of the art therapy profession. 7.8 Art therapists shall endeavor to prevent distortion, misuse of suppression of art therapy findings by any institution or agency of which they are employees. 8.0 FINANCIAL
ARRANGEMENTS 8.1 Art therapists shall not offer or accept payment for referrals. 8.2 Art therapists shall not exploit their patient financially. 8.3 Art therapists shall disclose their fees at the commencement of services and give reasonable notice of any changes in fees. 8.4 Art therapists shall represent facts truthfully to patients, third party payers, and supervisees regarding services rendered and the charges therefore. 9.0 ADVERTISING
9.1 Art therapists shall accurately represent their competence, education, training and experience relevant to their professional practice. 9.2 Art therapists shall assure that all advertisements and publications, whether in directories, announcement cards, newspapers, or on radio or television are formulated to accurately convey in a dignified and professional manner, information that is necessary for the public to make an informed, knowledgeable decision. 9.3 Art therapists shall not use a name which is likely to mislead the public concerning the identity, responsibility, source, and status of those under whom they are practicing, and shall not hold themselves out as being partners or associates of a firm if they are not. 9.4 Art therapists shall not use any professional identification (such as a business card, office sign, letterhead, or telephone or association directory listing) if it includes a statement or claim that is false, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive. A statement is false, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive if it: a) fails to state any material fact necessary to keep the statement from being misleading; b) is intended to, or likely to, create an unjustified expectation or, c) contains a material misrepresentation of fact. 9.5 Art therapists shall correct, whenever possible, false, misleading, or inaccurate information and representations made by others concerning the therapist's qualifications, services, or products. 9.6 Art therapists shall make certain that the qualifications of persons in their employ are represented in a manner that is not false, misleading, or deceptive. 9.7 Art therapists may represent themselves as specializing within a limited area of art therapy only if they have the education, training, and experience which meet recognized professional standards to practice in that specialty area. 9.8 AATA credentialed professional, professional, associate, and other members in good standing may identify such membership in AATA in public information or advertising materials, but they must clearly and accurately represent the memebership category to which they belong. 9.9 Art therapists shall not use the ATR* and/or ATR-BC following their name unless they are officially notified in writing by the Art Therapy Credential Board, Inc. that they have successfully completed all applicable registration or certification procedures. Art therapists may not use the initials "AATA" following their name like an academic degree. 9.10 Art therapists may not use the AATA initials or logo without receiving written permission from the Association. 10.0
INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONER GUIDELINES 10.1 Independent practitioners of art therapy shall maintain Registration with Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATCB) and shall have in addition to their Registration at least two full years of full time practice or 3,000 hours of paid clinical art therapy experience. 10.2 Independent practitioners of art therapy shall obtain qualified medical or psychological consultation for cases in which such evaluation and/or administration of medication is required. Art therapists shall not provide services other than art therapy unless licensed to provide such other services. 10.3 Independent practitioners of art therapy must conform to relevant F federal, state and local government statutes which pertain to the provision of independent mental health practice. (Laws vary from state to state.) It is the sole responsibility of the independent practitioner to conform to these laws. 10.4 Independent practitioners of art therapy shall confine their practice within the limits of their training. The art therapist shall neither claim nor imply professional qualifications exceeding those actually earned and received by them. The therapist is responsible for avoiding and/or correcting any misrepresentation of these qualifications. Art therapists must adhere to state laws regarding independent practice and licensure, as applicable. ENVIRONMENT 11.0 Independent practitioners of art therapy must provide a safe, functional environment in which to offer art therapy services. This includes • proper ventilation• adequate lighting • access to water supply knowledge of hazards or toxicity of art materials and the effort needed to safeguard the health of clients • storage space for art projects and secured areas for any hazardous materials • monitored use of sharps • allowance for privacy and confidentiality • compliance with any other health and safety requirements according to state and federal agencies which regulate comparable businesses. REFERRAL AND ACCEPTANCE 12.0 Independent practitioners of art therapy, upon acceptance of a patient, shall specify to patients their fee structure, payment schedule, session scheduling arrangements, and information pertaining to the limits of confidentiality and the duty to report. TREATMENT PLANNING 13.0 Independent practitioners of art therapy shall design treatment plans: • to
assist the patient in attaining maintenance of the maximum level
of functioning and quality of life appropriate for each individual. 14.1 Upon
termination of the therapeutic relationship, independent practitioners
of art therapy shall write a discharge/transfer summary that includes
the patient's response to treatment and future treatment recommendations.
TERMINATION
OF SERVICES
15.0
Independent practitioners of art therapy shall terminate art
therapy when the patient has attained stated goals and objectives
or fails to benefit from art therapy services.
15.1
Independent practitioners of art therapy shall communicate the
termination of art therapy services to the patient.
All communications
concerning ethical grievances shall be conducted in writing and
sent to the American Art Therapy Association, Inc., 1202 Allanson
Road, Mundelein, Illinois 60060, c/o Ethics Committee Chairperson.
This correspondence must be labeled "Confidential--Do Not
Open" on both sides of the envelope. All such communications
will be forwarded unopened to the Ethics Committee Chairperson.
Certain
portions of these Ethical Standards are adapted from the American
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics (1991)
with their permission.
Effective
Date: 4/17/95 |
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