professional practice and ethics Flashcards
Use research and additional resources to guide practice (e.g., professional literature, Internet)
keep informed and updated with regard to developments in the field which relate to their practice by engaging in educational activities and clinical
experiences.
seek regular consultation and/or supervision with fellow qualified professionals.
Participate in case presentation/clinical team meetings
maintain high standards of professional competence and integrity.
Prepare necessary reports for agencies, collaborating professionals, and funding sources
exercise special care when making public professional recommendations and opinions through testimony or other public statements
Privacy and confidentiality
obtain client’s written consent to communicate with other health
care providers for the purpose of collaborating on client treatment
inform clients of the purpose and limitations of confidentiality
respect and protect confidential information obtained from clients, including, but not limited to, all verbal and/or artistic expression occurring within the client therapist relationship
protect the confidentiality of the client-therapist relationship in all matters
not disclose confidential information without the client’s explicit written
consent unless mandated by law or a court order
If there is reason to believe that the client or others are in immediate, serious danger to health or life, any such disclosure shall be made consistent with state and federal laws that pertain to the protection and welfare of the client or others
seek and obtain written authorization from the client or the client’s legal guardian, before making any disclosures, unless such disclosure is required by law.
for the purpose of collecting information on harm caused to clients or possible violations of ATCB rules and its Code of Ethics - art therapists may disclose such information without the client’s explicit written consent if the information is disguised so that the identity of the client is fully protected.
maintain client treatment records for a reasonable period of time consistent with federal and state laws, agency regulations and sound clinical practice. Records shall be stored or disposed of in ways that maintain client confidentiality.
photographic representation should be maintained for all work created by the client that is relevant to document the therapy if maintaining the original artwork would be difficult.
When the client is a minor, any and all disclosure or consent shall be made to or obtained from the parent or legal guardian of the client, except where otherwise provided by state law
Client confidentiality must be maintained when clients are involved in research
sign and issue a written professional disclosure statement to a client upon the establishment of a professional relationship.
- must include, but need not be limited to:
education, training, experience, professional affiliations, credentials, fee structure, payment schedule, session scheduling arrangements, information pertaining to the limits of confidentiality and the duty to report.
- The name, address, and telephone number of the ATCB should be written in this document along with the following statement, “The ATCB oversees the ethical practice of art therapists and may be contacted with client concerns.” It is suggested that a copy of the statement be retained in the client’s file
Relationships and boundaries
respect the rights of clients to make decisions and assist them in understanding the consequences of these decisions.
advise clients that decisions on whether to follow treatment recommendations are the responsibility of the client.
professional responsibility of the art therapist to avoid ambiguity in therapeutic relationship and to ensure clarity of roles at all times
continue a therapeutic relationship only so long as client is benefiting from the relationship.
It is unethical to maintain a professional or therapeutic relationship for the sole purpose of financial remuneration to the art therapist or when it becomes reasonably clear that the relationship or therapy is not in the best
interest of the client.
aware of their influential position with respect to students and
supervisees, and they avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of such persons.
not engage in a therapeutic relationship with their students or supervisees
do not condone or engage in sexual harassment
not engage in any relationship, including through social media, with current or former clients, students, interns, trainees, supervisees, employees, or colleagues that is exploitative by its nature or effect.
make their best efforts to avoid entering into non-therapeutic or nonprofessional relationships with current or former clients, students, interns, trainees, supervisees, employees, or colleagues or any family members or other persons known to have a close personal relationship with such individuals such as spouses, children, or close friends.
burden of proof shall be on the art therapist to prove that a non-therapeutic or non-professional relationship with current or former clients, students, interns, trainees, supervisees, employees, or colleagues is not exploitative or harmful to any such individuals
Exploitative relationships with clients include, but are not limited to:
borrowing money from or loaning money to a client, hiring a client, engaging in a business venture with a client, engaging in a romantic relationship with a client, or engaging in sexual intimacy with a client
ensure that judgment is not impaired, that no exploitation occurs, and that all conduct is undertaken solely in the client’s best interest.
Responsibility to the art therapy profession
file a complaint with the ATCB when they have reason to believe that
another art therapist is or has been engaged in conduct that violates the law or the Standards of Ethics and Conduct contained in this Code.
- This does not apply when the belief is based upon information obtained in the course of a therapeutic relationship with a client and voluntary, written authorization for disclosure of the information has not been obtained; however, this does not relieve an art therapist from the duty to file any reports required by law.
not permit students, employees, or supervisees to perform or to represent themselves as competent to perform professional services beyond their education, training, experience, or competence, including multicultural and diversity competence
respect the rights and responsibilities of professional colleagues and participate in activities that advance the goals of art therapy.
endeavor to ensure that the benefits and limitations are correctly conveyed by any institution or agency of which they are employees.
aware that all actions and behaviors of the art therapist reflect on professional integrity and, when inappropriate, can damage the public trust in the art therapy profession
Credential maintenance
Multicultural competence
not discriminate against or refuse professional services to
individuals or groups based on age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, national origin, culture, marital/partnership status, language preference, socioeconomic status, citizenship or immigration status, ability, religion/spirituality, or any other basis
develop and improve multicultural competence through ongoing education and training.
use practices in accordance with the client’s or group’s age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, national origin, culture, marital/partnership status, language preference, socioeconomic status, immigration/citizenship status, ability, religion/spirituality, or any other identity factor
communicate in ways that are both developmentally and culturally
sensitive and appropriate.
When clients and/or art therapists have difficulty understanding each other’s language, art therapists shall attempt to locate necessary translation/interpretation services.
Awareness of state and federal laws
familiar with state requirements and limitations for consent for
treatment. When providing services to minors or persons unable to give voluntary consent, art therapists seek the assent of clients and/ or guardians to services and include them in decision making as much as possible.
balance the ethical rights of clients to make choices, their capacity to give consent or assent to receive services, and parental or familial legal rights and responsibilities to protect these clients and make decisions on their behalf.
conform to relevant federal, provincial, state, and local statutes and ordinances that pertain to the provision of independent mental health
practice.
be knowledgeable about statutes and/or laws that pertain to art therapy and mental health practice in any jurisdiction (state, province, country) in which they practice.
Record keeping and billing
provide clients with reasonable access to their records.
Access should be limited only in exceptional circumstances as permitted by
law such as when the art therapist determines in the exercise of professional
judgement that the requested access is reasonably likely to endanger the life or physical safety of the client or another person, or the access requested is
reasonably likely to cause substantial harm to a person referenced in the client’s records.
Confidential information about any other client should not be disclosed to
clients requesting access to records.
Client requests and the art therapist’s rationale for granting or withholding the records should be documented in the client file.
Use of/reproduction or exhibition of client art therapy data
take into consideration the benefits and potential negative impact of photographing, videotaping, using other means to duplicate, and/or display and/or broadcast client artwork with the client’s best interest in mind.
- provide clear warnings about the art therapist’s inability to protect against the use, misuse, and republication of the art product and/or session by others once it is displayed or posted.
not make or permit any public use or reproduction of a client’s art therapy sessions, including verbalization and art expression, without express written consent
obtain written informed consent before photographing the client’s art expressions, making video or audio recordings, otherwise duplicating, or permitting third-party observation of art therapy sessions
use clinical materials in teaching, writing, electronic formats and public presentations only if a written authorization has been previously obtained
obtain written, informed consent before displaying the client’s art in galleries, healthcare facilities, schools, the Internet or other public areas
Only the client, parent or legal guardian may give signed consent for use of client’s art or information from sessions and treatment, and only for the specific uses, and in the specific communication formats, designated in the consent.
- Once consent has been granted ensure that appropriate steps are taken to protect client identity and disguise any part of the notes, art expression or audio or video recording that reveals client identity unless the client, parent or legal guardian specifically designates in the signed consent that the client’s identity may be revealed.
-The signed consent form shall include conspicuous language that explains the potential that imagery and information displayed or used in any form may not be able to be permanently removed if consent is later revoked.
Electronic communication services
Professional disciplinary procedures
notify the ATCB of any disciplinary sanctions imposed upon themselves or another art therapist by another professional credentialing agency or organization, when such sanctions come to their attention
not knowingly make false, improper, or frivolous ethics or legal complaints against colleagues or other art therapist
Advertising and social media
Research and dissemination
not distort or misuse their clinical and research findings
must instruct their students using accurate, current, and scholarly
information and at all times foster the professional growth of students and
advisees.
maintain high standards of scholarship and present accurate information
respect the dignity and protect the welfare of participants in research
be aware of and comply with federal, provincial, state, and local laws and
regulations, agency regulations, institutional review boards, and professional standards governing the conduct of research.
make careful examinations of ethical acceptability in planning studies.
seek the ethical advice of qualified professionals not directly involved in the investigation and observe safeguards to protect the rights of research participants.
inform participants of all risks and aspects of the research that might
reasonably be expected to influence willingness to participate
obtain a written acknowledgment of informed consent, reflecting an understanding of the said risks and aspects of the research, signed by the
participant or, where appropriate, by the participant’s parent or legal guardian.
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.
respect participants’ freedom to decline participation in or to withdraw from a research study at any time
treat information obtained about research participants during the course
of the research protocol as confidential unless the participants have previously and reasonably authorized in writing that their confidential information may be used
