Ethical Principles of Art Therapists

AMERICAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT
The American Art Therapy Association, Inc. is an organization of professionals dedicated to the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing. Its mission is to serve its members and the general public by providing standards of professional competence and developing and promoting knowledge in and about the field of art therapy.

PREAMBLE
This Ethics Document is intended to provide principles to cover many situations encountered by art therapists. Its goals are to safeguard the welfare of the individuals and groups with whom art therapists work and to promote the education of members, students, and the public regarding ethical principles of the art therapy discipline.

In this Ethics Document, the term reasonable means the prevailing professional judgment of art therapists engaged in similar activities in similar circumstances, given the knowledge the art therapist had or should have had at the time.

This Ethics Document applies to art therapists’ professional activities across a wide variety of contexts, such as in person, postal, telephone, and Internet and other electronic transmissions. These activities shall be distinguished from the private conduct of art therapists, which is not within the purview of this document.

The development of a vigorous set of ethical principles for art therapists’ work-related behavior requires a personal commitment and constant effort to act ethically; to encourage ethical behavior by students, supervisees, employees, and colleagues; and to consult with others concerning ethical problems. This ethics document defines and establishes principles of ethical behavior for current and future members of this association and informs credentialing bodies, employers of art therapists, and the general public that the members of the American Art Therapy Association, Inc., are required to adhere to the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists.

This page also contains additional ethical principles that may be of interest to the Association’s membership.

American Art Therapy Association Code of Ethics

HIPPA Privacy Statement

Other Background Information

Understanding Gray Areas of Ethics in Art Therapy Supervision, Elizabeth Stone, ATR, LP, LCAT

Art Therapy and Technology - Ethical Considerations for Use of the Internet, Diana L. Sabados, MA, ATR-BC

Mind The Gap Presentation, Frances Kaplan & Janice Havlena

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