Ethical Issues in School Art Therapy

School art therapists face numerous ethical dilemmas, from referrals to therapy, through privacy, safety and predictability in the art therapy room, to the need to balance cooperation with the educational staff and its expectations of shared information with loyalty to the patient. Breach of confidentiality also has legal implications. The ownership and exposure of treatment records and artwork likewise involve ethical considerations. System and patient needs sometimes conflict. The handling of ethical issues—often resolved technically or according to facility tradition—greatly impacts the therapy process. The author encourages art therapists in schools to plan and implement systematic work procedures; nevertheless, they should also make sure their methods comply with their moral and ethical standards.