March 24, 2025 | By The AATA National Staff
It’s not surprising that art therapists consider ethics critical to their practice. As we look forward to our 2025 Ethics Series, which will explore everything from clinical referrals to social media and self-disclosure, we have asked our presenters about how these topics have affected them.
This series is FREE for AATA Student Members and offered at a discount for AATA Members. Each session is hosted live with interactive discussions and is also available On Demand to watch at your convenience. Plus, sign up for all three sessions in both series and save up to $54 on your ATCB required Ethics and Supervision CE credits!
What are some of the biggest ethical challenges art therapists face in today’s professional landscape?
“The complexities surrounding ethical referrals have often kept me up at night, plagued by doubts about the best course of action for my clients. Navigating these nuanced situations can be incredibly challenging, and I’ve personally experienced the weight of responsibility that comes with making these decisions. Like many of you, I’ve found it challenging to find a more structured approach to decision-making I can use to guide me through these moments of uncertainty. Developing a decision-making model has provided me with immense relief and confidence, and I’m passionate about sharing this knowledge to empower other art therapists.”
— Anna O’Brien, LPC, ATR-BC
“As social media continues to evolve, so do the ethical and professional dilemmas that art therapists face online. In this increasingly hyper-connected world, now, more than ever, examining how disclosure, online boundaries, and social media culture influence our professional and client relationships is essential. From the impact of digital transparency to the complexities of online influence, art therapists must continue to adapt and uphold ethical standards that support our work as practitioners and clients we work with.”
— Gretchen M. Miller, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC
“Ethics have always been at the core of our practice, but as the field evolves, so do the challenges we face. Social media is one of those areas that has developed significantly over the past 25 years and can be difficult to navigate. What was once a minimal issue is now an integral part of our communication and professional presence, requiring us to expand our definitions and scope of ethical practice.”
— Lacy Mucklow, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT-S, LCPAT, ATCS, CCTP, CIMHP
“When I was training in art therapy school, many of us were instructed to be cautious and to avoid disclosing details about ourselves. When I began practicing as an art therapist and providing art therapy, clients were often curious and would ask all kinds of personal questions such as my marital status, my birth order, my religion and so on. When this happened, it often felt socially and ethically awkward. While the question felt natural for the client, it was disruptive for me. Later I learned that therapist self-disclosure can serve to facilitate connection or deepen understanding for a client. While most of my work is in community mental health settings such as hospitals, clinics, shelters, and schools, through AATA, I found a colleague thinking and teaching about the use of the therapist’s self and exploring in her private practice, the kind of self-disclosure that would help her clients.”
— Deborah Fung, LCAT ATR-BC, LMSW
How do you approach ethical decision-making when faced with uncertainty?
“As an art therapist, I’ve encountered countless situations where my conceptualization, professional limitations, and potential countertransference have made the ethics of referrals seem confusing and difficult to grasp. These experiences have left me questioning my choices and searching for a more structured approach to decision-making. That’s where having a decision-making model has come in handy. Through research and personal reflection, I created a decision-making model for myself, which I’m excited to be sharing in my session on February 25. This model has alleviated my anxieties and allowed me to approach referrals with greater clarity and ethical awareness.”
— Anna O’Brien, LPC, ATR-BC
“Both AATA and the ATCB provide ethical guidelines for social media use, but they can sometimes feel vague and open to interpretation. How I apply ethics to my social media accounts may be different from others, what one person feels is an ethically sound post may not align with another’s perspective. What has helped me most is exploring different viewpoints on the application of ethical principles. Exploring these different perspectives is more critical now than ever before.”
— Alicia Seymour, MA, ATR-P, NCC
“I think this quote from Irvin Yalom wrote has been a good framework for me: ‘The effective therapist should never try to force discussion of any content area: therapy should not be theory-driven but relationship-driven, and the foundation of that relationship is built on ethical practice.’ A common code of ethics provides art therapists a common language to determine the rightness of our decisions and provides us a wide range of freedom to express ourselves and to tailor care for our clients.”
— Deborah Fung, LCAT ATR-BC, LMSW
“Ethical dilemmas in social media engagement can often be uncertain since they are so incredibly nuanced, which is why self-reflection and a clear understanding of professional values are essential. I approach these nuanced situations by empowering myself and other art therapists to use self-reflection as a tool to navigate digital engagement with confidence, creativity, and integrity, ensuring their online presence aligns with their ethical responsibilities.”
— Gretchen M. Miller, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC
What are some best practices for maintaining professional boundaries in digital spaces?
“Social media wasn’t a factor when I first entered the field, but it has since become an undeniable part of professional communication. It’s crucial that art therapists carefully consider what they share and how they engage with others in the online social and community realm. Additionally, continuing to have conversations about ethical use of social media, like this, help us all stay informed and intentional in how we navigate this evolving digital space.”
— Lacy Mucklow, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT-S, LCPAT, ATCS, CCTP, CIMHP
“Social media is an amazing tool for connection, but it also blurs the lines between personal and professional identities. One of the biggest challenges is maintaining appropriate boundaries while still engaging meaningfully with colleagues, clients, and the larger art therapy community. Art therapists need should always to be mindful of digital transparency and think critically about how their online presence might be perceived in professional settings.”
— Gretchen M. Miller, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC
“For me and many other art therapists, social media is a part of everyday life. It can be a great way for us to share the amazing work we are doing, our own artwork, and connect with colleagues across the world. However, transitioning from personal to professional use can be tricky. It’s helpful to shift away from a more casual approach to engagement and instead toward a more intentional, professional presence, and have support when doing that.”
— Alicia Seymour, MA, ATR-P, NCC
Why is it important for art therapists to continually reassess ethical approaches in their work?
“Ethical decision-making isn’t static—it’s an ongoing process. The challenges we face evolve alongside our professional roles, our clients’ needs, and the broader cultural landscape. That’s why having a structured approach to ethical decision-making is so valuable—it provides consistency in an ever-changing field.”
— Anna O’Brien, LPC, ATR-BC
“What feels ethically sound to one therapist might not align with another’s perspective, which is why open discussions and ongoing education are so important. Ethics aren’t about finding a single right answer; they’re about developing the critical thinking skills to navigate complex situations with integrity.”
— Alicia Seymour, MA, ATR-P, NCC
“The digital world is constantly changing, and ethical guidelines need to adapt accordingly. We can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to ethics—art therapists must be proactive in evaluating their professional presence, decision-making processes, and engagement strategies. That’s why I’m excited to be part of this discussion, where we can collectively explore ways to uphold ethical standards in our evolving professional landscape.”
— Gretchen M. Miller, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC
About the Series
We hope you’ll join the presenters for the second and third sessions in the series hosted April 22 and 29, to hear more about their perspectives on social media use and self-disclosure. If you missed the first session on clinical referrals, it is still available to purchase and watch On-Demand.
Each 2-hour virtual session can be purchased individually ($55/session for AATA members) or as a 6-hour bundle at a discounted price ($138 for AATA members). To become a member, get started here.
Beginning in 2023, all Board-Certified Art Therapists (ATR-BCs) need to complete six Continuing Education credits in ethics as part of their 100 required CE credits. By attending this series, art therapists may receive up to six ethics CE credits (two for each session). All art therapists, students, and mental health professionals are welcome to attend!