INTRODUCTION

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CROATIAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT

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Croatian Art Therapy Association is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization dedicated to the growth and development of the art therapy profession. Its mission is to advocate for expansion of access to professional art therapists and lead the nation in the advancement of art therapy as a regulated mental health and human services profession.

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PREAMBLE

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The goals of the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists are to safeguard the welfare of the individuals, families, groups and communities with whom art therapists work and to promote the education of members, students, and the public. The principles put forth in this ethics document are intended to address many situations encountered by art therapists. In general, art therapists are guided in their decision-making by core values that affirm basic human rights. These values reflect aspirational ethical principles, which include:

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Autonomy: Art therapists respect clients’ right to make their own choices regarding life direction, treatment goals, and options. Art therapists assist clients by helping them to make informed choices, which further their life goals and affirm others rights to autonomy, as well.

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Nonmaleficence: Art therapists strive to conduct themselves and their practice in such a way as to cause no harm to individuals, families, groups and communities.

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Beneficence: Art therapists promote wellbeing by helping individuals, families, groups and communities to improve their circumstances. Art therapists enhance welfare by identifying practices that actively benefit others.

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Fidelity: Art therapists accept their role and responsibility to act with integrity towards clients, colleagues and members of their community. Art therapists maintain honesty in their dealings, accuracy in their relationships, faithfulness to their promises and truthfulness in their work.

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Justice: Art therapists commit to treating all persons with fairness. Art therapists ensure that clients have equal access to services.

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Creativity: Art therapists cultivate imagination for furthering understanding of self, others and the world. Art therapists support creative processes for decision-making and problem solving, as well as, meaning-making and healing.

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These Ethical Principles for Art Therapists apply 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 are distinguished from the private conduct of art therapists, which is not within the purview of this document.

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.

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The development of a rigorous set of ethical principles for art therapists’ work-related behavior requires: a personal commitment and constant effort to act ethically; encouraging ethical behavior by students, supervisees, employees, and colleagues; and consulting with others concerning ethical practice. 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 Croatian Art Therapy Association are required to adhere to the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists. Art therapists are bound to follow all federal, state, and institutional laws and regulations in addition to the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists.

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ETHICS COMMITTEE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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The Ethics Committee is the committee charged by the Croatian Art Therapy Association to recommend changes to and endorse the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists. The Ethics Committee educates the membership of the Croatian Art Therapy Association and the general public, and responds to inquiries regarding issues of ethical practice.

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ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR ART THERAPISTS

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The Board of Directors of the Croatian Art Therapy Association hereby promulgates, pursuant to Article X of the Association Bylaws, the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists. Members of the Association abide by these principles and by the applicable laws and regulations governing the conduct of art therapists and any additional license or certification that the art therapist holds.