An Introduction to Art Therapy Trend and Ethical System Governing It

Ethical, professional complexities and issues, general requirements of professional ethics reflected in three chapters have been indexed in the Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council website under title of "general guide on professional ethics for medical professions and affiliated ones. In addition, in "ethical charter of psychologists and counselors of the psychology and counseling organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran", some rules have been presented under the following categories and observation of them is necessary for psychologists and counselors: a- general principles of professional ethics; b- professional ethical standards and regulations. But despite emergence of art therapy in the 19th century as a combination of art and mind and entrance of art therapy to Iran in the eighties (in solar calendar) through translation of books, having Iranian psychologists and artists in Iran that worked on art therapy and performed research on that since its emergence in Iran, yet there is no ethical charter or code that can be relied upon in Iran and mental health professionals, art therapists and counselors in Iran who apply art-centered methods or interventions in therapeutic sessions, encounter issues that indicate necessity of developing an ethical charter for art therapy, as receivers of such therapies have artistic activities during therapy: ownership of works of art created, evaluation and diagnosis by art-centered tools or tests and interpretation of art works are among such issues. Necessity of considering and negotiating about ethical issues of art therapy that its professional ethical provisions have been settled in the west, decades ago,  made authors to bring on several ethical areas in application of art therapy, upon reading charter of the American Art Therapy Association, charter of the British Association of Art Therapists, charter of the Canadian Art Therapy Association, referring to the Iranian health system charters, ethical charter of psychologists and counselors, general guide on professional ethics of medical professions and the related ones of the I.R. IRAN Medical Council, considering cultural qualities of the Iranian-Islamic Society. These ethical areas are in the field of applying art in art therapy and issues arising from that.Findings of this research illustrate that ethical codes of similar professions(psychologists, counselors and medical professions), while being useful in general issues of patients' rights and professional ethics in art therapy including confidentiality and making an effort to enhance health and welfare of society, do not make any assistance on ethical issues or decision-making for art therapy (how to publish art work of clients, considering confidentiality in publishing works of art, ownership of works of art). This dictates necessity of developing an art therapy charter in proportion to local culture.