In a recent article for Psychology Today by Cathy Malchiodi, one of art therapy’s most prolific writers, the idea of having a facebook fan page for one’s private practice is discussed. I agree, there is something distasteful about having a fan page for your private practice, but that wasn’t what grabbed my attention.
I was taken aback when I read about the art therapist who posted artwork and video footage of a client’s session (a minor) on their fan page.
My initial reaction to reading Cathy’s article is; yes, posting unedited 1:1 artx sessions of a minor, with consent, is pushing the ethics of our profession out of my comfort zone. After doing a search in facebook to find the fan page (not hard to do if you’re willing to invest a little time), this feeling was only highlighted. Admittedly I only watched the first 2 videos, but each time I heard the therapist ask the child to “look at the camera” I felt the session’s integrity was compromised. That being said, I’m also happy this happened and that Cathy wrote about it so that a dialogue can be opened within the (art) therapy community.
I have been very cautious about protecting the rights of the clients I work with, especially when it comes to this blog. I do write tidbits regarding artx directives I’ve implemented successfully, but I have never once included the artwork of the clients on this blog despite the fact that many have consented to allow their artwork to be published through any media source (i.e., film, print, computer image). The reason I have not included their artwork, which would no doubt add to the comprehension of the directive written about in the post, is that I just plain don’t feel comfortable with it. However, I intend to write either a journal article or present at a future AATA conference featuring those same directives and art pieces. Why am I comfortable accepting the consent of the clients I work with for print or lecture publishing but not for electronic publishing?
Perhaps it has something to do with accessibility. Anyone can google a facebook fan page or some key words and be directed towards, for example my blog and the potential artx images discussed above. Not everyone, however, would take the time to become an AATA member and gain access to its journal, go to a University library searching for an article or attend a conference. I’m operating under the assumption that the people who are taking interest in the artwork and directives are art therapists or other help professionals who are seeking training in art therapy, not just the random person stringing several words together in their search bar.
Another thought: Judith Rubin has made some fabulous videos that include children creating artwork during art therapy sessions. If her video were aired on PBS (maybe it already has?) or if it were posted on her web page for all to access, would I feel an ethical violation took place? Certainly not. Then why am I so uncomfortable with videos and artwork being posted on facebook fan pages?
This is a brief version of the response I wrote to Cathy after reading the comments posted regarding her article. I felt that I missed this aspect of the video, and wanted to add to the above thoughts:
“I certainly agree that acquiring consent for the purpose of advertising one’s practice is overstepping the ethics of our profession. As mental health professionals we must be honest with ourselves, our clients and their families, by not trying to pass off an advertisement as an attempt to educate the lay person about art therapy and its benefits.”
Hi Liz— I am catching up on blog posts from this week and wanted to let you know that I enjoyed reading your response to the Facebook Psychology Today article that was written by Cathy Malchiodi- I had many of the same reactions, responses, and reflections as you about these important considerations around social media and how we use this tool in the field of art therapy…… thank you for continuing the discussion and your thoughtful reflections…..
Hey Gretchen,
Its encouraging to hear that I’m on the right track in terms of my train of thought. I’m hoping that this discussion is something that not only continues on blogging forums, but also at the AATA conference coming up. I suspect that not enough art therapists are weighing in on the subject since many still don’t seem to have much of an internet presence. I’m doing a half day workshop with Melissa Solorzano (creative therapy sessions podcast) on blogging and podcasting, and I will certainly be bringing up this example during our discussion on ethics and the internet.
Thanks for your feedback!
– Liz
I actually looked for an art therapist fan page and couldn’t find one. I always like to go to the original if I can, and I couldn’t. So not sure what to think.
Hey Lani,
Originally in response to your question I was going to give you a list of how to search for the fanpage without giving out the actual fan page name. I think at this point its silly to skirt around the issue of who we’re talking about. The easiest way to find the fan page is to search in facebook for “children’s corner art therapy”. It’ll pop right up.
However, I just tried to access the fan page and for some reason I’m having problems.
I’d be interested to know your thoughts after viewing the page itself…if you can get into it.
– Liz
Hi Liz, I just found that page, using your suggestions and there is nothing “wrong” with it — it’s at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Corner-Art-Therapy-for-Children/95024430052#/pages/Childrens-Corner-Art-Therapy-for-Children/95024430052?v=app_2392950137&viewas=594851836
I found it by Using Google to search for “you tube childrens corner art therapy” which took me to this page of Google:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=you+tube+childrens+corner+art+therapy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
then in the various listings there (which, by the way, include a link to Judy Rubin’s film), the very TOP listing is titled:
“Art Therapy for Children; Art Therapy and Autism; Art Therapy and …
Art therapy services for children and teens,ages 3 -17. Available for children who are having … Children’s Corner: Art Therapy for Children on Facebook.
http://www.arttherapyforchildren.com/”
THEN, when you click on that link, and get to the “homepage” of that site, if you scroll down to the very bottom (under the contact phone number, etc.), you will see a “widget” titled “Children’s Corner: Art Therapy for Children on Facebook” — along with a link for “become a fan” (I didn’t!) — and it’s a direct link into that page.
If you’re a Facebook member you get into it the page immediately – there’s a bunch tabs across the top of that page and one says “videos”. If you click that tab you get to a page of videos ready for viewing — and I didn’t see any “disclaimer” about disguised identities, or similar — NO TEXT AT ALL — just a bunch of videos to click on (I didn’t…).
As for “who we’re talking about”, one has to look no further than the Board of AATA itself… which truly has me thinking it’s time that training in the ethics of technology was made mandatory in the training of art therapists (and all therapists, actually).
Judy
Hope that helps,
Judy
Hey Judy,
The day I tried to access the Children’s Corner: Art Therapy fan page was the same day Facebook and Twitter got hacked— the system was overrun by some kind of program was attempting to login to thousands of accounts at once, causing most of Facebook and Twitter to go down for a few hours. Yet another thing to think about on social networking sites— they are a prime target for hacking since they’re used by so many people.
Thanks for clarifying that the fan page is still up and running.
I suppose my hesitancy about naming names is that on the other discussion boards I’ve read, it seems that everyone knows who we’re talking about without being specific. Peg Dunn Snow is currently the President of AATA, which is an intimidating title to a relatively new art therapist, such as myself. That being said, one’s position does not exempt you from critique. In fact, I would expect that the President of AATA would be the one to set the bar on these issues. In this case the bar has been set far below what many of us would feel comfortable with and possibly below what is legal.
Thank you for stopping by!
– Liz