The journey of an art therapist turned education technology expert
Thinking about social media, email, google searches and it’s relationship to ethics in psychotherapy? Read this interesting and informative article written by Sara Martin of the Monitor, an APA publication.
Ethics codes are in desperate need to catch up to the times! But, that doesn’t mean we can’t use our common sense and knowledge to practice ethically to maintain a separation between our personal and professional lives.
I’m excited to announce the launch of Liz Beck Designs, a personalized web design service for mental health practitioners!
As readers of this blog, you know how large a role technology plays in our lives. It’s not hard to imagine that clients will overlook therapists who don’t have an online presence. Having a website is an effective method of establishing credibility among clients and professionals in your field, and it’s the best way to demonstrate your values and expertise to a wide audience.
Keeping your web presence up-to-date is also a vital part of connecting to new clients. Your website is a reflection of who you are as a therapist. If your website looks like it was built 10 years ago, prospective clients and colleagues will recognize this. They may wonder how current you are in your therapeutic practice, or how convenient it will be to work with you.
I offer a wide range of services, helping to enhance your practice. For example, reduce the number of no-shows with a web scheduler, allowing clients to book and cancel appointments directly on your website. Or, with an integrated PayPal system, allow clients can easily pay for their sessions before sessions begin – or even from your office computer – with the option of using a credit card.
I’m also interested in the ethical considerations and effects of integrating technology into one’s therapeutic practice. I keep myself educated on this issue through continuous study and writing about ethics, technology and the therapeutic world. I am available for consultations, increasing your confidence that your online presence is meeting the same ethical standards you strive to respect with your off-line interactions with clients.
Lastly, to thank you for being a regular reader of my blog, I’m offering a limited-time 10% discount on your Liz Beck Designs order. Just email me your information, what theme/package you’re interested in and include the promo code: BLOG.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Liz,
Found your art therapy blog and your willingness to answer questions has encouraged me to ask one! I’m an artist looking at a career in art therapy, my work is in multimedia – sound art, video, technology and interactivity. If you know of any courses or institutions that have a leaning in this direction, or any relevant resources or communities you could point me towards that would be fantastic!
Thanks, Dan.
Hi Daniel,
In my experience, any art therapy program would embrace multimedia art making. However, when it comes to in-class assignments and experientials, you may encounter that the only supplies available are “traditional” ones (paint, clay, markers, colored pencils, etc…) That being said, unless the experiential involves teaching you something specific about traditional media use in the art therapy session, there is no reason that you couldn’t bring in your laptop and create artwork on it, right there in class.
At this point, the art therapy community is standing on the edge of truly accepting technology within its teaching and practice. I doubt you will find any art therapy schools that offer a digital art therapy class. Also, I would expect that due to budget concerns, you may not have access to the technology that you want and need in your internships. But—you can find ways to begin integrating your artistic expertise…it all depends on your resourcefulness and creativity! From the sound of it, I’m sure you have an abundance of both :)
In my opinion, we need more art therapists who have knowledge of new media and technology in the field. So if you came to my program, I would first encourage you to learn the basics of art therapy (with traditional media) and then begin exploring the “how to” and the “benefits of” integrating technology within the therapeutic milieu. My advice is that when you’re checking out schools in your area, openly ask questions about the attitude of the school/professors regarding the use of technology within your art therapy studies and practicums. Through open dialogue you should be able to find the schools that resonate best with you.
Warm Regards,
– Liz
Just a few hours ago I received an e-survey from the AATA ethics committee. I was pleased to see that a portion of the survey asks whether posting client photographs or videos can be done in an ethical (or unethical) manner.
About a year ago Cathy Malchiodi wrote an excellent article on the subject, and the comments on her blog helped to further the debate. I also discussed my opinions on the matter in a series of posts that can be viewed here, here, here and here.
One of the main points in my analysis: AATA’s ethical codes are determined by what the majority of art therapists who are AATA members think is ethical. So, fellow art therapists, fill out the survey! Even if you feel you don’t have an opinion or a good understanding of the subject—that’s all information for the ethics committee to process, and hopefully provide more education about.
Lastly, ex-AATA president, Pegg Dunn Snow, informed me that the ethics commitee would be meeting during the 2009 conference to discuss the ethical considerations of art therapy and technology—essentially addressing her example of “what not to do” when you’re advertising your art therapy practice. The advice given by the AATA ethics committee parallels my analysis, and hopefully will serve as a compass until more specific guidelines are provided.