My own values and ethics
One of the first ways a Dramatherapist knows they are working ethically in their practice is if they embed a strong set of personal values and ethics into their practice framework. The values that I have embedded into my practice framework are based on the personal ones that form my own belief system: that family and community support are essential for good individual and social health; that people are creative beings; that optimism and hope are vital to working well with people; that all people have strengths and are the experts of their own lives; and that all people deserve equality without discrimination.
A further value that I believe is extremely important when working with clients, and is becoming more important as our world is becoming more global, is to work with cultural competence. In a study done by Brown and Pemerantz, it was shown that ‘mental health professionals have repeatedly expressed the necessity of cultural competence for clinicians…[and]…revisions to the ethical codes of counsellors (American Counselling Association, 2005) and psychologists (American Psychological Association, 2002) highlighted the importance of cultural diversity and increased recognition that multicultural competence was an essential component of ethical practice (Brown and Pomerantz, 2011, p. 498). Without cultural competence therapists run the risk of ostracizing or even patronising their clients, and at worst having clients leave therapy all together. Treating clients with respect in relation to their culture shows greater empathy, and will help the client to feel heard and understood.
Along with embedding these values into my work I believe that ethical practice also consists of planning appropriate termination with clients, and ensuring a continuity of care by having a ‘professional will’ or emergency agreement for referrals and the distribution and safeguarding of records (Hinz, 2011, pp. 186-187). Planning for the discontinuation of a practice is something that is not discussed often in relation to ethical practice, however it is an important ethical consideration in caring for clients if the therapist is no longer able to, and is extremely important in safeguarding client’s privacy and confidentiality.
Codes of Ethics
Including my personal values and ethics, I will also know that I am working ethically in my dramatherapy practice when I am incorporating the Code of Ethics from the professional body that accredits arts therapists in Australia, the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZATA). The Code is built on three general ethical principles: professional responsibility; confidentiality; and responsibility to arts therapy colleagues. I think that these principles are very holistic and really encompass the clients in working in a responsibility professional way, the clients’ confidentiality, which protects clients, and other therapists, which includes the profession as a whole.
The purpose of the Code is: to establish minimum standards of ethical practice for all ANZATA Members; to identify the value, principles and responsibilities of all Members; to promote a professional level of competence and accountability in the field of arts therapy; to provide a guideline for clients, employers and professionals of what constitutes ANZATA ethical practice; to outline the complaints procedure regarding unethical conduct of a member. This purpose of the Code is very comprehensive and is able to educate, inform and protect clients, arts therapists and the profession, which forms the basis of best ethical practice guidelines.
As a trained Social Worker, I also ascribe to the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) Code of Ethics, which is based on: respect for persons; social justice and professional integrity. Although the ANZATA Code of Ethics certainly incorporates respect for persons and professional integrity, I like the fact that the AASW Code also includes social justice. In working as a Dramatherapist I do believe that it will be my ethical responsibility to be aware of, and educated about, social and political policy and the social structures that may be contributing to my clients’ pain, disadvantage or oppression, and may be impacting on their overall well-being and ability to heal. As a professional Dramatherapist I also see ethical practice as advocating and lobbying for more just and equal social structures, policies and laws.
The nature of dramatherapy work
Together with my personal and professional values and ethics, I also include some specialised knowledge into my practice framework. As a former drama teacher, with formal study in drama and much experience in community theatre work, I appreciate the benefits of using drama in therapy and have trained to work using dramatherapy in practice. The British Association of Dramatherapy uses the following definition to define dramatherapy:
Dramatherapy has as its main focus the intentional use of healing aspects of drama and theatre as the therapeutic process. It is a method of working and playing that uses action methods to facilitate creativity, imagination, learning, insight and growth (British Association of Dramatherapy, found at: http://www.badth.org.uk).
