Ethics Info

The ADTA, the ADTA Standards & Ethics Committee, and the Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board (DMTCB) would like the public, consumers of dance/movement therapy, and the ADTA membership to know:

  1. Situations involving questionable ethics are unavoidable.
  2. When a situation arises involving questionable ethics, the ADTA encourages those involved to explore and attempt to resolve the situation by talking to one another and sharing perspectives, understanding, and lived experiences before contacting the ADTA for support.
  3. The ADTA offers support if resolution cannot be achieved through conversation, or when a conversation isn’t feasible due to extenuating circumstances.
  4. The first thing to do when requesting support is contact the Standards & Ethics Committee. The Standards & Ethics Committee is a branch within the ADTA that upholds ethical standards for practicing dance/movement therapists, and clarifies ethical practices and procedures, as questions arise, for the public, for dance/movement therapists, and for consumers of dance/movement therapy. An Ethical Report can be submitted to the Standards & Ethics Committee by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
  5. Anyone can contact the Standards & Ethic Committee to discuss a situation involving questionable ethics concerning a practicing dance/movement therapist who has signed the ADTA Code of Ethical Practice.
  6. The Standards & Ethics Committee requests that members and consumers seek support or report situations involving questionable ethics as soon as possible. Timely reporting minimizes the risk of perpetuating harm.
  7. The ADTA, the Standards & Ethics Committee, and the Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board will make every effort to support and help resolve situations in a manner that demonstrates:
    1. Care for everyone involved,
    2. Cultural humility, 
    3. Non-maleficence, 
    4. Anti-oppression,
    5. Anti-discrimination,
    6. Equity, 
    7. Social Justice, and
    8. Confidentiality.
Ethical Policies and Procedures:
"Procedures for How to Resolve Situations Involving Questionable Ethics"
Read the ADTA Code of Ethics
Submit an Ethical Report Here

For more information, please download the procedures titled “How to Resolve Situations Involving Questionable Ethics” see above. You can also download the ADTA’s current Code of Ethics in the same area. If you are still having issues with understanding this information, you can contact [email protected] for more assistance.