EMTC Code of Ethics for Music Therapists

Introduction

The European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC) seeks to provide a coherent framework of ethical and professional orientation for the field of music therapy throughout Europe. While the EMTC does not hold jurisdiction over national music therapy associations, it actively pursues its mission to advance the professional practice of music therapy and to foster collaboration among its member countries. Its overarching aim is to cultivate mutual respect, understanding, and exchange between music therapists throughout Europe. Accordingly, music therapists who are members of organisations within the EMTC commit themselves to uphold both social and legal responsibility in their professional conduct. This includes a personal responsibility towards the integrity of the therapeutic process and towards all individuals with whom they engage in a therapeutic relationship.

This code is built on the following general professional standards and ethical principles:

• Professional responsibility
• Confidentiality and informed consent
• Professional relationships with clients
• Ethical guidelines for online music therapy services
• Principles of teaching and training
• Responsibility to research participants
• Professional relationships
• Equality of opportunity
• Establishment of an Ethics Committee

This Code of Ethics serves to protect clients against unethical practices, to orient music therapists in their professional behaviour, and as a foundation for all ethical codes of the associations affiliated to the EMTC.

Article 1 – Applicability

1.1. The codes of ethics of EMTC member organisations shall be compatible with the EMTC Code of Ethics.

1.2. The EMTC Code of Ethics and those of EMTC member organisations shall apply to individual professional members.

1.3. Each EMTC member organisation’s code of ethics shall include, or make reference to, an agreed definition of music therapy as it is practised by its members.

Article 2 – Purpose

2.1. The primary purpose of the EMTC Code of Ethics and of the codes of ethics of EMTC member organisations shall be to protect clients from harm resulting from unethical behaviour, and to ensure that their welfare shall at all times take precedence over all other considerations.

2.2.  The above purpose shall take priority over member organisations’ other legitimate aims, such as the protection, welfare and professional development of members, the advancement of the profession and the protection of the title of ‘music therapist’.

Article 3 – Professional responsibility

3.1. A music therapist is responsible for providing professional services that respect the legal and civil rights of others, and for acting in accordance with the EMTC Code of Ethics, the professional and ethical guidelines of their own national association, and the laws of the society and country in which they practise. The music therapist safeguards the dignity and rights of their clients, supervisees, interns, students and research participants.

3.2.  The music therapist shall act in accordance with the agreed quality standards applicable to their particular role.

3.3.  The music therapist shall comply with all relevant requirements—European, national or local—such as those relating to training, registration and certification.

3.4.  The music therapist in employment shall not engage in any official or unofficial industrial action which brings them into conflict with the primary purpose of protecting the client’s safety and best interests.

3.5.  The music therapist shall make all reasonable efforts to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills through appropriate in-service training and supervision, that is, through Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Article 4 – Confidentiality and informed consent

4.1.  The music therapist shall protect the confidentiality of information gained in the course of a client’s treatment with the use of informed consent signed by the client.

4.2. The music therapist should seek guidance from their country association on the format and details of the consent form. The EMTC is not responsible for providing consent forms.

4.3. Consent should be gained from the client and/or their carer in the following situations:

• to participate in therapeutic work with a music therapist
• for the music therapist to collect general information strictly necessary for the coordination of the local treatment regime for that client. This information may be shared with appropriate professionals;
• for appropriate and redacted information to be shared for training purposes with trainees, who shall be bound by the same requirement of confidentiality as the music therapist;
• for appropriate and redacted information to be published or presented as part of a case study or research project;
• In the case of a child or young person, if required by court or law, information relevant to the Child Protection Authorities must be disclosed.

Article 5  – Professional relationships with clients

5.1. The music therapist must be aware of the degree of dependency inherent in a therapeutic relationship. Under no circumstances may they act to satisfy their own personal interests (for example, emotional, sexual, social or economic).

5.2. The music therapist shall work on the basis of a clear agreement with the client and/or, where appropriate, their parent or carer. This agreement should specify:

• the music-therapy approach being used;
• the scope and approximate duration of the treatment;
• any fees (where applicable);
• an explanation of the confidential nature of the therapy and, in the case of a child or young person, any limits to the confidentiality required by child protection legislation.

5.3.  The music therapist shall not treat clients whose particular therapeutic needs they are not competent to meet. This includes cases where techniques outside the scope of the therapist`s training are required.

5.4.  Treatment shall only be given following a referral/self-referral. The music therapist shall not solicit custom, nor make or publish misleading claims as to the likely outcome of treatment.

5.5.  The music therapist shall be responsible for the physical safety of the client during therapy sessions, and shall make themself aware of any condition (such as epilepsy) requiring rapid access to medical assistance or special equipment.

5.6.  The music therapist shall not carry out assessment, treatment, training, supervision or research while mentally or physically unfit to do so.

5.7.  Where not covered by institutional insurance, the music therapist shall have their own professional indemnity insurance.

Article 6 – Ethical guidelines for online music therapy services

All the articles mentioned in the EMTC Code of Ethics apply to online music therapy services for practice, supervision, research and/or educational purposes. In addition to these, the following guidelines should be considered by the music therapy practitioner:

6.1. When specific circumstances prevent face-to-face sessions, music therapists should, where possible, offer online sessions, always taking the client’s well-being into account.

6.2. Music therapists should attend specific training on the use of tele-health platforms and ways to carry out online sessions before practising online.

6.3. Online sessions should be organised on a secure communications platform, with provision for a reliable internet connection which ensures privacy and uninterrupted sessions.

6.4. Before beginning an online music-therapy service, the client should sign an informed-consent form confirming that they are choosing to receive music therapy online and that they are familiar with the therapist’s professional credentials. This document, prepared by the music therapist, should include information about the method, setting, duration, fee and other general conditions.

6.5. Before starting a group music therapy service online, an informed consent form should be signed by each member of the group, stating clearly that they will respect the conditions of privacy online and that no information will be shared outside the group under any circumstances. Violation of this condition of privacy will lead to personal liability.

6.6. Written permission must be obtained by all participants for any picture and/ or video recording to be made. This should be expressed by a signed informed consent form, either by hand or in electronic format.

6.7. When a music therapist conducts an online service with a child, a minor or a person without legal capacity, the informed consent form must be signed by the parent or guardian.

6.8. When circumstances impede the use of signed contracts or informed consent forms, an exchange of emails will be acceptable. An email should be written to establish the conditions and returned by the client clearly accepting those conditions.

6.9. When a music therapist provides an online service to a client with a medical condition or mental illness, they should first contact the client’s attending physician, psychologist or other relevant health professional.

Article 7 – Principles of Teaching and Training

7.1.  The personal individual or group therapy of a student therapist shall not be given by any person connected with the theoretical training, supervision and internship of that student.

7.2.  Staff members or training institutions who have serious concerns about a student’s development into a competent therapist shall inform the student and the appropriate authorities.

7.3.  The trainer/supervisor shall not delegate clinical responsibility to a student or supervisee without adequate supervision.

Article 8  – Responsibility to research participants

8.1.  In all research involving clients, whether directly or indirectly, their best interests and safety shall take priority, in accordance with Articles 4 and 6 above.

8.2.  Authorisation from a medical and/or academic ethical committee shall be obtained before commencing research.

8.3.  The intellectual property of colleagues shall be respected. The contribution of collaborators shall be clearly acknowledged in any presentation or publication.

Article 9 – Professional relationships

9.1. The music therapist is obliged to show mutual respect and to cooperate appropriately with other (music therapy) colleagues, ensuring that each person’s specific competencies are upheld in order to protect the client’s interests.

9.2. The music therapist must not provide their services to a user who is being treated by another colleague in the same area of expertise, unless they have ascertained that the previous professional relationship has ended or have agreed on the intervention with that colleague.

9.3. The music therapist must address professional disagreements in a fair and just manner. If a colleague’s lack of competence is clearly demonstrated and confirmed, the therapist must prioritise the client’s welfare and communicate any concerns only through the appropriate channels of their professional association.

Article 10 – Equality of opportunity

10.1. Insofar as it lies within the music therapist`s discretion, clients shall have equal rights of access to assessment and treatment regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political orientation or any form of disability not relevant to the advisability or otherwise of treatment.

10.2.  Insofar as it lies within the music therapist`s discretion, candidates for training, prospective supervisees, applicants for professional recognition or research funding shall not be discriminated against on grounds of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political orientation or any form of disability which does not affect competence.

Article 11 – Ethics Committee

An Ethics Committee is to be established in all professional associations that are members of the EMTC. It is responsible for all questions, problems and infringements by professional music therapists and clients that are relevant with regard to the ethical code.

© EMTC, Belgium, 2025