Art therapists must maintain records for __________ years?

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Maintaining client records for a defined period supports ongoing care, continuity if a client switches therapists, and legal/ethical accountability. The period most widely endorsed in art therapy practice and by licensure boards is seven years after the last session. This duration aligns with typical timelines for potential claims and inquiries, ensuring records are available when needed while keeping storage reasonable. For minors, some jurisdictions may have additional or longer requirements, but seven years serves as a commonly accepted minimum across many settings. Shorter retention periods, like three or five years, may not cover the window in which issues could arise or claims could be filed. A ten-year retention, while workable, is not the standard expectation in most guidelines and adds more storage burden without added justification in typical practice.