The rising profile of ethical issues for psychologists

Changing social attitudes make it increasingly important that psychologists and their professional bodies pay attention to ethical issues. In Ireland, there has been an increasing number of complaints against psychologists, and the Psychological Society of Ireland recently revised its complaints procedures and is in the process of changing its code of ethics. This paper is the introduction to a special issue covering many issues of contemporary concern to psychologists; it reviews two long-standing questions: can psychological therapy be ethically neutral, and who is the client? It is concluded that psychologists should increase the importance of ethical issues in education and training, and that they should ensure that clients, whether individuals or organisations, are aware of the psychologist's professional ethics, have been fully appraised of all the options open to them, and have agreed to the contents of a written contract.