Practising the profession of psychologist entails serious ethical and deontological obligations. The psychologist–client relationship is based on trust, and the protection of the person seeking help is the primary concern of every mental health professional. For this reason, the practice of psychology is governed by both European and national codes of ethics.
European framework: EFPA Meta-Code of Ethics
At European level, the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) — known until 2001 as EFPPA — has drawn up the “Meta-Code of Ethics”, a framework code of principles which the individual psychological associations of the member countries are called upon to incorporate into their own national codes. The code was recently revised (May–June 2025) and rests on four fundamental principles:
- Respect for a Person's Rights and Dignity: the psychologist respects the privacy, autonomy and self-determination of every person with whom they come into contact, without discrimination.
- Responsibility: the psychologist takes scientific and professional responsibility for their conduct, taking care not to cause harm and always to act in the interest of the person they serve.
- Competence: the psychologist maintains high standards of scientific and professional training, recognises the limits of their expertise and refers on when this is deemed necessary.
- Integrity: the psychologist acts with sincerity, honesty and clarity regarding their role, avoiding any conflict of interest.
National framework in Greece
In Greece, the Association of Greek Psychologists (SEPs) has issued its own “Code of Professional Ethics and Deontology of Psychologists in Greece and Europe”, which incorporates the principles of the EFPA Meta-Code adapted to the Greek context. In addition, in June 2019 the official state Code of Ethics for Psychologists (Government Gazette 2344/B/18-6-2019) was published in the Government Gazette, setting the institutional framework for practising the profession at national level.
These two codes — the professional code of SEPs and the state code of 2019 — serve a common purpose: to ensure that psychological care is provided with respect, competence and responsibility, protecting both clients and the credibility of the profession.
Professional confidentiality and its limits
One of the most fundamental deontological obligations of the psychologist is professional confidentiality: whatever is said within a therapeutic relationship remains confidential. Confidentiality, however, is not absolute. According to the Association of Greek Psychologists, specific exceptions are recognised in which the psychologist is not only entitled but sometimes obliged to disclose information: when there is an immediate risk to the life of the client themselves (risk of suicide/self-harm) or of third parties, in cases of child abuse, and when this is required by a court decision. In every such case, the principle guiding the professional is proportionality: disclosure must be limited to what is strictly necessary to prevent the harm.
Informed consent
Before starting any therapeutic process, the ethically consistent professional must inform the client about the nature and duration of the intervention, the theoretical framework followed, the cost, and the limits of confidentiality as described above. This principle, known as “informed consent”, ensures that the client participates voluntarily and with a full picture of the process they are entering — it is a basic right of the individual and a fundamental precondition of an ethically sound therapeutic relationship.
Read also about The Profession of the Psychologist and the licence to practise.
Bibliography
European Federation of Psychologists' Associations. (2025). Meta-Code of Ethics (rev. May 2025). https://www.efpa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-06/2025-06-03_efpa-meta-code-of-ethics.pdf
Ministerial Decision G5b/G.P. oik. 42984/2019 (Government Gazette B΄ 2344/18.6.2019). Code of Ethics for Psychologists [in Greek]. Government Gazette 2344/B/2019
Association of Greek Psychologists. (n.d.). The professional confidentiality of the psychologist [in Greek]. https://seps.gr/epaggelmatika/to-epaggelmatiko-aporrito-tou-psyxologou/