Frequently Asked Questions

When is it the right time to start therapy?

It is always the right time to start therapy. Embarking on a therapeutic journey allows you to have that safe space where you can stop and think about yourself. In this fast and busy life we lead, we often don’t have time to reflect on where we are at both in terms of strengths and areas of growth. Therapy provides that space.

When it comes to couple therapy, it is best to reach out for therapy before things get very tense and difficult. Therapy should not be the last resort before one decides to part ways, but a way to explore what is working in the couple relationship to continue developing it further.

What is the difference between a psychologist, a psychotherapist and a counsellor?

One of the main differences between the three is the route one takes after graduating from a first degree in social sciences.

As per the Psychology Profession Act, a warranted psychologist would need to have a first degree in psychology and a Masters in Psychology and two years post-qualification experience. There are different areas of specialisations for psychologists, such as clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, educational psychologists, health psychologists, forensic psychologists, neuropsychologists, organisational psychologists and also sport psychologists, amongst others. Each specialisation would have its own area of expertise.

As per the Psychotherapy Profession Act, a warranted psychotherapists would need to have a first degree in a social science and a Masters’ degree in any of the psychotherapy specialisations. These specialisations are family therapy, gestalt psychotherapy, cognitive-behaviour therapy, art therapy and play therapy amongst others. Each specialisation would have its own area of expertise.

As per the Counselling Profession Act, a warranted counsellor would need to have a first degree in a social science and a Masters’ degree in in counselling. Counsellors are trained to work with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of contexts.

All three professions are regulated by their own statutory body, and these can be accessed as follows:

Malta Psychology Profession Board: https://family.gov.mt/en/officially-appointed-bodies/psychology-profession-board/

Psychotherapy Profession Board Malta:  https://family.gov.mt/en/officially-appointed-bodies/psychotherapy-profession-board/

Council for Counselling Profession https://family.gov.mt/en/officially-appointed-bodies/council-for-the-counselling-profession/

When is it indicated to attend family therapy?

My clinical experience has shown me that when it comes to working with children, adolescents and young people, family therapy is a much more effective tool than just individual therapy. Most often, the difficulties experienced by children and adolescents are better understood within the context of the family. For example, we do know that adolescents who self-harm usually feel very cut off from their family and family therapy can be the treatment of choice in that it restores family connections that could be a buffer against the ‘growing pains’ that adolescents go through. Family Therapy is about the family members reaching out to each other to help themselves get better and therefore no one feels like they are to blame or that they are the problem.

I have problems in my relationship. Should I attend individual therapy or couple therapy?

When there are relationship problems, couple therapy is more indicated than individual therapy. It can happen that one party is more reluctant to attend therapy out of fear of being blamed for what is happening. However, as a couple therapists, our client is the relationship and we use the sessions to understand how the couple dynamics are impacting and contributing to the relationship. So yes, ideally when there are couple issues, the couple attends together. There will always be the possibility of a few individual sessions throughout the process and these happen when and if necessary.

How many therapy sessions do I need?

The number and frequency of sessions varies from one client to another depending on the needs of the client. This is usually negotiated in the first few sessions as the therapist understands more about the situation. However, the rule of thumb is that for individual therapy, there is no limit on the number of sessions with the sessions starting on a weekly basis and then as the sessions progress, the frequency decreases as necessary.  With regards to couple and family therapy, the sessions are usually held every two to three weeks as the family would need time to work through the issues discussed in the sessions. Often around 10 sessions are needed and that can also be extended depending on the situation.

What are the limits of confidentiality in therapy?

One of the most important aspects of therapy is that whatever is said in the therapy room, stays in the therapy room. Confidentiality helps keep the therapeutic space safe. However, there are limits when it comes to harm to self or to others. As professionals we are duty bound to take care of our clients keeping in mind the wider context too. this means that should a person disclose that they are going to harm themselves or others, then we are duty bound to act and disclose that information to the appropriate persons to keep the persons involved safe.

In the case of minors, we are also now legally obliged to report cases of suspected abuse, be it physical, emotional or sexual to the appropriate authorities, with or without the consent of the parents and/or legal guardians.

Do I have to disclose all my story during therapy?

Whilst it would be beneficial for the therapist to know your story, you should never feel pressured to disclose anything until you feel safe enough to do so. The therapeutic relationship is built slowly as the trust develops so feel free to say that you prefer not to answer a question if you are not ready to share that part of your story.

 What is supervision?

Psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors are obliged by their respective statutory bodies to attend supervision sessions on a regular basis. This is a safe space for the therapists to take care of themselves to be better able to provide good care to their clients. The supervisor is usually a more experienced professional who has also had training in supervision.  During supervision, the supervisors support the professionals by talking through any dilemmas that they might have had in their work. whilst the names of the clients are not disclosed, the supervision session is still bound by the confidentiality agreement already in place.