The Maia Team

Ms Ellul Federici is a warranted Clinical Psychologist. She received her Masters Degree in Clinical and Community Psychology at the University of Rome, ‘La Sapienza’. Veronica provides psychological interventions to children and adolescents with a wide range of difficulties including attachment-related problems, trauma, behavioural problems and emotional difficulties. Veronica also carries out psychodiagnostic testing for children, adolescents as well as adults. Veronica has received specialized training in Juridical Psychology as well as Play Therapy and Filial Therapy in Rome.

Ms Baldacchino is a warranted Health Psychologist and registered Gestalt Psychotherapist. Her training was undertaken at the Sheffield Hallam University and Gestalt Psychotherapy Institute Malta. She worked in schools for many years doing psycho-therapeutic work with adolescents as well as within the Mental Health Hospital for the past 5 years to date.  She is involved in the inpatient and outpatient care of adults with mental health problems and carries out psychological interventions.  At present, she is reading a Doctorate in Psychology and she is also a student of Dialectic Behavioural Therapy. She is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society.

Ms Baldacchino provides individual and couple therapy and works with adolescents and adults with issues varying from personal development, addictions, personality disorders, mental health issues including depression, anxiety, stress management, sleep problems, bereavement, elderly problems including loneliness and existential issues among others.

Ms Schembri Lia is a warranted Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist as well as a Registered Clinical and Psychotherapy Supervisor, with a number of years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, both privately and in the public sector. She carries out psychological and psychotherapeutic intervention as well as psychological assessment.

Her special interests lie in the area of resilience, positive psychology and disability and she offers her services in Siggiewi.

Mr Fenech is a warranted Psychotherapist and an HCPC registered Dramatherapist in the UK. He has been in the helping profession with children, adolescents and their families for the past 15 years. He graduated with a BA (Hons.) in Social Work in 2005 at the University of Malta and obtained a Master of Arts in Dramatherapy from Roehampton University in London in 2010. Sam had the opportunity to work therapeutically with children, adolescents and families from all walks of life, who have been through very difficult and traumatic experiences and are now struggling with behavior which they do not have control of, such as difficulty with sleeping patterns, behavioural challenges, separation anxiety and attachment difficulties among others. Sam also works with persons with disabilities and prefers to work systemically by including the client’s support system in the therapeutic process.

After recognizing and researching the personal therapeutic and healing benefits of mindfulness and meditation practices, Sam supports his clients through the use of these methods as an Arts Therapist. Sam’s Dramatherapy training is also based on the therapeutic use of ritual and metaphor which is very much used with, and beneficial for people going through difficult and challenging situations.

“Dramatherapy is the intentional use of creative drama toward the psychotherapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth” (1982) – David R Johnson.

Ms Caruana is a registered counsellor and social worker. She worked for 15 years in the field of addictions, assisting individuals and their significant others deal with drug, alcohol and/or gambling related issues. Following this, she moved to private practice, offering counselling services.

Ms Caruana offers individual counselling to adults on issues related to self-development, relationship to self and others, bereavement and loss, addictions, stress and anxiety-related issues, and other situations that the course of life tend to present.

Dr Borg graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) from the University of Malta and later carried out his doctoral training in Educational and Child Psychology at the University of East London in the UK. Dr Borg is a registered Educational Psychologist with experience of working systemically with children and adolescents, their families, as well as educators and school professionals.

Dr Borg carries out psychological assessments with children who experience challenges in their learning, behaviour and emotional well-being, providing support regarding the best approaches and provisions to assist students in their learning and development.

Ms Vassallo has a Masters Degree in Gestalt Therapy from the G.P.T.I.M, a Higher Diploma in Psychology from the University of Malta as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Malta. She is currently in the process of completing a Doctorate in Gestalt Therapy.

She has worked in the mental health sector for four years and has co-led an in-home support service for clients diagnosed with mental illness. Caroline has worked as an advocate against the stigma of mental health disorders and coordinated self-help and support groups for individuals experiencing mental health issues and their family members. She has also worked as a Youth Worker, providing support and guidance to adolescents.

Ms Vassallo has a keen interest in art and has been exposed to a variety of different art forms from a young age such as media, painting, dance, music etc. Exposure to the art sector has led Caroline to use artistic interventions in her work with clients.

She works with adolescents and adults on a number of different issues and has particular interest in addiction, anxiety, depression, personality disorders and other mental illnesses, anger management, grief, loss and relationships.

Mr Cutajar is a registered Senior Practising Counsellor (Warrant No: CCP 003) and currently carrying out duties as Team Leader for the Psychotherapeutic Team with the Secretariat for Catholic Education.  He studied at the University of Malta, graduating in Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology.  He then followed a degree in Theology. He also studied Family Therapy and Counselling up to the level of a Postgrad Diploma and holds a Master Degree in Counselling.

Apart from teaching and counselling in Church Schools, he worked part-time for twelve years as a Family Therapy Worker at Agenzja Appogg, six years with teenage girls who were in care.  He also served for a number of years as member and secretary to the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession and member on the Counsel for the Counselling Profession.  He also was involved in the MPsy and MCouns programme, and also the Master in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice offered by the University of Malta.

His main areas of interest are: working with families and couples, middle school age children and adolescents, as well as adults, in cases such as, bereavement, anger management, anxiety and depression, self-esteem and emotional regulation.