Understanding Therapy in Malta
These two words get used interchangeably, but they mean quite different things. Here is a clear explanation of who does what in Malta, what the qualifications mean, and how to decide which is right for you.
If you are looking for professional support with your mental health in Malta, you will quickly encounter several different titles: psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor, psychiatrist. They sound similar. They are not. Understanding the difference will help you find the right person for what you are dealing with.
A psychologist holds a degree (usually undergraduate and postgraduate) in psychology — the academic study of mind and behaviour. Psychologists understand how people think, feel, and behave, and many work in research, occupational, or educational settings.
Some psychologists also provide therapy, typically training in specific models such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). In Malta, clinical psychologists working in the public health system are employed by Mater Dei Hospital and associated services.
Psychology in Malta is regulated separately from psychotherapy. The title "psychologist" is protected under Maltese law.
A psychotherapist is trained specifically in the practice of psychotherapy — the process of therapeutic conversation aimed at understanding and shifting deep-seated patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating. Their training is longer, more personal, and more clinically intensive than most psychology programmes.
In Malta, psychotherapists are regulated by the PPBM (the board for professions complementary to medicine). A PPBM warrant means the practitioner has completed an accredited postgraduate training in psychotherapy, undergone their own personal therapy (usually hundreds of hours), accumulated supervised clinical practice, and agreed to a professional code of ethics.
The warrant number appears next to the therapist's name — mine is PPBM 494. The PPBM maintains a public register of warranted practitioners.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in mental health. Psychiatrists in Malta can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. They may also provide some therapeutic support, but their primary role is medical. If you need a diagnosis or medication for a mental health condition, a psychiatrist is the appropriate starting point.
A counsellor is typically trained at diploma level and may specialise in particular areas such as bereavement, addiction, or stress management. The depth of training varies considerably. Counsellors are not separately regulated in Malta in the same way as psychotherapists.
A few rough guidelines.
If you are dealing with something that feels persistent, layered, and hard to shift — anxiety that has been present for years, patterns in relationships that keep repeating, identity questions, depression that has not responded to simpler interventions — a warranted psychotherapist is usually the right fit. The work is deeper, more exploratory, and built around a genuine therapeutic relationship.
If you have a specific, diagnosable condition and want a structured, time-limited approach with clear goals, a clinical psychologist trained in CBT or similar models may be what you are looking for.
If you think your symptoms might need medication, or you want a formal assessment or diagnosis, start with a psychiatrist.
If you are dealing with a specific, contained difficulty — grief, a relationship breakdown, a stressful period at work — a counsellor can be effective, particularly for shorter-term support.
The honest truth is that the label matters less than the person and the relationship. But understanding the distinction helps you ask better questions and make a more informed decision about who to approach.
I am a warranted psychotherapist in Malta, holding PPBM warrant number 494. I trained in Gestalt psychotherapy and practise from that relational, present-focused framework. I work with adults individually and with couples, in person in Mellieħa and online across Europe and the UK.
If you are wondering whether what you are dealing with is something therapy might help with, the best first step is a conversation. I offer a free 20-minute consultation — no commitment, no pressure. You can also send me a message if you would prefer to write first.
No. Anyone can call themselves a therapist in Malta. What is protected is the title of warranted psychotherapist, issued by the PPBM. Always check for a current PPBM warrant when looking for psychotherapy.
A warranted psychotherapist can assess you clinically and work with a wide range of presentations, but formal psychiatric diagnosis and medication are the domain of a psychiatrist. Many clients work with both, or are referred between the two as needed.
It depends on the person and the presentation. Some people find six to twelve sessions enough to shift something meaningful. Others work for a year or more on deeper patterns. Gestalt therapy in particular tends to be open-ended rather than fixed-term — the work continues for as long as it is useful.
Sessions in person in Malta and online across Europe. First session usually within the week.
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