Mary Rose Meli

Talking to someone outside your own circle can make a hard stretch of life feel more manageable, and that is the idea behind the work of Mary Rose Meli, a counsellor based in Żejtun. She has been a warranted professional counsellor since 2012, and she sees adults on their own, couples and families in sessions that she describes as confidential, practical and empathetic.

Żejtun is a traditional town in the south-east of the island, a short drive from Marsaxlokk and the Three Cities. She appears in our directory of psychologists and counsellors in Malta, where you can compare other practitioners.

Background and approach

Mary Rose Meli graduated as a Professional Counsellor with a Master's degree in 2012. Since then she has practised in both the public and the private sector, which gives her experience of clients who arrive through very different routes. Her studies and earlier background in psychology, anthropology and sociology shape how she works, because they let her look at a person's difficulties in the light of family, culture and community, not only the individual.

Her main method is integrative counselling. That simply means blending ideas and techniques from several schools of counselling to suit the person in front of her, rather than applying one fixed model to everyone. The emphasis is on empowerment and on exploring who you are, so that you can work out what a meaningful and satisfying life looks like for you. She talks about creating a safe, non-judgemental setting where clients can take a careful look at past and present events that hold them back, take in the feelings that come with them, and plan a way forward together.

Who she works with

With individuals, Mary Rose Meli works on self-development, depression, anxiety and major personal transitions. With couples, her focus is conflict between partners and the changes that relationships go through. She enjoys helping couples find their own way of making a partnership work, and she builds on their ability to speak about feelings and intentions in a constructive and kind way.

She also works with multi-stressed families in the community. These are families who have lived with disadvantage such as abuse, addiction, mental health difficulties and poverty, and whose adult members are trying to break long-running patterns to give themselves and their children a better start.

For British readers who have moved to Malta, or are thinking about it, the strain of a new country, a new job or a changed relationship can be considerable. Our guide to relocating to Malta covers the practical side, and counselling can sit alongside it as a place to talk through the personal side of such a change.

Areas of counselling

Her website sets out a long list of topics she can help with: abuse, anger management, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, depression, discrimination, dissociation, eating disorders, high sensitivity, loneliness, low self-confidence, passive-aggressive behaviour, personal development, physical abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, redundancy, relationship problems, sexuality, stress and suicidal thoughts. People seek counselling, she notes, after difficult life events, with mental health issues, at points of transition or decision, or simply for self-discovery.

A counselling session is not medical treatment and this page offers no advice. It describes what the service covers. If you or someone close to you is in immediate danger, contact the local emergency services straight away instead of waiting for an appointment.

The qualities she says make a session effective are attentive listening, empathy, warmth, respect, confidentiality and a non-judgemental, non-threatening manner. She also points out that having a set time and place to talk can itself help you work through what is troubling you, and that it can be easier to confide in someone detached from your situation, who can be more objective.

Visiting Żejtun and starting a conversation

Visitors on a longer stay can combine an appointment with time in the south of the island, from the best beaches in Malta to the baroque capital with our Valletta city guide. Our things to do in Malta page has ideas for quieter days, and our where to stay in Malta guide helps you choose a base within reach of Żejtun. Travelling from Britain, see our guide to flights to Malta.

To make contact, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Mary Rose Meli, who can then discuss availability and arrangements with you directly.