paths

paths is a Maltese therapy practice that brings psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors and family therapists together under one name, so that someone looking for support does not have to work out which kind of professional they need before they pick up the phone. The team numbers more than 30, and the practice works from three clinics: one in Msida, one in Gwardamanġa and one in Mosta. For a UK reader who has just moved to the island, or who has been living here for years and has put off finding help, that spread of clinics and disciplines makes it a practical place to start.

Its aim is to help people find their own route to wellbeing, which is where the name comes from. Its approach is built on four ideas: keep the process simple, match each person with the right therapist, protect privacy, and offer a genuine, caring relationship between therapist and client. On VisitMalta.co.uk it is listed among our psychologists in Malta.

Who paths is and how it began

paths was founded by Charlene Duca, a clinical psychologist and Gestalt psychotherapist who graduated in 2012. At that time, few clinics in Malta offered a warm, welcoming space for personal therapy, so in 2015 she opened Bloom Psychology Clinic to bring several therapists together under one roof. In 2018 she opened TherapyWorks Clinic, aiming for a more structured and stable therapeutic presence as demand grew. paths grew out of those two clinics and the wish to give clients more say in how they look for help.

Alongside the qualified therapists, the practice has trainee psychotherapists and psychology assistants. The assistants all hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and experience in the mental health field. They are usually the first people a new client speaks to: they listen to what you need, point you to the most suitable professional on the team, or tell you about outside services if those would serve you better. They also handle much of the scheduling and administration, which keeps the therapists free for sessions.

Therapy for adults, children, couples and families

Individual psychotherapy is the core of the practice. Clients bring a wide range of concerns, and the areas covered include self-growth, general mental health and wellbeing, anxiety, addiction, anger, burnout, depression, disability, domestic violence, eating disorders, grief and loss, LGBTIQA+ matters, mindfulness, personality disorders, relationships, self-esteem, stress and trauma. If your concern is not on that list, get in touch anyway to find out whether it is the right fit.

The therapists work in several traditions. Titles on the team include Gestalt psychotherapist, systemic family psychotherapist, health psychologist, clinical psychologist and counsellor. If you are unsure about the difference, it is simple: all of these professionals study and apply psychology to help people live healthily, but psychologists may also carry out psychological testing, while counsellors, family therapists and psychotherapists do not. The sense of connection you feel with a clinician matters more than the title, and that is the thinking behind the matching process.

Children and adolescents have their own therapists, and the clinics have rooms and resources suited to children from the age of three. Couples and families can book sessions together with one therapist, and the practice also offers grief counselling and debriefing work for people who have been through a loss or a distressing event.

Assessments for children, teenagers and adults

paths carries out psychological assessments for children, adolescents and adults, and educational assessments for children who may be facing developmental delays or learning difficulties that affect life at school or at home. A psycho-educational assessment looks at a child's strengths as well as the areas where more help is needed, so that support can be targeted. Assessments cover neuro-developmental conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

Following an assessment, parents can book consultations about child development, upbringing and managing challenging behaviour. The team can also provide school-based interventions, which aim to create supportive learning environments and to strengthen the links between home, school and the wider community. If your child is moving between a UK school and a Maltese one, this kind of joined-up support can be especially helpful, and our guide to relocating to Malta covers the wider practicalities of the move.

Your first session, confidentiality and fees

Sessions usually last between 50 minutes and an hour, and how often you meet is agreed with your therapist, anywhere from weekly to monthly depending on the level of support you want. The first session is treated as a mutual assessment: you explain what you hope to achieve, the therapist explains how they might help, and together you judge whether the fit is right. There is no obligation to continue afterwards, and you stay in control of the process.

Confidentiality is central. What you say in therapy is not shared with anyone unless you give permission, with the usual exceptions where there is a risk of serious harm to you or others, or where a child or vulnerable person is being neglected or abused. The practice follows the ethical guidelines of the relevant Maltese association for psychotherapy, counselling and psychology.

The practice prints its prices for full-price sessions: a standard session costs €70. It also sells TherapyPacks, which are bundles of sessions that can be used with one therapist: five sessions for €315, to be used within three months, or ten sessions for €600, to be used within six months. Bundles are personal to the named holder, are valid for full-price sessions rather than trainee sessions, reports or assessments, and are subject to the clinic's cancellation policy. Payment is by bank transfer, cash or card. The practice promises an appointment within the same week of you making contact.

Languages and the team

The team comes from a range of backgrounds and cultures, and sessions are held in Maltese, English, Italian, Albanian, Russian, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Spanish. For British people living in Malta, therapy in English is straightforward to arrange, and many residents also value being able to work with someone who understands life as an expatriate. Our guide to working remotely from Malta is a useful companion if you have moved here for work and are still settling in.

Practitioners include Yasmin Muscat Monsigneur, a systemic family psychotherapist; Dario Debono, a Gestalt psychotherapist and youth worker; Shirley Buttigieg, Liya Aquilina, Danjela Falzon and Arianne Spiteri Cremona, all Gestalt psychotherapists; Maria Darmanin, a health psychologist and Gestalt psychotherapist; Estela Rama, a counsellor; and Charlene Duca, who combines clinical psychology with Gestalt psychotherapy. The therapists also write articles on subjects such as emotional neglect, couple relationships and the role of the arts in wellbeing.

Wellbeing programmes for employers

paths also works with companies. The idea is that when people feel well they are happier and more engaged at work, so investing in employee mental wellbeing benefits the business as well as the individual. The corporate offer includes an Employee Assistance Programme, seminars, talks and workshops, group interventions and team-building events, consultation services and support with crisis management.

If you run or manage a team in Malta, for instance in financial services or the iGaming industry, these programmes are worth raising with the practice, which tailors training and consultation to the needs of each client.

The clinics and getting there

The Msida clinic is at 23 Triq il-Baċir; Msida sits next to the capital, and our Valletta guide shows what else is nearby. The Gwardamanġa clinic is at 52 Triq Ġużè Ellul. The Mosta clinic operates under the name Hope Counselling & Psychology at 3 Triq Anglu Gatt, on the corner with Triq Ponsonby, and is by appointment only. Mosta lies in the centre of the island, not far from Rabat and Mdina, which you can read about in our Mdina guide.

Between them the three clinics have 13 therapy rooms, designed to feel safe and contained, with resources for children, adults, couples and families. Standard opening hours for the practice are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 21:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00. To place Msida and the other towns in context, see our overview of what Malta is like.

How to get in touch

paths is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis or need urgent help, contact the national emergency services or a helpline instead. For everything else, the easiest first step is a short note describing who the therapy is for (yourself, your child, or you and your partner or family) and what you would like help with. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the paths team, who will reply to you directly.