What follows is a transcript of a post on social media posted by a mental health professional who described him/herself as wanting to give some impartial and hopefully helpful information on how to go about seeking mental health support. Having noticed a number of posts looking for recommendations on who or what sort of professional to speak to about mental health concerns and getting emotional support, it is noticeably worrying to see that people are often not getting clear information over Facebook when they ask for this sort of guidance.
What follows is a transcript of a post on social media posted by a mental health professional who described him/herself as wanting to give some impartial and hopefully helpful information on how to go about seeking mental health support. Having noticed a number of posts looking for recommendations on who or what sort of professional to speak to about mental health concerns and getting emotional support, it is noticeably worrying to see that people are often not getting clear information over Facebook when they ask for this sort of guidance.

What sort of professional am I looking for?

Usually, when it comes to mental health, emotional difficulties, or relationship concerns the professionals you’re looking for are psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, family therapists and counsellors. Unhelpfully, the titles sound similar and there are lots of overlaps in our work, but there are differences in the way we train and practice.

🔹 A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. Generally, they would see people who are struggling quite significantly, who have complex needs, or whose difficulties mean that they are at risk to themselves or others. While some psychiatrists are trained to offer talking therapy, this isn’t a core part of their training. Generally, you would see a psychiatrist if you needed medical oversight for your mental health concerns and wanted to consider medication. Psychiatric medication isn’t usually recommended as a first line intervention for mental health difficulties – it can be hugely helpful in coping with them, but it does not ‘cure’ them in the same way antibiotics cure a bacterial infection. In fact, it is recommended that, along with taking medication, one engages in therapy.

🔹 A psychologist is someone who has done a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then went on to do their professional training in a specific field like clinical psychology, counselling psychology, educational psychology, health psychology, and forensic psychology. There’s a lot of overlap in how we’re trained, but the type of psychologist they are tells you about their area of specialism. Psychologists are trained in the application of the scientific study of psychology, so we have a broad set of skills in things like therapy, assessment, and consultation, and are particularly good at pulling together a comprehensive understanding of what might be contributing to the experiences you’re reaching out for help for and using that understanding to think about an individualised way of supporting you. After qualifying, psychologists usually go on to do more specialised therapeutic training for example clinical psychology, educational psychology, community psychology, organisational psychology  etc …

🔹 Psychotherapists don’t necessarily need to have an undergraduate degree in psychology, although many do. Psychotherapists specialise in a specific type of therapy. The most common types of therapy you’ll come across on the island are Gestalt Psychotherapy Gestalt Psychotherapy is focused on improving your awareness and working through your experiences in the  present moment. Other types of psychotherapy you might come across include CBT and psychodynamic therapy, and Play Therapy. All are talking therapies that prioritise building a good, safe, trusting therapeutic relationship but they differ in the way that they understand and try to support with the difficulties you’re looking for help with.

🔹 Family Therapy is a branch of psychotherapy focused on families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. A family unit is a collection of people who care for one another. A family therapy group might include a variety of loved ones, including parents/guardians and their children, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, kinship carers, and so on. Systemic therapy focuses on the group’s interactions and relationships to help them address any issues and move forward. It allows all members of the group to express their feelings and thoughts in a secure, nonjudgmental setting. Therapy aims to reveal deeply ingrained patterns in an individual’s interactions as well as among group members. The method aids in determining how members interact and behave within a system in response to beliefs about their individual responsibilities. The therapist will assist them in understanding their differences and the underlying causes of their troubles. They engage with every member of the group to ensure that no one feels alone or like other members of the group are ganging up on them.

🔹Counsellors are professionals whose goal is to help people come to terms with their problems and, eventually, overcome them or find ways to cope with their current reality. Counselling is not a quick fix and is a process in which a person, couple, or family meets with a warranted  therapist to talk and disclose about concerns and difficulties that are creating upheaval and suffering to the individual and/or the family system. A safe and confidential environment is essential for the client to feel comfortable discussing sensitive information and disclosures. The counsellor will develop a trusting and transparent relationship with the client, which will eventually serve as a model for other relationships that should be nurtured in an individual’s life. Counselling raises self-awareness and allows clients to more deeply reflect on their thoughts and feelings in order to get clarity and develop their own knowledge of their world. This is accomplished by utilising a variety of approaches and exercises tailored to the client’s specific needs. Counsellors may have diverse techniques and originate from various schools of thought, but they are all adaptable and focus on what the client brings to the sessions.   Counsellors offer individual face-to-face sessions, group sessions, and some even conduct online sessions.

Some points to consider…

There is lots of overlap between the way we work so who you decide to see comes down to what it is you’re looking for out of therapy. Also worth holding in mind that we all can (and should) continue training after qualifying, so expertise in other areas than what each profession’s core training is focused on is very much possible! 

How do I know that I’m in good hands with the person I choose to see?

In Malta, professionals in these fields are required to have a warrant to practise. You cannot get a warrant unless you have had the required training and experience, and as a warranted professional you are bound to a code of ethics and professional standards with an overseeing body that can respond if these standards aren’t met.

You can find lists of registered psychiatrist, warranted psychologists, psychotherapists, and counsellors here:

• https://healthservices.gov.mt/en/regcounc/medicalcouncil/Documents/registers/mcdocsfull.pdf
• https://familja.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Register-of-Warranted-Psychologists-November-2023.pdf
• https://family.gov.mt/psychotherapy-profession-board/warrant-register-of-certified-psychotherapists-in-malta-ppb/
• https://family.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Counsellors-Full-Warrant-as-at-3-May-2024.pdf
• https://family.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Counsellors-Temporary-Warrant-as-at-3-May-2024.pdf

Ultimately, the decision about who to go to will depend on what your goals are, what you’re looking for help with, and how you connect on a human level to the therapist you go on to work with.

Do have conversations with any therapist you’re considering about their training, the therapy/therapies they use, and the way they approach their work before you make a decision about if they’re the right therapist for you.