I’ve just come back from Malta and taking part in the annual conference of the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession (MACP). On Thursday and Friday evenings my inputs concerned e-counselling, while on Saturday I led the day on ‘Setting up in Independent Practice’.
This is the fourth time I’ve visited the island; the first three visits were to teach on the Master’s programme in the university. Online counselling has very little presence within Malta with the possible exception of Kellimni.com which provides free anonymous online support for young people. I visited Kellimni.com’s physical home some year
s ago when it was in its early days and was delighted to make contact with two of its current staff on this visit. It was good to know that they are still in existence. One of the ‘hot topics’ we discussed concerned the issues which arise when working with young people online, whether offering support or counselling.
The day on Independent Practice was opened by the President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. As Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, she worked with MACP and was extremely influential in bringing into being the Counselling Bill which was enacted in March of this year. The UK hasn’t got there yet!
The President had spent the previous two days in the Heads of Government Summit on Migration in Valletta. Security on the island was high. My hotel was actually changed the day before I left the UK! I was due to be in a hotel nearby the Parliament building and it was realised that I’d never get in and out of Valletta to the conference venues. So I was moved up the coast to a resort hotel with 5 swimming pools – as the weather was superb, I made good use of one of the outside ones! Can’t be bad.
I think what always stays with me after time in Malta is the huge energy within the counselling profession. It’s alive, forward looking and innovative, despite being located in a fairly traditional culture. And the other thing is the kindness and generosity of everyone I meet there. I am already looking forward to my next visit – whenever that will be.
onlinetrainingforcounsellors 