John Vella M. A. (Couns. & Psychotherapy)

Head

Fr John has been a practicing counsellor and psychotherapist for over twelve years. He has a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. He has been trained in Alcohol and Substance abuse counselling. Moreover he trained at the Institute of Group Analysis. He worked for several years in a drug rehabilitation center, supervised counsellors in diverse settings, has a private practice and at present works as a full-time counsellor at the University of Malta where he also teaches on a part-time basis. At present he is undergoing training in Jungian Sandplay Therapy and also doing a Ph.D. research degree with Regent’s College in London on Shadow Integration and the Psychotherapist.

Mary Ann Borg Cunen M. A. (Counselling Psychology) (Baltimore), B. A. (Hons), Dip. Gestalt Psychotherapy

Lorleen Farrugia B. Psy. (Hons), M. Youth & Community Studies

Monica Xuereb D. Psi. (Padova)

John Agius B.Psy(Hons), D.Psicol. Clin. (Universita’ degli Studi di Padova) MPPB Reg.

John A. Agius graduated from the University of Malta in B.Psy. (Hons) in 1996. This was followed by 2 years of working as Assistant Psychologist and Programme Coordinator at sedqa, Malta’s national agency working in the treatment of drug, alcohol and gambling addictions. He won a scholarship from the Istituto Italiano di Cultura for merits in the field of work in addictions, which led to a Dottorato in Psicologia clinica e di Comunita’ from the prestigious Univerista’ degli Studi di Padova, in Italy. The final thesis dealt with the cross-cultural experimentation of using narrative therapy in conceptualizing group psychotherapy in drug-addiction rehabilitation programmes. A year’s full-time employment as clinical psychologist within the psychiatric department of the Camposanpiero Hospital ensued.From August 2002 till May, 2009, he served as senior clinical psychologist within Komunita’ Santa Marija (sedqa’s Drug residential rehabilitation programme) and held the role of team-leader to the sedqa psychological team which offered psychological services within all the sedqa departments. As from May, 2009 to day he works as free-lance clinical psychologist giving service to the University Counselling Service, The Richmond Foundation, to ETC (Employment and Training Centre) and holding his own personal private practice.  He also lectures on a part-time level within the MA. Couns course.

Angele Licari M.A. Psych.(London);Dip. Psychotherapy GPTIM, UKCP.

Angele is a Gestalt Psychotherapist and draws on her experience of working in the counselling field for the past twenty-six years. She has a background of training in the psychodynamic tradition.  She works with individuals, couples and groups and has been involved as a tutor and as a supervisor to trainee counsellors. She has extensive experience working with relationships issues which was also the base of her dissertation. At present she runs support groups for staff, counsellors, drug-rehabilitation residents, and prisoners, within two agencies/institutions besides counselling at University.  She is a member of the Prisoner's Visitors Board.  She graduated a Masters Degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy at the Gestalt Centre London with Metropolitan University London and attends on-going supervision as a means of maintaining, deepening and expanding her skills. Angele has a special interest in the interface between psychotherapy and spirituality; in practicing within the framework of Hellinger's systemic psychotherapy; and exploring self-awareness.

Christiane Sullivan MSc Psych (Stir), PGDip. Psych (Gestalt), B.A. Psych (Hons), Cert. Sup. (WPF), ECP

Christiane Sullivan joined the counselling unit in May 2011. She is a warranted health psychologist and an EAP (European Association for Psychotherapy) registered psychotherapist. She has been working in private practice for the last twelve years, providing psychological services to individuals, couples and groups. She also supervises professionals coming from the counselling and psychology field. She lectures part-time with the University of Malta and runs sensitivity training. She has an interest in depth psychology and combines this with her interest in sickness and health. She also has an interest in ancestry and transgenerational responses to trauma.  She is currently serving as a member on the Malta Psychology Professions Board.

Roberta Zahra de Domenico M. Psy (Clin) MPPB Reg.

Roberta Zahra de Domenico is a warranted clinical psychologist having studied clinical psychology at Masters Level at the University of Malta in 2001. After years of study with the Tavistock Clinic, London, she was accredited as a family therapist by AFT in 2004. She has extensive experience working with individuals and families in a variety of settings. She is currently works as a Visiting lecturer with the Department of Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry. She has been working with the Counselling Services for the past two years.