https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146722 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:38:12 GMT 2026-07-09T21:38:12Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147062 Title: Exploring the therapy experience as an intervention for fathers suffering from perinatal depression and anxiety Abstract: This study explores the therapy experience as an intervention for fathers suffering from perinatal depression and anxiety. Men experiencing fatherhood while suffering from perinatal distress can tend to suppress their vulnerability, rejecting help-seeking which may challenge their perception of self as competent fathers and males. Although paternal perinatal depression and anxiety has long-reach systemic effects, satisfactory interventions for distressed fathers are limited and primarily psychoeducational. No research to date has explored the effectiveness of individual therapy as an intervention. Seven fathers recruited via the Perinatal Pilot Project, Malta, participated in this qualitative study. They had received individual therapy, including a few couple sessions, for their perinatal distress. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology, six Group Experiential Themes emerged from their therapeutic experiences and the contexts within which these were embedded: (A) “When life becomes topsy-turvy, you need to go to therapy”; (B) Accepting the invitation; (C) The importance of the relationship with the therapist; (D) Therapy alleviates anxiety by enhancing attunement with self and family; (E) The therapists worked effectively; (F) The impact of couple therapy. The fathers shared how their therapeutic experience unfolded in the context of a safe and attuned therapeutic relationship, allowing them to delve deeper into what they were experiencing, enhancing their self-awareness and authenticity, helping them reflect on their relationships with significant others. Recommendations for policy and practice are put forward, underscoring the necessity to offer fathers opportunities to have similar safe and empathically attuned therapeutic experiences for their wellbeing and that of the family system. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147062 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147060 Title: Untold motherhood encounters : an autoethnographic account of postpartum psychosis in Malta Abstract: This autoethnography explores my lived experience with postpartum psychosis in Malta, focusing on the intersection of personal, familial, and professional narratives. Through a qualitative lens, this research incorporates the voices of key collaborators: my mother, husband, sister, former Head of School, my perinatal psychiatrist, and midwife present during my hospital admission. The results reveal that my experience with postpartum psychosis, while profoundly personal, is also shaped by broader social dynamics, including cultural, systemic, and relational influences. For example, despite the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health in Malta, which led me to conceal my pre-psychotic depression, I received significant material support from my close network. However, no one detected the warning signs of depression until the condition escalated into a full-blown psychotic episode. This may have been partly due to my own efforts to mask my depression, influenced by the idealised narrative surrounding motherhood. Emotionally, I did not feel entirely ‘safe’ with those around me, reflecting how my attachment style contributed to the situation. My avoidant tendencies may have played a role in the progression of my condition. The findings also highlight that severe stressors served as unavoidable triggers. Additionally, the midwives lacked experience with postpartum psychosis. My treatment improved after diagnosis. My twin sister, a midwife, also helped to ensure that I received treatment at the main state hospital in a gynae ward together with my baby while other mothers with postpartum psychosis are to this day separated from their baby and referred to a psychiatric hospital. This study's strengths include the use of autoethnography to capture my lived experience with postpartum psychosis, the incorporation of the father's perspective, and the contributions of my co-storytellers. Policy recommendations include improving family-work policies, evidence-based training for healthcare professionals on maternal mental health, integrating family therapists and peer experts into care services, and ensuring equitable treatment for all patients. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147060 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147059 Title: The experience of novice family therapists when working with traumatic stories Abstract: This qualitative study explored the experience of novice family therapists when working with families’ trauma narratives. This study adopted an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six Maltese warranted systemic psychotherapists, aged between 27 and 35 years, with less than five years of clinical experience. The findings in this study were interpreted through a social constructionist epistemology, complemented by trauma and family resilience theoretical frameworks. This process revealed five themes The transition from trainee to professional, which highlighted the shift from student to qualified professional that was further intensified by the demands of working with trauma; Experiencing intense emotions when listening to families’ traumatic experiences, which addressed how therapists often found themselves deeply affected by the distressing trauma narratives; Novice therapists and their own narratives, referring to the impact of the therapist’s own unresolved narratives on the therapeutic process; Challenges and benefits from working with trauma in the early years of therapeutic practice, with therapists reporting both the difficulties and opportunities for growth encountered in this work; and Resources that support novice therapists in their work with complex trauma, which identified personal therapy, supervision, and supportive networks as essential for therapists’ growth as they navigated the novice journey and the demands of trauma work. These findings demonstrate that bearing witness to these families' experiences proved to be challenging yet transformative, profoundly impacting them on personal and professional levels. These outcomes led to recommendations for future research, and implications for training and practice that can support novice professionals in their work with trauma. Keywords: novice family therapists, trauma, trauma narratives, traumatic experiences, traumatised systems, resilience, personal and professional growth and development Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147059 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147057 Title: Stories of family therapists working with heterosexual married couples who went through infidelity Abstract: This qualitative study examined the stories of six warranted family therapists who provide therapy to heterosexual married couples after infidelity. The group consisted of three female and three male therapists. The narratives they shared focused on their therapeutic processes and the complexities they faced while addressing infidelity within these couples. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. A thematic narrative analysis of the shared stories revealed the emotional complexities involved in handling infidelity and highlighted the emergence of various related issues. This highlights the crucial importance of thorough assessment when working with couples in the aftermath of infidelity, as the situation can be both sensitive and delicate due to the betrayal involved. The participants displayed empathy and sensitivity as they talked about their therapeutic, experiences, discussing their processes with respect and a commitment to maintaining client confidentiality. It was admirable to see their humility as they reflected on their internal journeys and their efforts to remain authentic throughout the therapeutic process. The conclusion of the study highlights several important considerations regarding the wellbeing of therapists. It emphasises the need for adequate training in handling such cases, ensuring that therapists have the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities involved. Furthermore, the study emphasises the need to recognise cultural and societal influences while managing post-infidelity dynamics. It suggests that therapists should foster a respectful and empathetic environment for couples. Finally, it points out the significance of supervision and professional support for therapists, which helps them receive guidance and maintain their own emotional and professional health while addressing these challenging situations. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147057 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z