Angela Abela is a professor and founding Head of the Department of Family Studies, a clinical psychologist, a UKCP registered family therapist and a supervisor. She holds a PhD from the Tavistock Clinic and the University of London and a Masters degree in Clinical psychology from the Université de La Sorbonne Paris V. She played a pioneering role in the setting up of a Centre for Family Studies at the University of Malta which later became the Department of Family Studies. She was course proposer for both the Master in Family Studies as well as the Master in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. Currently, Angela chairs the National Centre for Family Research within the President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society. She is also the first author of the Strategic Policy on Positive Parenting for Malta and currently sits on the inter-ministerial task force responsible for its implementation. Formerly teaching within the Department of Psychology, she was the first Director of Studies for the Master in Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology. She held the post of President of the Maltese Psychological Association for two consecutive tenures and played a leading role in the setting up of the psychology profession in Malta. She also spearheaded the setting up of the Maltese Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice which is affiliated to the NFTO forum of the European Family Therapy Association. She is a former chairperson of the National Family Commission. She supervises professionals working in public social agencies in the area of children and families and serves as a consultant in the area of children and families for government and the Standing Committees on Social Affairs and on Family Affairs in Parliament. On an international level, she has worked extensively as an expert of the Council of Europe in the area of children and families. She has published widely in the field of family studies and supervision and is an associate editor on Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry published by Sage. She is also an International Advisory Editor of Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, a peer-reviewed journal published by Springer Science. Phone: (00356) 2340 2330 Address: Room 243
Old Humanities Building
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
A fair deal: a study on children and young people with very challenging behaviour. ISBN9993204447 https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/102257, 2006
INTRODUCTION States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own vi... more INTRODUCTION States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. (Article 12.1 Convention on the rights of the child. U.N. General Assembly,1989) The rationale of this study is directly related to the overall objective of the whole project; that of seeking to address the various concerns that youngsters with challenging behaviour present. In this section, the views of the youngsters themselves on this topic are being privileged. 1.1 Aims of the study The aims of the study are three-fold. • To find out what the children’s understanding is about why and how they have ended up in a service designed for youngsters with challenging behaviour • To elicit the children’s experience of the service they are in. • To gather the children’s suggestions and ideas about what they feel would be helpful 2. RESEARCH DESIGN The methodology chosen for this study was a qualitative one where a total of 19 children were interviewed individually. The interviews were conducted by 8 interviewers who attended and participated in the discussion of the research design and the tools to be used in the study.
This chapter is about family life in Malta. The review will first provide an account of the impac... more This chapter is about family life in Malta. The review will first provide an account of the impact of the economy on family life.This will be followed by an explanation of gender roles , the increased gender re-shifting that has been taking place and the redistribution of power between men and women. Demographic trends will then be discussed. An account of courting practices, the status of marriage including the introduction of divorce and civil partnership; and the increasing diversity in maltese society will conclude this section. Finally caring responsibilities will be highlighted taking into account how families juggle this with work whilst finding time for recreation.
A National Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting for Malta is based upon the premise that a pos... more A National Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting for Malta is based upon the premise that a positive approach to parenting is considered an investment in the future of Maltese society. The adoption of such an approach is considered to be both cost-effective as well as a major support for parents as they face today's challenges.
Family members across Europe are currently experiencing a range of socioeconomic adversities, as ... more Family members across Europe are currently experiencing a range of socioeconomic adversities, as well as health and welfare risks. These issues are particularly challenging in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, increasing poverty, socioeconomic disadvantages, and societal and technological transformation. Consequently, there is an ongoing and pressing need to provide effective support for families in response to their diverse needs and circumstances. However, European governments have diverse political persuasions regarding social and family policies and operate in differentiated and complex contexts. Such factors influence their approaches to, and configurations of, family support policies and provisions. This article investigates the conceptualisation and development of family support policies and provisions, and proposes a multi-dimensional, multi-modal, and multi-level conception of formal family support. It also provides a framework for analysing and developing family support and highlights challenges that arise within and across the relevant 'policy, provision and practice' domains while promoting a participatory ethos.
This study explored how past students who attended the Learning Support Zone (LSZ) in Maltese sec... more This study explored how past students who attended the Learning Support Zone (LSZ) in Maltese secondary schools perceived their attendance at the LSZ and its impact on their home and work environments. In-depth interviews were conducted with eleven adults who attended the LSZ when they were in secondary school. Thematic analysis was used to elicit a set of themes. The findings highlight the multiple struggles that students with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) face. The narratives highlight the positive impact of the LSZ and its staff, but the families of these students were hardly involved. Social skills, independent living skills, and emotional literacy taught at the LSZ are believed to have helped these youths enhance their motivation and perceived self-worth and deal with adversities more effectively both at home and at work. The key recommendations of the study are the re-evaluation of inclusive policies within schools, consideration of the perspective of t...
A fair deal: a study on children and young people with very challenging behaviour. ISBN9993204447 https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/102257, 2006
INTRODUCTION States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own vi... more INTRODUCTION States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. (Article 12.1 Convention on the rights of the child. U.N. General Assembly,1989) The rationale of this study is directly related to the overall objective of the whole project; that of seeking to address the various concerns that youngsters with challenging behaviour present. In this section, the views of the youngsters themselves on this topic are being privileged. 1.1 Aims of the study The aims of the study are three-fold. • To find out what the children’s understanding is about why and how they have ended up in a service designed for youngsters with challenging behaviour • To elicit the children’s experience of the service they are in. • To gather the children’s suggestions and ideas about what they feel would be helpful 2. RESEARCH DESIGN The methodology chosen for this study was a qualitative one where a total of 19 children were interviewed individually. The interviews were conducted by 8 interviewers who attended and participated in the discussion of the research design and the tools to be used in the study.
This chapter is about family life in Malta. The review will first provide an account of the impac... more This chapter is about family life in Malta. The review will first provide an account of the impact of the economy on family life.This will be followed by an explanation of gender roles , the increased gender re-shifting that has been taking place and the redistribution of power between men and women. Demographic trends will then be discussed. An account of courting practices, the status of marriage including the introduction of divorce and civil partnership; and the increasing diversity in maltese society will conclude this section. Finally caring responsibilities will be highlighted taking into account how families juggle this with work whilst finding time for recreation.
A National Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting for Malta is based upon the premise that a pos... more A National Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting for Malta is based upon the premise that a positive approach to parenting is considered an investment in the future of Maltese society. The adoption of such an approach is considered to be both cost-effective as well as a major support for parents as they face today's challenges.
Family members across Europe are currently experiencing a range of socioeconomic adversities, as ... more Family members across Europe are currently experiencing a range of socioeconomic adversities, as well as health and welfare risks. These issues are particularly challenging in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, increasing poverty, socioeconomic disadvantages, and societal and technological transformation. Consequently, there is an ongoing and pressing need to provide effective support for families in response to their diverse needs and circumstances. However, European governments have diverse political persuasions regarding social and family policies and operate in differentiated and complex contexts. Such factors influence their approaches to, and configurations of, family support policies and provisions. This article investigates the conceptualisation and development of family support policies and provisions, and proposes a multi-dimensional, multi-modal, and multi-level conception of formal family support. It also provides a framework for analysing and developing family support and highlights challenges that arise within and across the relevant 'policy, provision and practice' domains while promoting a participatory ethos.
This study explored how past students who attended the Learning Support Zone (LSZ) in Maltese sec... more This study explored how past students who attended the Learning Support Zone (LSZ) in Maltese secondary schools perceived their attendance at the LSZ and its impact on their home and work environments. In-depth interviews were conducted with eleven adults who attended the LSZ when they were in secondary school. Thematic analysis was used to elicit a set of themes. The findings highlight the multiple struggles that students with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) face. The narratives highlight the positive impact of the LSZ and its staff, but the families of these students were hardly involved. Social skills, independent living skills, and emotional literacy taught at the LSZ are believed to have helped these youths enhance their motivation and perceived self-worth and deal with adversities more effectively both at home and at work. The key recommendations of the study are the re-evaluation of inclusive policies within schools, consideration of the perspective of t...
Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatisation (Figley 2002) are well recognised to be risks in ... more Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatisation (Figley 2002) are well recognised to be risks in our work so the question of looking after ourselves in the best way to sustain ourselves over professional time has become more urgent.
A National Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting for Malta is based upon the premise that a pos... more A National Strategic Policy for Positive Parenting for Malta is based upon the premise that a positive approach to parenting is considered an investment in the future of Maltese society. The adoption of such an approach is considered to be both cost-effective as well as a major support for parents as they face today's challenges.
This paper attempts to illuminate some of the ethical dilemmas of a clinician/researcher intervie... more This paper attempts to illuminate some of the ethical dilemmas of a clinician/researcher interviewing women about a sensitive topic- their experience of having witnessed domestic violence in the family they grew up in, as part of a grounded theory study. Vignettes are presented to illustrate the self-reflexive process of the researcher and how she understood the effects of the interview process on her and the participants. The authors argue that doing in-depth qualitative research interviewing is an intervention in the life of the participants, especially, but not only, when the researchers are clinically-trained. However, this clinical training may also be an important resource from which to draw from, to act ethically and understand some of the complexity of the interaction between researcher and participants.
Physical and emotional violence is prevalent in couple and family relationships (Office for Natio... more Physical and emotional violence is prevalent in couple and family relationships (Office for National Statistics UK in Chapter 4—Intimate personal violence and partner abuse, 2014) There are many well-established books on how to assess for the risk of future violence in families and on how to intervene therapeutically to help family members stop the violence, including the book by one of the present authors (Hamel and Nicholls in Family interventions in domestic violence: a handbook of gender-inclusive theory and treatment. Springer, New York, 2006; Hamel in Gender-inclusive treatment of intimate partner abuse: a comprehensive approach. Springer, New York, NY, 2005; Cooper and Vetere in Domestic violence and family safety: a systemic approach to working with violence in families. Whurr Publishers, London, UK, 2005). However, less is written on how to help couples and families once the violence has stopped. Many couples and families wish to stay together following the cessation of vio...
Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health, 2021
Through the lenses of critical realism and contextualism, this study is about how psychiatrists p... more Through the lenses of critical realism and contextualism, this study is about how psychiatrists perceive schizophrenia and its recovery. Semi-structured interviews with six participants were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings were organized into four overarching themes: the psychiatrists’ perceptions of schizophrenia; ways of working with individuals with schizophrenia; the relational aspect of working with individuals with schizophrenia; and psychiatrists’ perceptions of recovery. All participants viewed schizophrenia as an illness with biological basis and based their diagnosis largely on clinical experience. Medication was seen as occupying a central role in treatment. Complete recovery was defined as being asymptomatic and being able to function without the use of medication; however, living in the community on medication was also seen as a form of recovery. Only one psychiatrist defined recovery according to the recovery model, viewing individuals as a...
In the context of increasing diversity and a rise in singledom across the globe, the couple relat... more In the context of increasing diversity and a rise in singledom across the globe, the couple relationship is still significant. An enduring preference for marriage persists, reflecting its symbolic importance. Good quality couple relationships have come to be characterized by positive affect, by the constructive management of conflict, and by healthy sexual relationships. Although good relationships enhance well-being, behaviours such as blame, emotional dysregulation and stonewalling do the opposite, and have a negative effect on health and well-being even into old age. Conflict is often triggered by inadequate income; poor couples are less likely to marry and when they do, their relationship is more likely to break down.
This chapter outlines a systemic safety methodology for safe relationship therapy with couples, p... more This chapter outlines a systemic safety methodology for safe relationship therapy with couples, parents and families where physical violence is of concern. A step-by-step guide is offered here for the first time in publication. This systemic approach to safety in family relationships was developed over 20 years in the Reading, UK, ‘Safer Families’ family violence intervention service and is grounded in relevant theory and research.
Fourteen young persons between 10 and 18 years of a ge, who were in a service designed f or young... more Fourteen young persons between 10 and 18 years of a ge, who were in a service designed f or youngsters with challenging behaviour, chose to speak about their experience at school when interviewed about signifi cant moments in their lives. All of them had experienced a wide range of heavy losse s throughout their lives and felt labelled and in so me cases bullied by their school peers. Some of the youngsters who were in a special school enjoyed the positive relat ionship with their teachers and peers while others did not like the low level of in struction and the fact that it was not like a normal sc hool. A number of children felt that their misbehav iour in mainstream education precipitated their placement i n a specialist setting although one boy was sent to a special school simply because he was feeling unhappy. Particular teachers or heads were crit i ised for being too harsh or for picking on the ch ildren or not maintaining confidentiality. Therapeutic interv ntions are explor...
This was a presentation which I was invited to deliver at the meeting of the Chairpersons of the ... more This was a presentation which I was invited to deliver at the meeting of the Chairpersons of the Committees on Social Affairs of the EU countries. The meeting which was part of the parliamentary dimension of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was held on 24 March 2017, in Malta. The theme of the meeting was 'Poverty and Social Exclusion: Working towards a more Inclusive Europe'.
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The meeting which was part of the parliamentary dimension of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was held on 24 March 2017, in Malta. The theme of the meeting was 'Poverty and Social Exclusion: Working towards a more Inclusive Europe'.