When Love Turns to Hate: Why Justice Must Stay in the Courtroom and Not Online
As a therapist working closely with couples and individuals in high-conflict relationships, I have seen the full emotional arc of love, from intimacy and connection to disappointment, betrayal, and sometimes, rage. It is during these moments of rupture that serious allegations can emerge: domestic violence, sexual harassment, parental alienation, coercive control. These are not just theoretical terms; they are real, lived experiences; however, how we respond to them as a society matters deeply. In recent years, public platforms, from TikTok to podcasts to Instagram, have become the new courtrooms. Stories of abuse and betrayal are now often shared not
Rumours, Noise and Real Growth: Learning to Keep My Eyes on the Road
“Matthew is a closeted gay.”“Matthew jumps from woman to woman.”“He’s money-minded.”“I’ve heard he sees women for free if they ‘offer favours’.”“I’ve heard he’s manipulative.”“He chose sex therapy because he must be a pervert.”“All talk, no sex.”“Matthew abuses his psychology assistants—slave-driver, really.”“He’s definitely a narcissist on TV all the time.” That is merely a summary of the rumours spread about me over the years. Some of it is unintentionally funny, most is hurtful, and none is true. Yet for a long time, I treated every whisper as an emergency. I drafted clarifications, confronted gossip, and burned hours defending myself to
Stress at the Top
Why Leadership in Malta is More Isolated Than You Think We often picture business leaders as confident, driven, and in control. They make big decisions, move companies forward, and often carry the weight of others. But in reality, many leaders do all this while feeling deeply alone. In our recent research conducted through Willingness in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Commerce, we asked a simple but rarely discussed question: Who is taking care of the boss? The answers we received revealed something striking. Behind the ambition and strength that define many Maltese business leaders, there is a silent,
True Leadership: The Courage to Be Disliked for the Right Reasons
Disliked for the Right Reasons: The Essence of True Leadership True leadership demands the courage to be disliked for the right reasons. It doesn’t chase popularity, applause, or praise. Instead, it takes ownership—of your team, your mission, and the future you aim to create. Discomfort, disapproval, and misunderstanding often follow, but leaders face them head-on. Why Leaders Get Disliked for Doing What’s Right History remembers the leaders who made unpopular decisions to serve something greater than themselves. Winston Churchill stood firm despite criticism for his bluntness, guiding the free world through war. Nelson Mandela endured decades in prison, labelled
The Lonely Boss
Leadership Isn’t Always What It Seems We often picture business leaders as confident, driven, and in control. They make big decisions, move companies forward, and carry the weight of others. But many do all this while feeling deeply alone. Who Supports the Boss? In our recent research conducted through Willingness in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Commerce, we asked a simple but rarely discussed question: Who is taking care of the boss? The responses revealed something striking. Behind the ambition and strength of many Maltese leaders lies a silent, growing sense of disconnection and emotional fatigue. What Sets
Who’s Taking Care of the Boss?
Boss Under Pressure: Who Cares for the Leader? Over the last few months, my team at Willingness and I explored a question that’s lingered in boardrooms, HR offices, and clinics for years: Who is taking care of the boss? As therapists, psychologists, business leaders, and fellow humans, we’ve seen the toll leadership can take—especially in Malta’s private sector. So, we decided to dig deeper. What followed was a study that merged data collection with lived experience. The results were eye-opening. The Psychology Behind Leadership Let’s start with the kind of person who typically becomes a leader. Our data and
How Becoming Malta’s First Sex Therapist Changed Me as a Man
Expert Sex Therapist Advice from the Start When I first set out on this journey, I thought I was introducing something Malta desperately needed—open, honest, and professional conversations about sex, relationships, and intimacy. I didn’t realise how much this work would reshape me as a man, how it would influence my relationships, and how it would challenge my perception of love, trust, and even myself. A Personal Evolution Being Malta’s first sex therapist wasn’t just about breaking cultural taboos. It forced me to question my beliefs, refine my emotional boundaries, and, at times, navigate unexpected struggles in my personal
Lessons Learned from Being Malta’s First Sex Therapist
Opening the Conversation No One Wanted When I stepped into the world of sex therapy, I wasn’t just opening a clinic—I was stepping directly into the heart of issues around sex in Malta. I was opening a conversation that many didn’t want to have, challenging silence with honesty and discomfort with truth. Facing Resistance from Every Direction I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Resistance was expected. What I didn’t anticipate was the extent of the pushback—not just from the public, but also from institutions, educators, and even within my professional circles. Every Lesson Was Earned The journey has been
Self-Forgiveness: A Path to Personal Development and Recovery
Throughout our lives, we frequently experience instances in which we fail to meet our expectations. We often confront the heavy burden of guilt and self-criticism due to our repeated errors. Self-forgiveness is essential to mental fitness and personal development, yet it is frequently disregarded. As a psychotherapist and trainer, I have observed the transformative force of self-forgiveness in the lives of my clients and myself. This blog explores the significance of self-forgiveness, the obstacles that arise, and the practical steps to adopt self-compassion. Self-forgiveness is essential There are numerous reasons why self-forgiveness is essential. Initially, it enables individuals to
