Stay with the Feeling
I see it every week in the clinic, and I recognise it in myself. The moment a feeling squeezes, we reach for the exit. A new playlist, a new job, a new partner, anything to outrun the pinch of sadness, anger, fear or disappointment. Yet research continues to tell the same story, when we treat discomfort as the enemy, it grows stronger. Phones give us an instant soothing tap, employment websites promise greener offices, and dating apps offer the flick of a thumb to erase awkward silence. A recent multinational survey of workers under thirty found that one in
When Your Feelings Flash Like a Dashboard Light
Understanding Your Inner Emotional Compass I still remember the first time the oil light flashed during a late-night drive from a workshop, tired and distracted. My pulse quickened immediately as I stared at the dashboard, wondering what had gone wrong this time, slightly panicked. I became frustrated and focused on the bulb, as if it had personally interrupted my good playlist and ruined the evening. Then reason finally kicked in, and I realised the bulb was only signalling a real issue in the engine, not the problem itself. Over time, I’ve come to see how our emotions behave like
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
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
