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
True Leadership: The Courage to Be Disliked for the Right Reasons
Being willing to be disliked for the right reasons is the true meaning of leadership. It's not about being the most popular person in the room, receiving standing ovations, or hearing constant praise. In its purest form, leadership is about accountability to your people, your mission, and the future you are trying to build. And often, that comes with discomfort, disapproval, and being misunderstood. Some of the most outstanding leaders in history have had to make unpopular decisions to serve the greater good. Think of Winston Churchill and how he was often criticised for his stubbornness and directness, yet
How Becoming Malta’s First Sex Therapist Changed Me as a Man
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 realize 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. 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 life. It Changed How I Saw Trust—Sometimes for the Worse
Lessons Learned from Being Malta’s First Sex Therapist
When I stepped into the world of sex therapy, I wasn’t just opening a clinic—I was opening a conversation that many in Malta didn’t want to have. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I knew people would resist. But I didn’t expect just how much pushback there would be, not just from the public but from institutions, educators, and even within my professional circles. The journey has been filled with lessons—some rewarding, some painful, all invaluable. Lessons Learnt Being First Means Facing the Fire Alone Being the first sex therapist in Malta meant I had no blueprint to follow.
Learning the Hard Way: Failures in my own personal sexuality and relationships
As a sex and relationship therapist, you may think I've always succeeded in my personal relationships. However, my trip has been far from ideal. I've had several relationship disasters, accepting behaviour that I should never have endured and behaving in ways that I'm embarrassed to recollect. These encounters have been both humbling and enlightening, teaching me significant lessons about relationships and sexuality. In multiple relationships, I found myself tolerating behaviour that was damaging and totally contrary to my own principles. I might save my partner by tolerating these acts or repairing our relationship. This false feeling of obligation caused
