Willingness Team

Willingness Team A multi-disciplinary team made up of professionals from different fields related to family, health, s*xual health, trauma and mental health.

Patterns make more sensewhen we understand where they came from.
03/01/2026

Patterns make more sense
when we understand where they came from.

01/01/2026

The One New Year Resolution No One Is Making (But Everyone Needs)

This year, embrace an alternative sort of resolution.

Not one about your body.
Not one about your income.
Not one for improvement.

Commit to take better care of others.
Commit yourself to write only compliments and gratitude on social media.
If you cannot feel a sense of warmth, don’t put out any words.
If you’re not able to encourage, keep your own mouth shut.
The internet has enough criticism. It is starving for kindness.

Change to being more gentle when you speak.
At home.
At work.
With strangers.
Tone is not a small thing. It molds how safe people perceive you in their presence.

Make a decision to delay before acting.
Before the sharp comment.
Before the passive aggressive message.
Before the public judgement.
A single second of restraint can avert months of damage.

Resolve to notice people.
Thank the colleague who keeps things going.
Recognize your friend who always checks in.
Repeat to yourself what usually makes you think they know.

Make a deliberate decision to care instead of being clever.
You do not have to win every argument.
You don't have to be right all the time.
Being kind is often more impactful than being correct.

Make the decision to align your actions with your words.
Kindness is not a post.
It is how you actually show up when no one is watching.
This is not about being soft.
It is about being intentional.

If enough people turned this into their resolution, families would feel safer, workplaces would feel lighter, and social media would feel human again.

If this challenged you, just sit with it.
If you want to live it, start today.

This post was inspired by a podcast episode with Rodney Gauci who told me: When we taught people about their responsibilities, everyone’s rights were protected.
Now that we teach people only about their rights, no one is protecting anyone else’s.

As 2025 comes to an end, I am deeply grateful that it has gone on taking psychology out of the clinic and into the world...
31/12/2025

As 2025 comes to an end, I am deeply grateful that it has gone on taking psychology out of the clinic and into the world and at the same time helping to buttress the clinical foundations that have made that work ethical and credible.

This year was a milestone because it was the first year of our Master’s in Health Psychology together with Domain Academy. To see psychology being taught, debated and applied within the confines of an academic system, one that values rigour, relevance and responsibility, seemed like a natural development out of all we are standing for. Education was another method of influencing what the future of practice looked like, not by reducing standards, but by increasing them.

Psychology would also be appearing in public spaces over the course of 2025. At conferences, in talks, in professional meetings, to be sure, the project opened up dialogue with other fields, leaders, and practitioners. The reason these spaces mattered was to push psychology to be understandable and to be accountable and to be practical beyond theory. Together with The Malta Chamber we conducted, and presented research about leaders' mental health as this is how change is effected.

Chat Bar taught us that meaningful psychological discussions don’t need to happen in a clinic room but rather in an environment of structure, honesty and courage.

Camp Willingness was among the most grounding reminders of why this kind of work exists. To bring psychological insight to children through play, routine, regulating their own emotions and interacting with others, again, underscores its relevance: prevention and early intervention are as crucial. Watching psychology settle in young lives, not only with a real-life effect, but as embodied is still humbling.

In clinical settings 2025 required depth and integration. Working with the Saint James Clinic, Burmarrad bolstered how psychology exists next to broader health services. The establishment of the sleep clinic was extremely challenging and involved significant effort and patience and collaboration across disciplines with an emphasis on managing complexity. And it reassured us that good psychology does not operate in isolation; its efficacy depends on working alongside medicine, physiology, and lived experience. The clinic remained the anchor throughout all of this.

Enhancing governance, supervision, standards and culture was a must. However, psychology cannot responsibly branch out unless it at the heart of it is solid, disciplined and ethical. I'm proud that the internal work met the public one. I'm actually grateful for discipline, routine, and embodiment. For treating mental and physical health as inseparable. For a love that is steady and grounding, and for those stilled minutes that sustain the rest.

I am grateful for the challenges, tough conversations and required boundaries that helped to build clearer leadership at Willingness Team this year. They honed judgment and guidance more than any ease ever could.

Most importantly, I am thankful for alignment. Across education, clinical practice, community work, and public psychology. Between values and decisions. Between what psychology says it offers and what it actually does, and how we managed to explain this to so many students during the Career Expo organised by Betapsi Malta.

And the biggest gratitude towards you, our readers, and clients, for trusting us in the most delicate of times in your lives.

If 2025 was about laying down good seeds and expanding psychology’s reach, then what’s coming next feels equally imminent. Next year will be one of cooperation. Intended, interdisciplinary, values-congruent partnerships that push this work forward, deeper, and together.

Matthew Bartolo

25/12/2025

This year taught us the power of care and connection.
From all of us, to all of us.
Happy Christmas and a kinder New Year 🤍

Understanding gender identity can feel confusing for many people, especially when the language and concepts are new. Res...
24/12/2025

Understanding gender identity can feel confusing for many people, especially when the language and concepts are new. Research shows that clear and accurate information helps reduce stigma and creates more respectful interactions. This course was created to support anyone who wants to build confidence when talking about gender, pronouns and identity.

In this course you learn about the difference between s*x, gender and gender identity. You also explore how gender is expressed, how to use pronouns respectfully and how stereotypes can affect people’s wellbeing. The final part focuses on allyship and practical ways to support others with greater understanding and empathy.

You can access the full course here:
https://www.udemy.com/course/gender-identity/?referralCode=DB66EB72C34D1AEEC561

If you would like to speak to a professional or book an appointment, you can contact Willingness on 7929 1817 or visit our website for support.

Talking to teens about s*x and relationships can feel overwhelming for many parents and caregivers. Research shows that ...
22/12/2025

Talking to teens about s*x and relationships can feel overwhelming for many parents and caregivers. Research shows that most young people learn about s*x online long before they receive accurate guidance which can shape unrealistic expectations and risky behaviours. This course supports you to have clearer and healthier conversations with your teen using evidence informed and practical tools.

You learn how to discuss dating, boundaries, respect, body image, consent and how to navigate the impact of social media and po*******hy. The course is built by S*x Clinic Malta who have more than fifteen years of experience delivering s*x education in schools and supporting parents and educators across Malta.

You can explore the course here
https://willingness.com.mt/personal-growth-hub/

Start learning at your own pace and feel more confident guiding your teen.

Understanding gender identity can feel confusing for many people, especially when the language and concepts are new. Res...
19/12/2025

Understanding gender identity can feel confusing for many people, especially when the language and concepts are new. Research shows that clear and accurate information helps reduce stigma and creates more respectful interactions. This course was created to support anyone who wants to build confidence when talking about gender, pronouns and identity.

In this course you learn about the difference between s*x, gender and gender identity. You also explore how gender is expressed, how to use pronouns respectfully and how stereotypes can affect people’s wellbeing. The final part focuses on allyship and practical ways to support others with greater understanding and empathy.

You can access the full course here:
https://willingness.com.mt/personal-growth-hub/

If you would like to speak to a professional or book an appointment, you can contact Willingness on 7929 1817 or visit our website for support.

Menopause can bring profound biological, emotional and psychological changes that many clients struggle to make sense of...
16/12/2025

Menopause can bring profound biological, emotional and psychological changes that many clients struggle to make sense of. Professionals often want to help but may feel unsure about how to offer validated, compassionate and informed support.

This course gives psychologists, therapists, nurses, educators and wellbeing professionals a clear understanding of the cognitive, hormonal and emotional shifts that occur during menopause. You also learn how to use inclusive communication, provide effective psychoeducation and support clients with confidence and sensitivity.

The course is taught by Helen McGillivray, a highly experienced healthcare professional with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Helen is BABCP accredited and specialises in trauma, psychological flexibility and women’s health. She also delivers ACT based support for women during menopause.

All resources used during the live workshop are available in the course resources folder for you to download.

You can explore the course here: https://willingness.com.mt/personal-growth-hub/

Strength is not about pushing through everything. It is the gentle decision to start again when life becomes overwhelmin...
15/12/2025

Strength is not about pushing through everything. It is the gentle decision to start again when life becomes overwhelming. Research on resilience shows that people who allow themselves to pause and reset recover more effectively and feel more grounded in the long run. Beginning again is not failure. It is care. It is self awareness. It is growth.

If you would like support in strengthening your emotional wellbeing, we are here for you.
https://willingness.com.mt/book-an-appointment/

We are all moving through life a little too fast sometimesSo today just pause for a secondThink of something that brough...
11/12/2025

We are all moving through life a little too fast sometimes
So today just pause for a second
Think of something that brought you a bit of comfort or lightness
It does not have to be big
Just something that made you feel grounded
We are holding space for that here
What are you grateful for today?

Burnout can affect your body, emotions and mind before you even notice the signs. Many people push through stress until ...
10/12/2025

Burnout can affect your body, emotions and mind before you even notice the signs. Many people push through stress until they feel overwhelmed and disconnected. This course offers a practical and evidence-informed guide to understanding burnout and building resilience through self-compassion.

You will learn what burnout really is, the difference between stress and burnout, the common causes and risk factors, the five stages of burnout and how emotional patterns shape your responses. The course also introduces simple tools you can use every day, including the Self Compassion Break, reflective exercises and strategies to strengthen your wellbeing.

Taught by Dr Ronald Zammit, a Clinical Psychologist and CBT Psychotherapist with extensive NHS experience. Ronald is trained in CBT, DBT and EMDR and specialises in mood difficulties, trauma and emotional regulation.

You can explore the course here: https://willingness.com.mt/personal-growth-hub/

If you would like to speak to a professional or book an appointment you can call us on 7929 1817 or email info@willingness.com.mt

Address

Willingness Clinic, Triq MikielAng Sapiano
Ħaz-Zebbug
ZBG1807

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 21:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 21:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 21:00
Thursday 08:00 - 21:00
Friday 08:00 - 21:00
Saturday 09:00 - 14:00

Telephone

+35679291817

Website

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