TAASC

18/05/2026

Join us for our May✨ CPD Café ✨ at TAASC
This month's topic is "The Pathway from Childhood Victimisation to Crime (A Grounded Theory Approach)"

The link between childhood victimisation and criminal behaviour has been widely documented in research. In this talk, Forensic Psychology Practitioner Deborah Francalanza will present her qualitative study, grounded in Grounded Theory methodology, exploring this relationship within the Maltese context. Through in-depth interviews with convicted offenders, the study sheds light on how childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects across multiple areas of life and contribute to offending behaviour. The findings highlight the urgent need for Trauma-Informed Practices within Malta’s Criminal Justice System.

🎤 Speaker: Deborah Francalanza, Forensic Psychology Practitioner
🗓 Wednesday 27th May
⏰ 7:00–8:00pm
📍 TAASC, 3rd Floor, Remedies Clinic, Birkirkara

💶 €10 external participants
🤝 Free for TAASC Associates

Join us for an engaging and insightful CPD session.
Limited places available.
👉 Register here → https://forms.gle/yWE6QEjB4Z15edtz8

30/04/2026

✨ Highlights from CPD Café at TAASC ✨

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this month’s CPD Café session on “Nutrition and Mental Health.”

We had an insightful and engaging evening exploring an important question:
👉 How effective is a healthy diet as an intervention for preventing and managing mental illness?

We know that a healthy diet plays an important role in supporting overall wellbeing; however, when it comes to mental illness, nutritional science is highly nuanced.

Our speaker, Diana Azzopardi, State Registered Nutritionist, guided us through the current state of evidence on the topic, helping us distinguish between associations observed in nutritional epidemiology and the findings of dietary intervention studies. The evidence strongly suggests that supporting people with mental illness to adopt a healthier eating pattern may help with management, but more research is needed to translate these findings into practice. Though one thing consistently comes true - results are generally better if dietary advice is provided by a nutrition professional.

From thought-provoking discussions to practical takeaways, it was fantastic to see such strong interest in the growing field of nutrition and mental health. 🧠🥗

We appreciate everyone who contributed to such a meaningful session and hope you left with new perspectives to apply in your work and daily life.

Stay tuned for our next CPD Café! ☕

28/04/2026

Child Development Insights: New Blog Article ✍

Helping children manage their emotions, energy levels, and reactions doesn’t always come naturally. In today’s fast paced and stimulating world, many children struggle to feel calm, focused, and ready to learn.

In this article, our OT team introduces The Alert Program® (“How Does Your Engine Run?”), a simple yet powerful approach that helps children understand how they feel using a relatable “engine” analogy. Children learn to recognise when they are running on high, low, or just right, and discover practical strategies to support their regulation.

Rather than focusing on correcting behaviour, this approach builds self awareness, confidence, and independence, giving children the tools they need to thrive at school, at home, and in everyday life.

Suitable for children aged 7 to 12, this programme is part of our ongoing OT series, with the first sessions starting this April.

Explore how supporting self regulation can make a meaningful difference in a child’s daily life.

Read the full article “Helping Children Feel Calm, Focused, and Ready to Learn: The Alert Program® for Self Regulation” by Sarah Bianco here: https://www.taascmalta.com/helping-children-feel-calm-focused-and-ready-to-learn-the-alert-program-for-self-regulation/

Have you ever noticed a child who just can’t sit still… or one who seems completely switched off? Children today are growing up in a world full of stimulation, expectations, and constant change. Learning how to manage emotions, energy levels, and reactions is an essential part of a child’s dev...

27/04/2026

LAST FEW DAYS to Register for our April ✨ CPD Café ✨ at TAASC!!
This month's topic is "Nutrition and Mental Health"

Diet quality has long been linked to improved mental health outcomes in nutritional epidemiology.
But does eating better improve how we feel, or do we eat better when we feel good?
This session will review the current evidence on nutrition and mental health, separating association from intervention-based findings and what they mean for practice.

🎤 Speaker: Diana Azzopardi, State Registered Nutritionist
🗓 Wednesday 29th April
⏰ 7:00–8:00pm
📍 TAASC, 3rd Floor, Remedies Clinic, Birkirkara

💶 €10 external participants
🤝 Free for TAASC Associates

Join us for an engaging and practical CPD session.
Limited places available.
👉 Register here → https://forms.gle/99LkSatSQecqFDmM6

27/04/2026

Michaela, our Assessment Pathway Coordinator at TAASC, has officially received her warrant as a Child, Adolescent and Educational Psychologist.

We’re so proud of her and grateful for the care, passion and expertise she brings to the children, young people and families we work with.

Congratulations Michaela, this is a fantastic achievement.

26/04/2026

🌟 Potty Training: Setting Your Child Up for Success 🌟
with Sarah Bianco – Senior OT & Sensory Integration Practitioner

📅 18 May ONLINE • ⏰ 10:00–12:00 or 18:00-20:00 • 💶 €25

Potty training is a big milestone, and knowing when your child is truly ready can make all the difference.
This webinar is designed to give parents and caregivers a deeper understanding of the signs of potty-training readiness and the tools needed to approach the process with confidence.

Join us to learn:
✨ The most common behavioral, physical, and developmental signs that indicate potty-training readiness
✨ How to tell the difference between curiosity and true readiness
✨ Tips for creating a supportive environment that motivates your child
✨ Strategies to help your child build confidence and stay consistent
✨ Common challenges—and how to troubleshoot them with patience and positivity

Why it matters:
Recognizing readiness and using supportive approaches can reduce stress, prevent setbacks, and help your child develop healthy, independent toileting habits.

Book your place now 👉https://forms.gle/soXBnKmY2Dqs2MtT6
For more info 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YJ4xbcvt25pIaaGO15Yp_AICfQU_uYgM/view?usp=sharing
Learn more about the OT Series 2026 here 👉https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p6EOIJzgHHvTytJBOyGVIwSz62w1LNeM/view?usp=sharing

24/04/2026

Join us for our April ✨ CPD Café ✨ at TAASC
This month's topic is "Nutrition and Mental Health"

Diet quality has long been linked to improved mental health outcomes in nutritional epidemiology.
But does eating better improve how we feel, or do we eat better when we feel good?
This session will review the current evidence on nutrition and mental health, separating association from intervention-based findings and what they mean for practice.

🎤 Speaker: Diana Azzopardi, State Registered Nutritionist
🗓 Wednesday 29th April
⏰ 7:00–8:00pm
📍 TAASC, 3rd Floor, Remedies Clinic, Birkirkara

💶 €10 external participants
🤝 Free for TAASC Associates

Join us for an engaging and practical CPD session.
Limited places available.
👉 Register here → https://forms.gle/99LkSatSQecqFDmM6

23/04/2026

22/04/2026

We’re sharing an inspiring read from the MOVE Sport Psychology Series featuring Maltese ocean rower Steve Chetcuti and his solo Atlantic crossing. A powerful reminder of resilience, mental strength, and the importance of talking about loneliness! 💪

Interview conducted and blog written by Jasmine Borg,  Health Psychologist & Sport Psychology Practitioner MOVE, The Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre, March 2026. Steve Chetcuti became the first Maltese person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. This is what he le