Institute of Family Therapy & Systemic Practice – Malta
The Institute of Family Therapy Malta was established in 2010 to deliver state-of-the-art systemic training and therapeutic services. As social constructionists we believe that it is through our social and relational processes that we construct the world, and that human challenges are best addressed relationally and within their relevant contexts. We work hard to make training, therapy, supervision and consultation accessible to individuals, couples, families, organisations and communities in Malta and Gozo.
Having initiated the first accredited training in Malta, the Institute of Family Therapy Malta established itself as a leader in family therapy training and services delivery. It built an excellent reputation and is a member of the Training Institutes Chamber of the European Family Therapy Association and also an Institutional Member in Good Standing of the International Family Therapy Association. IFT- Malta is also committed to deliver relationship education programmes for partners, spouses, and parents, children, schools and organizations to promote well-being in society, based on positive family and work environments, and a healthy balance between the two.
By choosing our courses students can benefit from a 70% refund of the total tuition fees upon successful completion of course through the Get Qualified Scheme. Find Get Qualified Brochure Here.
– To provide multi-level training in the systemic-relational psychotherapies and related fields.
– To assist organizations and communities in achieving healthier psycho-relational environments through systemic consultation.
– To promote the psychological well-being of individuals, couples, families, organizations and communities, through the use of multimodal psychotherapeutic approaches, with a particular focus on systemic psychotherapy.
– To conduct and promote research in couple and family relationships matters.
– To promote social awareness on psychological and relational well-being through the use of various social media presences.
– To promote and spread information about family and systemic psychotherapy approaches throughout the Maltese Islands to individuals, institutions and organisations concerned with the health and development of families and human systems through the use of various media including TV, Radio, Newspapers, magazines, and internet.
– To create links with other local and foreign organisations having common or comparable aims of promoting systemic work in Malta and abroad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=qAWW2mRUTEk&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=CharlieAzzopardi
What are the benefits of Accreditation?
There are a lot of reasons why gaining accreditation can be beneficial both for students and educational providers:
Do I need to take a course that is accredited?
Our advice to students is always to choose MFHEA accredited courses to maximise your future options.
Taking an MFHEA accredited undergraduate course confers eligibility for future training across the European Union.
The vast majority of postgraduate programmes accredited by MFHEA or approved by Psychotherapy Profession Board for registration as a practitioner psychotherapist also require MQRIC approved degrees for entry.
Visa Requirements for Foreign Students
Students from countries other that the European Union may require special study Visa. Please contact Identita Malta
Accreditation is a standard way of guaranteeing Quality Assurance and how we achieve standards that support students’ achievement of the learning outcomes of the selected courses, and are supported by an appropriate resource base. Quality Assurance is how the local accrediting body, MFHEA (Malta Further & Higher Education Authority) engages in dialogue with us at the Institute of Family Therapy Malta through detailed and meticulous external reviews and audits involving the running of the institute and of the courses we run. IFT-Malta prepares for this through its Quality Assurance Manual.
Student & Staff Disciplinary Procedures Policy
Student Agreement & Payment Policy
Internal Quality Assurance Policy
The First ever Post Graduate Diploma & Masters in Systemic Family Psychotherapy in Malta 2010
The First ever Bachelor Degree in Psychological Therapies in Europe 2018
The First ever Post Graduate Certificate in Parental Alienation Studies in the World 2021
The First ever Post Graduate Diploma & Masters in Parental Alienation Studies in the World 2025
The First ever Doctorate in Systemic Practice in Malta starting February 2026
Chairperson
Dr. Charlie Azzopardi is a Systemic Practitioner working in the mental health field since 1986. While he spent a substantial number of years working with addictions he was also involved in individual, couple, and family psychotherapy, parenting training, childhood and adolescent problems, eating disorders, as well as consulting family-run businesses. He obtained qualifications in various psychotherapeutic approaches. Dr. Azzopardi has lectured locally and abroad and is now fully engaged running IFT-Malta, and in private practice. His interest remains that of helping individuals, couples, families and organisations find effective solutions to the various difficulties that inevitably befall them.
Director, Coordinator & Tutor
Karen Bishop is a Systemic Family Therapist. She has worked in various local services dealing with diverse family issues, as well as more specialised services dealing with issues relating to addictions as well as domestic abuse. Ms. Bishop has obtained her Master’s Degree in Family Therapy at the Tavistock Clinic in London. She has been working within a multi-disciplinary team, with children in out-of-home care and their families for the past five years. Currently she is also involved with teaching Family Therapy as well as running her own private practice.
Director & Administrative Secretary
Marika Azzopardi has been involved with the Institute since its inception and has seen it grow from strength to strength over the years. Her wide and varied expertise in organisational administration, social media, writing, journalism and the arts has contributed hugely to the status of IFT-Malta’s standing in the community. She is a History of Art graduate and published extensively on the arts, personality interviews, features and researched articles in various print media, blogs and websites, junior and adult fiction, and varied chapters within specialised literary arts publications.
Visiting trainers:
Karl Wright, Helen Attard Micallef, Charlene Borg, Claire Borg, Eric Cachia, Delicia Farrugia, Maria Jones, Maria Mifsud, Yanica Richards Chircop, Angelle Vella, Stefannia Gafa, Marilyn Muscat, Joshua Zammit, Vanessa Kurz, Audrey Attard, Michelle Farrugia, Svetlana Gatt, Francesca Mangion, Tania Farrugia, Maryrose Baldacchino.
Foreign Visiting Trainers:
Dr. Padraic Gibson
Dr. Matteo Papantuono
Dr. Claudette Portelli
Mr. Brian O’Sullivan
Prof. Per Jensen
Prof. Paolo Bertrando
Prof. Umberta Telfener
Dr. Christopher Loh
Dr. Ged Smith
D. Lizette Nolte
Prof. Ottar Ness
Dr. Sarah Helps
Prof. Lennart Lorås
Dr. Leah Salter
External Examiners:
Plamena Tsvetanova-Hristova, PhD – Sofia, Bulgaria. Mental health practitioner with Masters in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and PhD in Counseling Psychology with over 9 years of specialization in the field of Systemic Family and Marriage Therapy and Counseling.
External Course Consultants:
The Institute of Family Therapy Malta is a member of the Training Institutes Chamber of the European Family Therapy Association. Member of the chamber meet every two years to discuss developments and standards in the training of systemic family therapy. Some institutes, like the Institute of Family Therapy Malta, meet regularly to discuss implementation of standards, studentship, teaching etc.
