MACP national training week

The Malta Association for the Counselling Profession (MACP) recently held its annual training week and conference, themed 'Separation and its effects on the family'.

Participants included counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, University psychology and PSD students, Masters in Counselling students, trainee counsellors and social and youth workers, among others.

The event, hosted by Fr Frankie Cini, director of St Joseph Home, St Venera, took place at the Dolmen Resort Hotel Qawra.

In her opening speech, MACP president Carmen Galea said this topic was not only chosen because previous feedback indicated its importance, but because it is a realistic, present-day phenomenon that is wreaking havoc in the minds and emotions of young people, Malta's future generation.

Children's sense of the world is based on what they experience from their parents, from the moment of conception. There are other influences that have an impact on children, but the most profound influence is that of parents' behaviour towards each other and towards them.

Separation cuts deeply into a child's world.

Quite a number of separations are acrimonious and the pain, anger and bitterness of one or both parents often blur judgement, resulting in actions that are far from beneficial to the children.

Consequently , children sometimes refuse to go to school or demonstrate challenging behaviour when they do go; they start having psychosomatic illnesses or become aggressive or withdrawn; their self-esteem dwindles and sense of insecurity heightens.

The effects of separation cannot be eliminated; the best that can be done is to minimise the risk of such consequences.